42 MATESHIP WITH BIRDS 



tufted Honeyeater. Slipping out of its dainty 

 cradle suspended in a sapling, this pretty tragedian 

 will go tumbling and fluttering along over the 

 roughest of ground, beating its wings distressedly, 

 and screeching meanwhile as though in mortal 

 agony. So soon, however, as the uninitiated or in- 

 dulgent visitor is drawn from the danger zone, the 

 tragedy gives place to comedy the actor shakes its 

 little tail in the shelter of a friendly tree! 



Why, one wonders, is the exercise of this pretty 

 device restricted to non-migratory birds? Is it be- 

 cause of their strong voices that the wandering 

 species rely on vehement protests, rather than subtle 

 devices, when their nests are apparently in danger? 

 There is one other small bark home I can always 

 be sure of finding on September days. Like the 

 Thrush and the Regent Honeyeater, the Yellow 

 Robin loves to keep as close to mother earth as 

 safety will permit. Having no fondness for the 

 screening of bushes, however, it must needs build 

 its house with more neatness, not forgetting to have 

 an eye to harmony of color in the site. Moreover, 

 as Eopsaltria has not the strength of voice of its 

 larger neighbors of the bark homes, it has recourse 

 to stealth. Sitting watchfully on the nest, Robin 

 will always see before being seen. As the danger 

 grows, she dives quickly and flies softly, flush with 

 the ground. The progress of events is watched 

 then from the side of a handy tree, and, should there 

 be callow young in the nest, possibly the little 

 mother will reappear on the scene as a fine imita- 

 tion of a disabled bird. She does not tumble and 

 scamper along in the style of a distraught Honey- 



