RUSH-LOVING SPINE-TAIL 207 
note, followed by a series of sounds like smart taps 
on a piece of dry wood. It frequents the same places 
as the small Many-coloured Tyrant (Cyanotis azare), 
and these little neighbours, being equally inquisitive, 
whenever a person approaches the rushes often 
emerge together, one uttering wooden-sounding 
creaks and raps, the other liquid gurgling notes— 
a little brown bird and a little bird with many bright 
colours, both, in very different tones, demanding to 
know the reason of the intrusion. 
The nest is a very wonderful structure, and is 
usually attached to three upright stems ; it is domed, 
oval-shaped, about nine inches deep, and the small 
circular aperture which is close to the top is protected 
by a sloping tile-like projection. It is built of tough 
grass-leaves, which are apparently first daubed with 
wet clay and then ingeniously woven in, with the 
addition, I think, of some kind of mucilage: the 
whole nest is, when finished, light but very strong, 
and impervious to wet. Until the rushes die and 
drop the nest remains securely fastened to them, 
and in winter affords a safe and comfortable retreat 
to the small, rush- or reed-frogs, of which sometimes 
as many as three or four are found living in one nest. 
The interior is very thickly lined with feathers; the 
eggs are three, pear-shaped, and a bright, beautiful 
blue colour, sometimes with a slight greenish tinge. 
The bird is so abundant in extensive marshes that 
I have on several occasions, during a half-day’s 
ramble, found as many as forty or fifty nests, some- 
times a dozen or more being placed close together, 
