1922.] Xest and EiKjs ()/' Stonostira scita. 255 



hedge, both equally as well liiddeu as the first, and only 

 found by laboriously investigating every inch of the 

 hedge. 



The other three nests were found by following birds 

 carrying nesting material. One was placed in a ganna- 

 bosch. This bush grows to an average height of six feet. The 

 one in which the nest was built had a stem about 2.1 inches 

 in diameter. Nine inches from the ground three minor 

 stems sprung from the main stem forming a deep and perfect 

 fork. The nest was placed in this fork, and so cunningly 

 concealed that it was quite impossible to see it even when 

 only a foot or so away. This nest contained three eggs — 

 the only one I have ever found with more than two. 



Another nest was built among the debris from the river 

 caught up by a thorn-tree growing on the banks of the Fish 

 River. A high flood had bent the tree — a small one — and 

 thrown against it a mass of debris in such a way as to form 

 under it a sheltered hollow, shaped like a Kaflir hut. The 

 nest was placed right inside this hollow, and well concealed 

 among the debris, about three feet from the ground. 



Th(^ last nest I found was in a thorn-tree. The lower 

 branches had died and dropped down, forming a dense mass 

 round the trunk. 1 found the nest after forcing my way in. 

 It was deep in near the trunk, and cleverly concealed between 

 two thickish branches. It took me some time to find it. I 

 must have looked at the actual spot several times before 

 I detected tiie nest. It was nearly completed when I found 

 it, but the birds did not desert it, and ten days later I found 

 it contained two eggs. 



All the nests were exactly the same. They were built of 

 dead leaves, dead grass and cobwebs, with the interior 

 thickly lined with wool and feathers. The walls were thick 

 and compact, and the whole beautifully and neatly finished ; 

 the outside was perfectly round and smooth. In shape they 

 were deep cups, measuring internally H inches in diameter 

 and 1^ inches deep. In every instance they harmonised 

 perfectly with their surroundings. 



As mentioned above, one nest contained three eggs ; the 

 others, two. In shape the eggs are broad ovals, and have a 



