^°u i6 ^ '] l-AWRENCE AND LiTTLiij OHNs, Ncstiii;^ of Mistletoe-BU'd. 167 



food consisted ot insects only. Tlie male was not seen at all, 

 and the wariness of the female did not leave us very hopeful as to 

 the possibility of obtaining photographs. A few days later we 

 were early on the si>ot, i)rovided with fencing rail and string for 

 the erection of a staging on which to set the camera. The 

 primitive nature of this structure a})i)eared rather to amuse Mr. 

 Charles Barrett, who arrived later in the day. However, it served 

 its pur])ose, and eventually we had the cameras focussed on the 

 nest. As we had expected, the birds were somewhat alarmed, 

 and, though the female several times came to within a couple of 

 feet of the nest, a few hours elapsed ere it summoned sufhcient 

 courage to brave the camera. When it had satisfied itself, after 

 a great deal of hovering and hesitation, that the strange-looking 

 object was harmless, the bird finally clung to the front of the nest 

 in the desired position. Our difficulties, however, were not even 

 now at an end, as, although, from this onwards, the female visited 

 the nest frequently, her lightning-like movements prevented us 

 from making a satisfactory exposure. On her arrival, she fed the 

 young with her head inside the nest, and left immediately. 



We had to resort to a plan usually adopted by us in the case 

 of closed nests. The opening was blocked up with a piece of 

 paper, thus preventing the young birds being fed. The parent 

 was so taken aback on her return that she remained for several 

 seconds in a suitable position. She did not at all appreciate the 

 altered aspect of her home, and clung to the front, scolding harshly. 

 Mr. Barrett and ourselves were then able to expose several plates. 

 The male bird was too wary to be photographed, and at this time 

 we were of the opinion that it took no part whatever in feeding 

 the young. On two or three occasions during the day the male 

 came to within a few feet of the nest, but brought no food. We 

 left the hillside that evening fairly satisfied with our day's results, 

 but more than ever determined to obtain pictures of the male if 

 possible. 



A week later we were again at the nest, notwithstanding un- 

 favourable weather. The young birds, which had grown con- 

 siderably, called lustily in answer to their parents. They were 

 also strong enough to cause a good deal of trouble by pushing the 

 piece of paper from the entrance of the nest. On this occasion, 

 much to our surprise and satisfaction, the male fed the fledgelings 

 as often as the female did, thus completely upsetting our former 

 conclusions. The male very quickly became accustomed to the 

 camera, but, instead of clinging to the front of the nest, persisted 

 in hanging head downward from the branch above. For some 

 time at a stretch each bird brought food to the nest on an average 

 once in about four minutes. There were occasions, when the 

 brood was evidently well satisfied, on which both birds remained 

 away for as long as a quarter of an hour. The male bird especially, 

 often choosing a prominent position in a neighbouring tree, would 

 remain for some time uttering a short, sweet strain, not unlike that 

 of the White-eye. On this day, also, the young were fed on insects. 



