Vol. XIV. 

 1915 



J Fletcher, Further Field Notes on (he Emu-Wren. 



215 



between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. She also takes a short feeding flight 

 again in the evening. Therefore, the above hours are the best 

 if an observer wishes to find the nest through watching the bird's 

 movements. As a rule, when returning to her nest or carrying 

 food to the young, the bird flies in long, hurried flights, chiefly in 

 a straight hne, and one has some exciting moments trying to keep 

 her in view. To give an idea of how these mouse-like birds cover 

 ground, I might state that I have followed them three-quarters 

 of a mile up one of the swampy creeks and back again. 



Green moss is the first material chosen for the nest, and this is 

 placed low down in the tussock. Sometimes the framework of 

 the nest consists almost entirely of this moss. The hning may be 

 of feathers, fern hair, fur, or thistledown. Very often a good 

 idea of what birds are frequenting the swamp may be gained 

 through an examination of the feathery lining. Except in one 

 instance, my observations show that an egg is laid each day till 

 the clutch is complete, and the female begins to brood on the 

 day on which the last egg is laid. She does all the brooding, which 

 extends over 10 or 12 days. During his mate's retirement the. male 

 keeps watch. If danger threatens he flies past or near the home 

 clump, caUing to the female. She drops from the nest, creeps 

 along the ground, then appears on .a rush uttering the alarm 

 note of the Brown-rumped Tit-Warbler {Acanthiza diemenensis), 

 then joins her mate. If watched, she invariably flies in a com- 

 plete circle to return to the nest. 



Young Bronze-Cuckoo in Emu-Wren's Nest. 



FROM A PHOTO. EY MISS J. A. FLETCHER. 



