BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



nine feet from the ground, and, for convenience, we bent 

 the slender branch down to within about seven feet of the 

 earth. We tethered it there with a cord, and during this 

 performance the bird sat as quietly as if there were no in- 

 truders within miles. The strain, however, was too much 

 for the cord, which snapped and allowed the branch to shoot 

 violently back to its original position. We expected to see 

 fragments of the egg on the branches above, but found in- 

 stead the bird apparently unperturbed looking inquiringly 

 over the edge of the nest. Her treasure was undamaged, 

 and we rejoiced. 



The nest of the Shafty is a beautiful thing, and a mar- 

 vel of architecture. Built of materials similar to those 

 used by the Willie Wagtail, it resembles in size and shape 

 a wineglass from which the foot or stand has been removed. 

 The purpose served by the stem or tail, which, by the way, 

 may be seen in the photograph, is not clear. There is little 

 doubt that it has its use in one direction or another. By 

 some it is thought that the continuation of the nest in this 

 way is calculated to render its discovery more difficult, but 

 we have a different theory. The nest is usually built on a 

 slender horizontal branch, and, it appears to us, would pos- 

 sess little stability were it not for the presence of the stem 

 which serves to counteract any tendency towards top- 

 heaviness. We have also noticed that the Fantail invariably 

 commences its nest by the construction of this portion as a 

 foundation for the rest. Possibly the building of such 

 a nest in its usual position would be a difficult matter if 

 the tail were dispensed with. Our view regarding the 

 purpose of the stem is supported by the fact that in one 

 case where we discovered a nest built on a horizontal fork 

 which provided a foundation for building, and assured 

 stability, the tail was much less pronounced. This nest is 

 pictured on page 21. 



The White-shafted Fantail usually commences nesting in 

 October, and the season continues until the end of the year. 

 The eggs, usually two or three in number, are very small, 

 rounded, and of a creamy colour, with markings of light 

 stone, especially about the larger end. 



Of the beautiful White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater we 

 have had considerable experience, but with it a disappoint- 

 ing lack of success. It is not by any means exclusively a 

 stream-side bird, but as two of the three nests discovered by 



174 



