86 



THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



In the first place, they are very industrious birds. This is 

 clearly shown when they are building their nests, which are 

 found near large supplies of insects. A bough standing out 

 from a high bank of a shady creek is a favourite spot. The 

 foundation of the nest is laid by adroitly securing slender chips 



of decayed wood with lines 

 of cobweb to the spray 

 selected. This delicate 

 operation must necessarily 

 be a work of great diffi- 

 culty. In places where 

 splinters of decayed wood 

 are not obtainable, pieces 

 of coarse grass have been 

 used instead. Fine grasses, 

 thread - like roots, dead 

 leaves or skeletons of 

 leaves, hair, green tufts of 

 moss, and the down of 

 ferns are also brought into 

 requisition. 



Both male and female 

 take part in the work, but 

 the latter seems to bear 

 the larger share. The 

 strength of the structure 

 is tested in many ways. 

 It is trampled down, and 

 the webs are carried from the interior to the outside in festoons 

 from left to right, and right to left, as far down as the beak can 

 reach. 



The wall gradually rises, and the bird, with elevated tail, is 

 itself the mould l)y which the rounded cavity is shaped. "Seated 

 in the centre of the rising structure, it turns repeatedly, fluttering 

 its wings, and keeping tlie wall pressed out to its proper shape. 

 Its head and chin are pressed on to the top. and the materials 

 are pulled in towards the centre. This nuuKcuvre is repeated 



Nest of Pied Fantail. 



