INSESSORES. 363 



object in the scenery of the portion of the country it inhabits. 

 It is formed of a large loose mass of moss, and, being attached 

 to the extreme tips of the pendant branches, waves about 

 with every wind that blows ; it is very frequently constructed 

 within reach of the hand, but is more often suspended at 

 about ten and sometimes as high as thirty feet from the 

 ground; occasionally two or three are constructed together 

 under a dense canopy of foliage, overhanging water or a deep 

 and gloomy gully, and then present a very singular appear- 

 ance. I procured several examples by shooting the branch 

 asunder just above the nest, which so perfectly resembles the 

 tufts of living moss attached to many of the extremities of 

 the branches of the trees, that it is impossible to distinguish 

 the one from the other ; and it is a question whether the bird 

 purposely builds its nest in imitation of these hanging masses, 

 or whether, by a little architectural skill, it converts one of 

 them into a receptacle for its eggs. The breeding-season 

 commences in August and continues until February, during 

 which period many broods are reared. I procured a nest in 

 September, out of which flew three young birds, and others 

 during the same month which contained eggs so recently laid 

 that they could scarcely have been sat upon. The eggs are 

 generally two or three in number ; their ground-colour varies 

 from bluish white to dull reddish white, with the larger end 

 sparingly washed, freckled, and streaked with dark brown ; 

 they are large for the size of the bird, being nine and a half 

 lines long by seven lines broad. 



The large-billed Sericornis is a very active but shy bird, 

 keeping much among the branches of the high trees, where 

 it gains a plentiful supply of insect food ; it may, however, be 

 easily enticed into view by imitating the squeak of its young. 



The sexes do not differ in external appearance, nor do the 

 young when fully fledged offer any variation in colour from 

 the adult. 



Crown of the head, aU the upper surface, wings, and tail 



