i88 STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



Although in its shape the nest of the Pied Grallina does not 

 resemble that of the Oven Bird, the materials with which it is 

 constructed are almost identical, consisting of mud and clay, in 

 which are interwoven certain sticks, grasses, feathers, and stem? 

 of plants, which serve to bind the clay together, just as cow's 

 hair binds together the plaster on our walls. 



Like the Oven Bird, the Pied Grallina makes no attempt to 

 conceal its nest, but places it quite conspicuously on a branch, 

 as is shown in the illustration. It is almost invariably built on 

 a bough which overhangs the water, and in spite of its weight 

 and size, is fixed so firmly to the branch that there is no fear 

 lest it should overbalance itself The walls of the nest are 

 very thick and solid, and the whole edifice looks very like an 

 exceedingly rude and ill-baked earthenware vessel, just such an 

 one, indeed, as Robinson Crusoe manufactured on his island. 

 The bird is widely spread over Australia, so that its nest may 

 be found in many parts of the country. 



I MAY here mention that two of our best known song-birds 

 form a basin-like nest of somewhat similar materials. Every 

 one who has taken the nest of a Song Thrush {Turdus fnusiais), 

 will remember that its interior is lined with a cup of a substance 

 that resembles clay, but which is in fact composed chiefly of 

 cowdung and decayed wood. This cup is exceedingly thin, but 

 it is very hard and tough, and is so compact in its structure that 

 it will hold water for some time. Like the mud wall of the 

 Pied Grallina, it is strengthened by sticks and grass, with this 

 difference, that whereas the latter bird incorporates the sticks 

 and straws with the mud, the Thrush works the cup upon the 

 sticks and straws. 



The Blackbird (Turdus inerula)^ too, has a similar habit, 

 only it employs veritable mud for the purpose, and spreads it in 

 a much thicker layer than the Thrush. The eggs, however, are 

 not placed on the dried mud, but on a layer of very fine grass. 

 The object of this curious lining seems to be still undiscovered. 

 Both the birds build in similar localities, and both make their 

 nests close to the ground. It is possible that the stout walls may 



