.9?.] A'"V"/ Anstndasian Oniilholof^'isfs' Union. i8l 



U is a Cdiiiinon l)inl. I iun i^hui (d saw and, (k'S])ile the miml)Ci-s 

 ()( cats li\-in,t; a hiisli lilc' on \\\v island, it is liolding its own. Its 

 numbers in relation to those ol its congeners — Maliirus assimilis — 

 I estimate at t\vcnt\- to fine. c\cn allowing for the more silent and 

 secretive habits ol the latter. Though it has its preferences, I visited 

 no part of Dirk Hartog where it was not present. When I state 

 that I frequently saw a male sitting on a fence just outside the wool- 

 shed door, and that 1 photographed a nest which had contained a 

 brood of young within a verj- short distance of the homestead, and 

 found another nest containing eggs not a quarter of a mile away, 

 its familiarity will be at once apparent, .\gain, I climbed nearly to 

 the highest jioint ol the ridge traversing the island, known as Herald 

 Heights (6ocj feet;, and found pairs or parties of Pied Wrens right up 

 to the summit. Further, I found two nests, one with voung and 

 one with eggs, close to the seashore at Notch Point. But the favourite 

 haunts are undoubtedly big, fairly open flats, where salt-bushes of 

 various species are abundant, and the scrub generally is of a more 

 dwarfed character. During the breeding season the male, in nuptial 

 dress, is not difficult of approach, and on numerous occasions I have 

 watched him at a distance of a few feet. The females and im- 

 mature birds will almost come to one's feet if called up and the 

 observer stands quite motionless. The nuptial male, however, is 

 more silent t:han males in brown plumage, and it was seldom I heard 

 him uttering the familiar reeling notes. I found an interesting series 

 of nests. The first I cfTscovered (9th July) was in a small, half-dead bush 

 growing in a little gully at a height of about 400 feet in the foothills. 

 I had observed se^•eral birds about some five or six days previously, 

 and at length found the nest, after a close search ; it contained three 

 eggs. I surmise birds were breeding in the foothills earlier than on 

 the lower ground, through the situation being sheltered from the 

 heavy westerly gales and rain-storms, and having the benefit of the 

 early morning sun — being generally warmer, in fact. Other nests were 

 in low, heath-like scrub, almost resting on the ground ; also in salt- 

 bushes, and, around the Ten-mile well, large,' very priclcly Hakea 

 bushes were chosen. I seldom discovered a nest through flushing 

 the sitting bird. In only one or two cases did this happen. The 

 majority of the nests were well concealed. One, placed inside a dense 

 but small prickly bush with a white flower, was so carefully hidden 

 that, had the female remained quiet. I should have passed it by ; 

 another nest, however, placed in a dead bush, was visible 20 yards 

 away. I was examining a nest in course of construction, and situated 

 in a small salt-bush, where the female remained motionless within 

 a few inches of the nest. In going to and from camp to the Ten-mile 

 well for water, I passed very frequently a large Hakea bush. Walking 

 nearer one day, I saw a Pied Wren's nest, and cautiously inserted a 

 finger. I touched what I thought was a young bird. I left it un- 

 disturbed for nearly a week, and then thought I would see how the 

 young were growing. To my surprise there were three fresh eggs. 

 1 had actually, in the first place, touched the female bird in the nest 

 without causing her to leave her charge. 



The majority of nests contained three eggs, some only two, and, 

 again, several as many as four. Twice I found Cuckoos' eggs — viz., 

 those of the Narrow-billed Bronze (C. hasalis^]. But in the first case 

 the Cuckoo's egg was on the ground, just underneath the Wren's nest, 

 which contained two incubated eggs. When I find a small bird's nest 



