Genus Pyromelana. 59 



repetition of its harsh note. I£ the intruder happens to be 

 a female, it performs various amusing antics to attract 

 attention. 



The male is far more industrious in the building of the 

 nest than the female. In the aviary, although supplied with 

 an abundance of different materials, they seem to prefer 

 long fine grass, but, although it is stated by Dr. Stark 

 (' Fauna of S. Africa : Birds/ vol. i. page 128) that the nest 

 is woven out of grass, my own experience has been that the 

 birds in the wild state invariably use strips of the leaves of 

 reeds for the purpose of nidification. The actual process of 

 nest-buildiug is extremely interesting : the bird, choosing a 

 suitable spot amongst upright reeds, takes a blade of grass 

 in its bill and perches on an upright reed-stem, holding the 

 grass at the same time with the foot ; it then passes the grass 

 round the reed-stem, brings the end under the loop and forms 

 a knot ; passing to the next upright it repeats the manoeuvre, 

 and returns in the same way to and fro till the grass-length 

 is used up. This process is repeated with fresh blades until 

 the bird forms quite a strong bar between the uprights. It 

 then stands on this thick strand and builds the nest from this 

 position. It now forms loops over its head — this being the 

 portico of the nest — and then, bringing the grass from the 

 portico in a circle, forms the back and bottom, fastening 

 the blades to the bar on which it stands. This forms the 

 skeleton of the structure. Through this framework the 

 bird then weaves the grass, working from the outside, and, 

 holding the grass close to the end with its bill, pushes it 

 through, always looking to see when it emerges on the other 

 side ; it then grasps the protruded end, pulls it through and 

 returns it the same way, till the grass-length is finished. In 

 the wild state the bird is not particular about lining the nest, 

 and I have found nests so thin that the blue eggs could be 

 clearly seen through the walls ; at the same time I have also 

 seen them lined with with grass-heads. Whilst engaged in 

 nest-building the bird keeps up a constant chatter. During 

 the actual period of work on the nest and for some days 

 after it has been completed, it will stoutly defend its handi- 



