THE BUZZARD 33 



reached the ledge on which the nest was 

 built we noticed a large mass of white, 

 and when we got nearer, I was sur- 

 prised to find that this was a quantity 

 of flowers of the mountain ash. The 

 whole of the nest, and also the ledge 

 each side, was simply covered with 

 blossoms, and the birds certainly must 

 have spent a lot of time in plucking 

 them and placing them in position. 



If we should go near the nest when it 

 contains eggs, the birds will rise up in 

 the air almost immediately above their 

 home and give out their loud cry, pee- 

 o-ou, pee-o-ou, and owing to this habit 

 they have led many a collector to their 

 nest. The loud cry can be heard for a 

 great distance, and immediately the male 

 bird sees any one approaching he will fly 

 above the nest calling, and in a very 

 few minutes his mate joins him. I have 

 known some birds which become very 

 bold when we go near their nest, and 

 3 



