ISO STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



hurry with a long bit of grass in his beak. He would sit out- 

 side the nest, holding on by his claws with the grass under them. 

 He would then put the right end into the nest with his beak, 

 and the female inside would pull it through and put it out for 

 him again, and thus the plaiting of the nest went on. All this 

 was done amidst great chattering, and the birds seemed to think 

 it great fun. When a piece was used up one would give the 

 other a peck, and he or she would fly off for more material, the 

 other sitting quietly till the worker returned. Nests in every 

 stage of building afforded every position for the bird, who 

 seemed at home in all of them. The joy, the life, the activity, 

 and general gaiety of the birds I shall never forget. 



'August 1 8. — Noticed to-day how the birds obtained their 

 grass. The little bird alights at the edge of the high, strong 

 Seenta grass {Aitdropogon euripctat) with its head down, and 

 bites through the edge to the exact thickness which it requires. 

 It then goes higher up on the same blade of grass, and having 

 considered the length needed, bites through it again. It then 

 seizes it firmly at the first notch and flies away. Of course the j 

 strip of grass tears off, and stops at the notch. It then flies 9 

 away with the grass streaming behind it. As the edge of the 

 grass is much serrated, the bird has to consider and pass it 

 through the work the right way. 



* In some instances the male continues to build for amuse- 

 ment after the nest is finished, not only elongating the tubular 

 entrance, but also making a kind of false nest' 



