274 



THE EMEU WREN. 



which serve as perches for the bird to rest upon before it enters the nest, and may 

 probably be used by the male as a seat whereon to recline while his mate is sitting upon 

 the eggs within. The colour of the nest varies according to the substance of which it is 

 composed, sometimes being of a snowy whiteness, and at other times of a dingy brown. 



The peculiar form of this and other similar nests is evidently for the purpose of 

 enabling the parent bird to defend its home against the intrusions of the many foes to 

 bird life with which these regions swarm. The eggs are generally from six to eight in 

 number. 



Another species of the same genus, the Capocier, builds a nest which, although of 

 coarser texture, is C[uite as beautiful as that of the pinc-pinc. 



The materials are much the same as those employed by the pinc-pinc, but they are 

 only closely felted together in the interior of the nest, and are left to flow loosely on its 

 exterior. It is a very large edifice in proportion to the dimensions of the architect, and 

 the cottony down, the flaxen fibres, and fine moss are woven together in so skilful a 

 manner as to excite our highest admiration. Le Vaillant, who watched a pair of Capociers 

 hard at work upon their nest, says that they were occupied for a whole week in their task. 

 The interior of the nest is of an oval shape, rather roughly corresponding with the external 

 outline, and it is entered through an opening in the side. One of these nests will some- 

 times reach nine inches in height. Tlie Capocier is a native of Africa. 



The genus which has been chosen as a type of this family is MAiiURtrs, the members of 

 which are only found on the continent of Australia. They possess the habits of Drymoica, 

 and even resemble those birds in the peculiar fashion of tilting up their tails as they run 

 over the ground. 



EMEU WREN.— Slipiiunts malachuj-u!. 



Our last, and perhaps the most curious example of the IMalurine birds is the beautiful 

 little Emeu Ween of Australia. 



This pretty bird is remarkal:)le for the development of the tail-feathers, which are 

 extremely lengthened, and are nothing more than bare shafts slightly fringed on each side. 

 The bird never perches on high trees, and veiy seldom takes to wing, but runs over the 

 grass with very great rapidity, holding its tail erect over its back in a singularly pert 

 manner. It is generally found among long grass, and according to Dr. Bennett it 

 congregated some years since in the Sydney Domain, near the Botanic Gardens, but 



