OF VICTORIA. 125 



experience some years ago on Phillip Island, where Grass- 

 Warblers are plentiful and not in the least shy. Much 

 depends on the observations being made quietly. They 

 rise from the coarse grass like laige brown butterflies, with 

 a slow flight, very much like a flutter. At tirst sight it is 

 difficult to distinguish between bird and butterfly. Both 

 would rise from the tussocks, and when clear of them would 

 flap along the surface for some time. As soon as the bird 

 got to the horizon the distinguishing difference was evident. 

 The calls of the male in the air are of two natures— one a 

 plaintive and soft note ; the second a brisk whistle, immedi- 

 ately following the first. The time of my visit was the 

 nesting season, November-December, and these little birds 

 used all their wits to keep a friend and myself from finding 

 their nests. Whenever a bird rose from the grass we care- 

 fully examined it, with no good result. The bird, mouse- 

 like, had run along the ground for some distance and then 

 flown. To come to the nest it always alighted at a distance 

 from wheie it was and then hopped through the tussocky 

 ground to it. We tested this by observations in different 

 ways. The only nest we did find was the result of patient 

 search. 



Nest. — Small, oblong or pyriform, and side entranced ; 

 made of grass and other fine material, and suspended in 

 coarse grasses, often in growing corn. 



Eggs. — Three or four to a sitting ; pale blue, spotted 

 with reddish-brown of varying intensity. Length, 0'6 

 inch; breadth, 05 inch. 



