THE ROCK WARBLER — THE YELLOW-TAILED ACANTHIZA. 237 



ma, is derived from a Greek word signifying a rock or a precipice, 

 and is more appropriate than are many scientific titles. 



It is a small bird, no larger than our sparrow, and is soberly 

 colored, the general hue being brown, relieved by a dull red on 

 the breast, something like that of the female robin. It has a me- 

 lodious though not very powerful note ; but its chief claims to 

 admiration are founded upon the extraordinary nest which it 

 builds. In general shape this nest somewhat resembles a claret 

 jug without a handle, having a long, slender neck and a globular 

 and suddenly-rounded bulb. 



It is suspended from the rocks in sheltered places, and where- 

 ever an overhanging ledge of rock affords protection from the ele- 

 ments there the strange nests may be found. Just as the martins 

 take a fancy to some favored spot, and build whole rows of nests 

 on one side of some particular house, utterly disdaining neighbor- 

 ing houses which, to all appearance, afford exactly the same ad- 

 vantages, so do the Eock Warblers affect some particular rock, 

 and hang their nests by dozens in close proximity to each other. 

 The material of the nest is the long moss which is plentiful in the 

 country ; and, as may be seen from the illustration, the entrance 

 is near the centre- of the rounded bulb. In consequence of the 

 material of which the nest is constructed, it is very rough on the 

 exterior, though smooth and comfortable enough within. 



Australia certainly produces some of the most singular ob- 

 jects in the world. Among the many varieties of birds'-nests 

 which are found in this region, there is one of a very curious 

 form, resembling very greatly a common cottage loaf, and being 

 in fact a double nest, one being placed upon the other. 



The bird which makes this nest is termed the Yellow-tailed 

 Acanthiza (Acanthiza chrysorrhcea), and is not uncommon in dif- 

 ferent parts of Australasia. It is rather a neat-looking bird, the 

 colors being beautifully blended together. The back and upper 

 parts are greenish, like the hue of our common wood-wren, and 

 below it is pale yellow, while there is a patch of bright golden 

 yellow at the base of the tail. As if to contradict the popular 

 idea that the birds of Australia have no song, the Yellow-tailed 

 Acanthiza sings a bright, cheerful note, very like that of the gold- 

 finch, so that it is in all points a pleasing little bird. 



It is seldom seen on the wing, or, at all events, seldom flies 

 to any distance, as it prefers to remain on the ground, or in the 



