70 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



success unless the system necessary to the finding of ground birds' 

 nests is adopted. Patience is the virtue ever to be commended. 

 Under a small cluster of leaves of any native shrub, and with the 

 upper portion closely mimicking its surroundings, a dome-shaped, 

 side-entranced nest is placed upon and partly in the ground, and 

 of material loosely put together yet with symmetry. The eggs, 

 which are laid each alternate day, are carefully overlaid with a 

 uniform dark chocolate layer, and nature has certainly provided 

 ample protection to the bird through its distant colours ; to the 

 nest in the manner of its position, and, if as these two were not 

 sufficient, to the eggs in similarity of shade to their surroundings. 

 Even a fox, that finds the Sericornis' nest and devours its contents, 

 will need to use more than its powers of sight to be successful in 

 its raid upon the young of the Chthonicola. 



If only the Superb Warbler (Blue Wren), Malurus cyaneits, 

 Ellis, could speak to you, without self-praise, of its winning ways, 

 I certainly would be relieved of the undertaking, but as this, in 

 other lands so-called " tit-mouse," is next upon my list, I will 

 commence by stating that this tiny piping bird is associated with 

 our neighbourhood throughout the year, when we recognize the 

 typical shrub bird, to be seen at all times. 



If you would view the wren at home with its " children," you 

 must needs be very quiet, for then only will you see the group 

 slowly travelling along the ground and undergrowth in one direc- 

 tion, feeding and chatting, the only two duties that at a particular 

 time seem to bear interest to them. It is then you may see six 

 to twelve birds ; if fully alive to the situation this is easy ; if the 

 leading bird assumes flight, then the others will follow in Indian 

 file, pass a given point, and faithfully keep together, though perhaps 

 the last of the colony may be late. Mr. Gould, who has very 

 nicely described the birds, finds a difficulty in attempting to mimic 

 by words the melodious notes, and, one would say wisely, refrains. 

 There are first the notes of rollicking fun of the summer bird, 

 secondly the grand oratorio of the male in spring when he is lead- 

 ing a charming competitive life, and thirdly the series of thrilling 

 squeaks when the young have ventured into a gambol upon the 

 tree-tops which would be quite out of place for those of mature 

 years. 



The female in nesting time will sometimes call as if a tragedy 

 was taking place, and if, comparatively speaking, such a noise was 

 to be heard among the human group, immediately there would be 

 a rush of excited beings to the scene of unusual behaviour. 

 Through this bird's peculiar crying and imaginary troubled notes 

 such was the impression made on my mind when basking in the 

 sun for a few minutes, and sitting upon the top rail of a fence 

 listening to the varied voices of a score of birds in and about a 

 thicket. It is in September that the flocks have become broken 



