INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



the spring of 1897 an inclination to sit was observed. 

 The following year (August, as with wild birds) it showed 

 a similar desire, and some assistance was given as soon as 

 it showed itself in earnest. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stephen 

 were good enough to keep a rough diary for me of the 

 nest-building, which shows how the bird, in spite of being 

 turned out of its chosen spot several times, persisted in 

 building a nest, using for preference pieces of wire, stiff 

 twigs, and also some strips of stiff white calico, but re- 

 jecting pink flannelette. 



At Box Hill there is a semi-domesticated pair of birds 

 that have lived and reared their young in a garden for five 

 consecutive years. They added to and renovated their 

 first nest up to the third year, and built another for the 

 fourth year. This I know by the broken leg the male bird 

 has had from the beginning of 1893. A pair of this 

 species living at Pakenham has reared three families of 

 young without any black pigment in their plumage, but 

 the.se albinos do not seem to live long in captivity. 



Xest. — Cup-shaped ; large ; formed of sticks externally, 

 grasses and hair internally, and nicely lined ; placed high 

 or low according to the size of tree available. 



Eugs. — They vary considerably in colour. The ground 

 colour may be light green, light brown, or intermediate 

 shades ; the markings may be streaks and blotches of 

 chestnut, reddish-brown, or varying brown ; some will be 

 heavily blotched, others will be lightly so. Clutch, 3 to 4. 

 Length, 1-5 inches; breadth, 1 inch. 



