106 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



to bough until each has got well up the young tree. They 

 never seem to rest a minute. With the wing and tail well 

 spread, and carried much above the plane of the back, a 

 group presents a strange sight, and one quite peculiar to 

 the genus. When disturbed the notes of the birds become 

 very much mixed in a harsh jumble. The comparison with 

 the mew of the cat is not nearly so good as with that of 

 the Cat-bird (Aeluroedus) of New South Wales. In Vic- 

 toria there are two common species of Babblers, this and 

 P. temporalis. While the former is located chiefly in the 

 north-west, the latter is in the south-east. The third 

 species, P. ruficeps, Hart., is more a border bird and a 

 visitor. P. temporalis has been called the " Codlin-moth 

 eater." In any case it is a most useful friend to the 

 cultivators of introduced fruit trees. 



The nesting habits of the genus are comparatively 

 strange. About half a dozen nests are built before eggs 

 are laid in the final one, and it is a very great advantage 

 to the birds in adopting this means, perhaps unconsciously, 

 for the preservation of their eggs. 



The flock assist one another in building, and three to 

 five eggs are laid by each pair. 



Nest. — Rugged appearance, large and spherical, with side 

 entrance, spouted ; made of twigs and lined with grasses, 

 kc. ; situated in a small tree. 



Uggs. — Four eggs generally to a sitting ; pale brown, 

 with peculiar cobweb or hair-like lines irregularly placed 

 upon them. Length, 1 inch ; breadth, 0*35 inch. 



