A BIRD'S PLAYHOUSE 257 



seventeen wide, so that several birds could fly through 

 together. 



Sometimes a single bird amused itself for hours at a 



time at one of the playhouses, carrying the shells through 



the house from one side to the other. If two or more 



^ birds were present at the same time they invariably chased 



I each other in a playful manner, and sometimes a squabble 



I arose among them, which seemed to be a kind of mock 



fight. 



Sticks, coloured stones from the hills and river banks, 

 fruit stones, berries, a metal button, a small piece of tin, a 

 piece of native twine, and a number of wallaby teeth, were 

 among the numerous articles lying about these playhouses. 



