324 



BIRDS. 



bears a bright orange crest, bordered on each side with 

 black. Several other species of Regulus are known, 

 and two of these have been seen in this country. 



THE BEED WARBLER ( Calamodyta arundinacea] visits 

 this country in April, and departs again in September. 

 During its stay here it takes up its abode amongst the 

 reeds and osiers which fringe our rivers and lakes. The 

 nest of this species is built amongst the reeds. It is 

 composed of long grass, and of the seed branches of the 

 reeds, and is attached by its sides to three or four 

 reeds ; it is of an elongated conical form externally, 

 and its cavity is also very deep, in order to prevent 

 the eggs from rolling out when the reeds are swayed 

 by the wind. The food of this and of several other 

 epeoies, which like it haunt the reeds and sedges 

 about our fresh waters, consists of worms, slugs, and 

 insects. 



THE SEDGE WARBLER (Calamodyta phragmttis), 

 one of these species, is far more common than the 

 Reed Warbler, in company with which it is usually 

 found. Another species has been called the GRASS- 

 HOPPER WARBLER (C. locustetta), from its almost con- 

 stantly emitting a shrill cricket-like note. 



THE INDIAN TAILOR WED (Orthotomus long icauda). 

 Several species of this family, generally inhabitants of 

 the East Indies, are remarkable for the extraordinary 

 mode in which their nests are made, which has pro- 

 cured for them the name of Tailor Birds. The present 

 species, to which the name was applied by the older 

 naturalists, is common in most wooded districts of 

 India, and also frequents the gardens, where its singular 

 mode of nidification may often be observed. Selecting 

 a suitable leaf, the ingenious little architect proceeds 

 to draw the edges together by means of its bill and feet; 

 then piercing holes through the approximated edges, 

 it secures them in their place by means of threads of 

 cotton, at the ends of which it leaves small bunches to 

 prevent their drawing through. Sometimes the bird 

 picks up a fallen leaf, and applying it to one still grow- 

 ing on the tree, sews the edges together in the same 

 way, and thus prepares a hanging cradle for its nest. 

 The cavity is filled up with a mass of cotton, flax, and 

 other vegetable fibres, mixed with a little hair, and in 

 this comfortable bed the eggs are deposited, and the 

 young brought up secure from the attacks of snakes 

 and monkeys. 



THE BLUE WREN (Malurus cyaneus) of the Austra- 

 lian colonists, is an abundant species in the brushes of 

 New South Wales, and during the whiter becomes very 

 tame, haunting the gardens and houses of the settlers. 

 The male is a beautiful bird, having the upper parts 

 and the chest black, with the crown of the head, the 

 ear coverts and a crescent-shaped mark on the back 

 light blue, the wings brown, and the belly white. The 

 female is of a brownish tint, paler, or whitish beneath. 

 The habits of this bird are somewhat similar to those of 

 the European Wren, which it also resembles in its song. 

 The nest is built in a bush or tuft of grass; it is domed, 

 with a hole at one side near the top. The eggs are 

 white, spotted with reddish-brown. Several nearly 

 allied species are found hi different parts of Australia. 



THE EMU WREN (Stipiturus malacurus'), which 

 resembles the preceding in its general structure and 



habits, and is an inhabitant of the whole southern part 

 of Australia and Van Diemen's Land, is remarkable 

 for having the tail composed of long feathers, with the 

 barbs widely separated, or decomposed, giving the 

 bird a singular appearance. Both the male and 

 female are reddish-brown, with the feathers of the 

 upper surface streaked and spotted with dark brown; 

 the male has the throat blue. It is a rather shy bird, 

 residing in marshy districts amongst long grass and 

 rushes ; its wings are very short, and it flies but little, 

 but runs upon the ground with great ease and rapidity, 

 carrying its tail elevated over the back. 



THE AUSTRALIAN SINGING LARK (Cindoramphus 

 rufescens) is one of the few Australian birds which 

 deserve notice on account of the sweetness of their 

 song. It is found in all parts of Australia, and dwells 

 principally on the ground, from which it ascends per- 

 pendicularly to a great height in the air, singing both 

 hi its ascent and descent in the manner of our sky- 

 lark. Two other nearly allied species are met with hi 

 Australia, one of which is called the Skylark by the 

 colonists of Port-Phillip. 



THE REDBREAST (Erytliacus rubecula), Plate 10, fig. 

 33. This favourite little native of our islands is too 

 well -known to need any description. He is a perma- 

 nent resident with us, and also hi all the temperate 

 parts of Europe, but in the colder northern regions he 

 is a summer bird of passage. In every place where he 

 occurs, he is regarded with a greater degree of favour 

 than is shown to any other wild bird ; his red vest and 

 bright eye seem to make him friends wherever he 

 goes, and the affection with which he is welcomed 

 at the cottage door is heightened by the boldness and 

 sprightliness of his habits. In the whiter, especially, 

 when his favourite food is scarce, and the places where 

 he might seek it covered up with snow, the Robin seems 

 as it were to cast himself upon the charity of man, not 

 only coming about human habitations to pick up 

 what he can, which is done by many other birds, but 

 actually coming to show himself on the window sill or 

 threshold, as if asking to have his wants supplied. 

 Even in the breeding season, when most birds become 

 very shy, the Robin does not lose his confidence in 

 man, but builds his nest either in the hedgerow or about 

 the sheds and outbuildings, sometimes in places where 

 a considerable amount of bustle is going on. The nest 

 is cupshaped, and composed of moss, leaves, and grass, 

 lined with hair and feathers ; it usually contains five 

 or six eggs, which are white, with pale reddish-brown 

 spots. The song of the Robin is very sweet and 

 powerful, and is continued throughout the whole warm 

 season from spring to late in autumn. 



THE INDIAN ROBIN (Thamnobia fulicata). This 

 bird, like its English namesake, is a great favourite 

 in its native countries, where it frequents the abodes 

 of man as boldly and familiarly as our Robin. It sits 

 upon the housetops and fences, descends into the 

 verandahs to feed, and sometimes even enters the 

 ises. The male has a sweet and pleasing song. 

 The food of this species consists principally of insects, 

 which it pursues upon the ground with great assiduity. 



THE MAGPIE ROBIN (CopsycJim saularis), which, 

 like the preceding, is a native of India and Ceylon, is 



