OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 245 



reeds for over seven hours. The bird was intensely suspicious 

 of the camera, although well covered with reeds. Between 

 leeches and blood-poisoning the photographer had an unhappy 

 time. 



Nest. — Placed in reeds or suitable grasses growing in the 

 water, attached to three or four stems ; open, cup-shaped, 

 deep, made of grasses and lined with finer grasses. The plate 

 illustrates the shape and position. 



Eggs. — Four to a clutch ; ground colour tawny, thickly 

 blotched and spotted vdth umber and dense brown, as well as 

 markings of a pale olive, appearing as if beneath the surface. 

 Length, 0.7 inch ; breadth, 0.5 inch. 





