238



Mr. J. Lewis Bonhote,



for life and most ‘ estancias ’ have a pair of these birds, which,

as it is noil-migratory, remain with them throughout the year.

According to Mr. Gibson, they have no particular song, and their

only cry is a succession of loud short notes accompanied by a

flapping of the wings. It is usually seen alone, but at intervals

during the day, whether in the breeding season or not, the pairs

meet together as though by appointment and indulge for a few

minutes in a duet, the female being as loud and vociferous a

■singer as her mate.


The nest, which is almost unique among birds, and always

placed in a very conspicuous position, on a tree, roof of a house,

post, etc., without any attempt at concealment, has always

attracted much attention. It is a very solid mud structure,

weighing as much as eight or nine pounds, and takes months to

build. It is commenced soon after the moult in the late autumn,

and is built at intervals, whenever the weather is mild and wet

during the winter. Both sexes build. A piece of hair, straw or

small rootlet is taken to the edge of a puddle, covered with mud

and rolled into a small pellet, which is then conveyed to the

chosen site. After the foundation has been made, the walls are

built up, leaving the side facing the house or road open till the

last, and it has been suggested that this is so that the builder

may be able to see any approaching intruder. The open side is

then half walled-in, leaving the rest for the external opening,

which is almost invariably on the right hand side. The builders

then proceed to put in the centre or partition wall, which is

carried right to the back of the nest, leaving only an opening

just large enough for the entrance of the bird, which is thus

easily able to defend its home against intruders. The inner

compartment is lined with a few bents and, in due season,

four pear-shaped white eggs are laid. Incubation is carried on

by both sexes.


Only one brood is reared each season, and although so

■solid is the nest that it can bear the weight of a man and last for

several seasons, yet it is never used more than once and a new

nest is re-commenced every winter.


Round so domestic a bird many tales and fables have

naturally arisen, one being that it is extremely pious and never



