Emu 



146 l.RGG-E, Location of Birds in the Vicinity of Tisf"; 



May, June, and August, showing that it remains to a small 

 extent in the island during the non-breeding season. It nests 

 in November or late in October, but prefers to wait, when 

 building in the lime trees, until they are in leaf. In this latter 

 situation its beautiful little cup nest was found one year in 

 the first fork above tlie trunk, 9 feet from the ground, the 

 outer materials of plant rootlets, fine grass, and ornamenting 

 cobwebs being of the same colour as the bark of the lime, and 

 would have been almost invisible had it not been for the straight 

 edge of the rim revealing its whereabouts in the fork. Another 

 nest, situated on the almost horizontal' branch of a dipressus 

 macrocarpa, and, of course, overhung by other branches and 

 concealed from outer view, was not nearly so neatly constructed 

 about the rim, there being no need for its concealment. The 

 nest was shallower and the egg-cavity broader than in the first- 

 named example, demonstrating the influence that environment 

 has on the constructive faculty in so many of our birds. The 

 male is charmingly tame, and ever on the watch for a stray 

 worm or grub when one is digging in the orchard or garden, 

 and often darts on its hapless prey within a few feet of the 

 worker. 



In my forthcoming treatise* on the physiography of Ben 

 Lomond I allude to the abundance of this Robin on the plateau 

 in the spring months, which is interesting, inasmuch as this is 

 the loftiest area of its size in Tasmania. The birds frequent 

 the thick, rigid alpine shrubs, interspersed with boulders 

 and tors, which are characteristic of this remarkable tract of 

 diabase formation. They enhance the lonely landscape with 

 their bright plumage, and charm one in the solitude of the far- 

 reaching, Scotch-looking moorland with their sprightly deport- 

 ment and actions. Some pairs may breed here, as I have seen 

 young birds in March. 



Petr(t:ca LEGGII (Scarlet-breasted Robin). 



This handsome species rarely visits the precincts of habita- 

 tions, except in passing to and fro from one haunt to another, 

 when it will remain a few days, but not take up its abode like 

 the last-named bird. It is fond of the open sheep-run, is almost 

 always seen on the ground before it is flushed, and then makes 

 its temporary perch on a bush, fence, or log. Its nest seems 

 very difficult to find. It is, like its congener, a very silent bird. 



Malurus gouldi (Long-tailed Blue Wren). 



This sweet little bird is almost as useful about the garden and 

 grounds as it is beautiful, and there are few species existing that 

 can outdo it in the extraordinary quickness of its action. It 

 would take a quicker than human eye to follow its movements in 



*Jcurnal of llie Association for t/ie AJvanceineitt of Science, 1907. 



