The Australian Rock-Warbler 217 



otherwise, on attacking the nest, fumbles about at the pocket 

 or false entrance, while the little birds peck a hole in the 

 back part and escape. 



Another very remarkable nest is that of the Rock- 

 Warbler of Australia (Origma rubricata), and it is sus- 

 pended under a rock or cave in the solitudes which it loves 

 to frequent. It is a very shy little bird, and never seems to 

 perch in trees or to frequent the forests, but lives among 

 the rocks and the water-gullies. The nest is of an oval 

 shape, and is made of moss, the entrance-hole being pierced 

 in the latter just before the feather-lining is prepared for 

 the interior ; but the curious feature of the nest is the way 

 in which it is suspended by a narrow neck to the roof of 

 the cave or rock. 



Weaver-birds make as wonderful nests as any birds, for 

 they weave a kind of large oval purse out of strips of palm- 

 leaves and grass, and an examination of their work shows 

 that these industrious little people are able to twist and 

 bind and knot together the materials of which the nest is 

 composed in a way that would do credit to any straw- 

 worker. The nests are generally suspended at the end of 

 the boughs of a palm or other tree, and in most cases over- 

 hang the water, so that it is difficult for any Snake or 

 Monkey to reach them. Many species add a kind of long 

 stocking or funnel to the entrance to the nest, which 

 renders it difficult for any animal to attack the eggs or 

 young birds, which are housed inside in an ordinary cup- 

 shaped hollow. Snakes are, however, persistent enemies of 

 the Weaver-birds, and my friend, Mr. F. J. Jackson, who 

 found a nest with young birds in Uganda, on returning to 

 the nest the next day, inserted his fingers, only to light 

 on the cold body of a Snake, which had eaten the nestlings 

 and coiled itself up in the nest. 



The Weaver-birds are fond of nesting in a community, 

 and sometimes as many as a hundred nests are found upon 



