Vol. VIII. 



] S^ray Feathers. 95 



On my approaching the scene of operations the Babblers and one 

 pair of Acanthizas "moved on," the other pair remaining. I then 

 noticed that the apparently '' old " nest was the " new " one of the 

 remaining pair of Acanthizas {A. apicalis), and that the side and 

 bottom of it had been pulled out by the Babblers, the freshly- 

 broken eggs (3) lying on the ground beneath. Is this a usual 

 custom of the Bal:)blers ? I have never noted it before. — Chas. G. 

 Gibson. Perth (W.A.) 



* * * 



Kestrel Mimicking Root.— Whilst walking along the Namoi 

 River, unfortunately without my usual companion, the camera, 1 

 saw what at first sight appeared to be a gnarled root projecting 

 from the bank. But, being uncertain, and to convince myself, I 

 walked towards it, and found it to be a Nankeen Kestrel {Ccrchneis 

 cenchroides). It was sitting almost erect, with its head turned 

 slightly to one side, resembling broken roots in the vicinity. It 

 allowed me to approach within 10 feet of it before it flew away. 

 In flying I noticed that one of its legs was missing — possibly it 

 had been shot off, and apparently for some considerable time. I 

 am of opinion that the Kestrel, through this deficiency, found it 

 rather difficult to perch on the trees, so took to roosting on ledges 

 of the river banks, where it has acquired the art of root-mimicking. 

 —Harry Burrell. Manilla (N.S.W.), 7/8/08. 



Malurus Fighting its Shadow. — On several occasions last 

 month I noticed a female Blue Wren {Malurus cyaneus) fluttering 

 like a moth at the window leading into our garden. She would 

 then fly to a rose-bush close by, where the male bird was sitting 

 watching her. After she had rested awhile she would fly straight 

 back and repeat the performance. I stood inside the room close to 

 the window watching her. But apparently in her excitement she 

 could not see me, as she did not stop her strange antics. On 

 another occasion I heard fluttering, so I quietly drew the curtains 

 aside and watched her again. A Persian cat jumped on to the 

 table in front of the window and watched her also, but even that 

 had no effect. After sending the cat outside, I waited for the bird 

 to return to her mate, who was then hopping about excitedly. I 

 then pulled the top sash down silently. After a few minutes I 

 closed the window again, when she evidently caught sight of it, for 

 she came back and hammered away at the glass until she fell, 

 almost exhausted, with outspread wings, on the window-sill below, 

 where she stopped for a few seconds before returning to her mate, 

 who seemed greatly excited all the while. At first I thought the 

 bird had mistaken the glass for space ; but, if she was so anxious to 

 come in, why not try when the window was pulled down ? I have 

 come to the conclusion that it was nothing but pure jealousy that 

 caused her to fight so hard her own reflection in the window. — 

 Harry Burrell. Manilla (N.S.W.), 11/8/08. 



