CHAPTER XI. 



Olive 



I His is a fine bird, nearly as big as a Starling, and, 

 when in its summer dress, of a sulphury shade of 

 yellow, marked and streaked with many broad black 

 bars and lines; the female is much duller in appearance 

 than her mate, but otherwise there is a good deal of 

 resemblance between them. 



They have long strong black bills, but nevertheless 

 I always found them to be perfectly harmless in a 

 mixed aviary where their many attempts at nidification 

 were frustrated by some impudent Budgerigars. On 

 one occasion, however, the male constructed a nest as 

 big as a man's head : I had thrown some stems of grass 

 into the aviary and the bird at once picked them up 

 although previously he had never shown any disposition 

 to build, or weave. 



Evidently he had not before met with anything that 

 suited his purpose, but as soon as these straws were 

 introduced, he at once threw a couple of them over 



