RUSH-LOVING SPINE-TAIL 207 



note, followed by a series of sounds like smart taps 

 on a piece of dry wood* It frequents the same places 

 as the small Many-coloured Tyrant (Cyanotis azarae), 

 and these little neighbours, being equally inquisitive, 

 whenever a person approaches the rushes often 

 emerge together, one uttering wooden-sounding 

 creaks and raps, the other liquid gurgling notes 

 a little brown bird and a little bird with many bright 

 colours, both, in very different tones, demanding to 

 know the reason of the intrusion* 



The nest is a very wonderful structure, and is 

 usually attached to three upright stems ; it is domed, 

 oval-shaped, about nine inches deep, and the small 

 circular aperture which is close to the top is protected 

 by a sloping tile-like projection. It is built of tough 

 grass-leaves, which are apparently first daubed with 

 wet clay and then ingeniously woven in, with the 

 addition, I think, of some kind of mucilage : the 

 whole nest is, when finished, light but very strong, 

 and impervious to wet. Until the rushes die and 

 drop the nest remains securely fastened to them, 

 and in winter affords a safe and comfortable retreat 

 to the small, rush- or reed-frogs, of which sometimes 

 as many as three or four are found living in one nest. 

 The interior is very thickly lined with feathers ; the 

 eggs are three, pear-shaped, and a bright, beautiful 

 blue colour, sometimes with a slight greenish tinge. 



The bird is so abundant in extensive marshes that 

 I have on several occasions, during a half-day's 

 ramble, found as many as forty or fifty nests, some- 

 times a dosen or more being placed close together, 



