Vol. IV. 

 1904 



■| FLliTCHKR, Bird Notes /ruin Wibnot^ I'asinaiila. 17 



Robin they would fly, oftentimes snapping at her, until she, driven 

 to anger by their persistency, would dart out and chase them. 

 This decidedly unpleasant state of affairs continued for a few 

 days, until the Swallows seemed to have made up their minds 

 to go to the front verandah, but that would not do, so they went 

 round to the side, but finally came back to their old place, and 

 the war recommenced. But during the few days of peace the 

 baby Robins had been hatched, and both parents were busily 

 feeding them, though every time they came with the food (grubs) 

 they were attacked by the Swallows, who even ventured on 

 the nest. When the young Robins were about four or five days 

 old, they strangely disappeared, and their disappearance was 

 placed against the Swallows. One little naked dead body was 

 picked up in the yard, but the two others were not found. It 

 was impossible for a cat to get at the nest, owing to its situation. 

 I feel certain that the death of the young Robins was caused by 

 the jealousy of the Swallows. Being now rid of their rivals, 

 the Swallows repaired their previous year's nest and succeeded 

 in rearing their four young ones in safety. These latter had 

 been on the wing a fortnight when their parents commenced to 

 build again. They chose the Robins' nest, and for four days 

 carried mud and tried to repair it, but it evidently proved too 

 ditftcult, so they left it and again repaired their own. Four 

 young this time, and these were safely reared. Early in December 

 the same Robins were again noticed to be constantly about, 

 and it was discovered that they were building a nest on a beam 

 in an outhouse. Three eggs were laid, but only one young bird 

 arrived at maturity, though all the eggs hatched. During the 

 time the female is sitting the male bird feeds her constantly. 

 She keeps up a constant crying call, resembling the word " Jim" 

 very much drawled. So the children called him " Jim." Some- 

 times at a call from him she would fly out to receive the grub, 

 but as a general rule he gave it to her on the nest. I must find 

 out next season if the female maintains the same cry when sitting 

 on eggs in the paddocks ; if so she would speedily betray her 

 nest. 



During November the actions of a pair of Wrens {Malurus 

 gouldi) attracted some attention. Regularly every clay for nearly 

 a fortnight they would dash themselves against a small fixed 

 window, the male bird becoming particularly excited in his 

 eftorts to get through. Several experiments were tried to see 

 if it was their reflection in the glass they were attacking or whether 

 they were trying to catch flies. But neither of these seemed 

 to be their object, and the mystery remained unsolved. 



The Cuckoos left us, as usual, early in February, but as a rule 

 generally come back in April for a fortnight. 



Edward Thomas was fined i=2 at the Canterbury (Vict.) court 

 for shooting a Magpie-Lark, a protected bird, on Sunday, 17th 

 April. 



