THROUGH THE BIG SWAMPS 121 



We had better luck among the land birds at 

 Round Lake. Nests of the Chestnut-eared Finch 

 [Tseniopygia castanotis'] were discovered in the box- 

 thorn bushes that formed dense thickets near the 

 water. They were guarded by sharp thorns, and it 

 was impossible to examine one until some branches 

 had been cut away. The Finches darted in and out 

 of the bushes, dodging the thorns with ease;, in fact, 

 they did not seem even to look where they were going. 

 A pair of White-winged Wren-Warblers [Malurus 

 cyanotus] had built in a small boxthorn, but instead 

 of being concealed near the centre of the bush, the 

 nest was suspended among outer twigs : it swayed 

 gently in its bower of glossy, green leaves, decked in 

 coral-red berries. In bushes growing along the rail- 

 way, near Boga, other nests of this Wren-Warbler 

 were found. Heavy rain had fallen a few days pre- 

 viously, and three of the nests contained dead 

 fledglings. 



On the way home my companion spoke of his pets, 

 and presently introduced me to one, a young Fox, 

 which followed him like a dog, and obeyed commands. 

 A Boga boy was also a Fox lover at least, he had two 

 cubs, which were liberated on the lake shore for my 

 pleasure. They declined to pose for a photograph. 

 One, the male, ran to the water's edge, sniffed the air, 

 then rejoined its mate. They played together prettily, 

 rolling each other over on the sand, and snapping in 

 make-believe anger. The play of animals is always 

 interesting. I should not care to endorse all that 

 has been stated in some "animal stories," but wild 

 creatures, in infancy especially, appear to enjoy rough 

 and tumble "games." On the plains Native Com- 

 panions perform grotesque dances, probably for re- 

 creation. Numbers of the birds assemble and caper 

 on "light fantastic toes," the scene reminding one of 

 a blackfellows' corroboree. 



