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Nesting-habits of the mistletoe-bird.



NESTING HABITS OF THE

MISTLETOE-BIRD.


Dicceum hirundinaceum.


By S. A. Lawrence, R.A.O.U. and R. T. Littlejohns, R.A.O.U.,


Melbourne (Vic.)


[The following interesting account is taken from “The Emu.’’ We regret we

cannot reproduce the excellent photographs accompanying it].


During October and November, 1914, we had an opportunity,

for the first time, of observing the nesting habits of the Mistletoe-

bird ( Dicceum hirundinaceum). Previously we had seen the bird

only on a few occasions, and never at close quarters. The nest we

had under notice, unfortunately, could not be visited during the

period of incubation, but we spent a good deal of time photographing

and taking notes when the young birds appeared.


On 4th October, while photographing at the nest of a Yellow¬

breasted Whistler ( Pachycephala gutturalis) on a timbered hillside

at Ferntree Gully, Victoria, we noticed a male Mistletoe-bird attack¬

ing a White-eye ( Zosterops dorsalis) with such persistence as to

indicate that the former was nesting. Several times the White-eye

returned to a native cherry tree ( Exocarpus cupressiformis) and each

time was angrily driven'away. Finally, both birds were lost to sight

among the trees. As a photograph of the Dicceum had long been

desired, we kept a very sharp look-out. Soon the female Mistletoe-

bird arrived with nesting material, and flew straight to a sapling a

few yards from the disputed cherry tree. On following her to the

sapling, much to our delight we discovered the purse-like nest

suspended from a horizontal branch about 10 feet from the ground.

We watched from a short distance while the female made two or

three more visits. The nest was very elastic, and bulged in an

alarming manner as the bird turned about inside, arranging the

fresh material. A closer inspection later showed that it was almost

completed, and was much larger than descriptions had led us to

believe was usual with nests of the kind. Certainly, it was much

larger than the specimen now in the Melbourne Museum. The

nest, which faced the north, was built of sheep’s wool and the woolly

substance obtained from the under side of the leaves of the blanket-

wood tree ( Bedfordia salicina). Although we remained at the spot



