THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 125 



In another large " calabash " a Jackass had reared its young for 

 several seasons. 



The family of Superb Warblers or Wrens is represented by 

 three species, lively little creatures, which are found wherever 

 there is cover. But the ordinary Blue Wren, Malurus cyaneus, is 

 outshone by the M. melanocephalus, which, instead of blue, dons 

 a red plumage. Both species are common, but what a contrast 

 in colouring for two birds of one family ! The latter builds its 

 nest in long grass, and the eggs, three in number, are spotted 

 with a dull chocolate colour. A distinguishing mark to the nest 

 is that the dry skeleton bracts enveloping the fruit of the Cape 

 Gooseberry, which grows plentifully about, are invariably found 

 ornamenting the exterior. One male bird of this wren I shot in 

 the interesting stage of changing its immature brownish coat for 

 the brilliant plumage of the adult male, which change is supposed 

 to take place when the bird is three seasons old ; then the 

 black colouring begins to show through the drab of the head and 

 under parts, while the red feathers appear in the back. The third 

 species, Malurus lamberli, is somewhat scarce. The Grass 

 Warbler, Gisticola exilis, is in great numbers, and its nest is often 

 found in the tall weeds. The Finch, Munia castaneithorax, is 

 called the " Barley-bird," for in the season it congregates and 

 strips cereal crops. Its nest is a rough structure, usually placed 

 in the tops of " blady " grass, which grows in patches near 

 water. The Dicaeum and the Zosterops were also noted. I saw 

 several nests of the latter in fruit trees, and with one exception 

 they contained two eggs each. A nest of the Dicseum was found 

 with the unusual clutch of four eggs. 



In several parts of my paper I have mentioned second growth 

 scrub, and, of course, I refer to patches that have sprung up in the 

 clearings, and have been allowed to stand for shade or other 

 purposes. One bird does not, apparently, patronize any other 

 place — the Fig-bird, Sphecotheres maxillaris, I refer to, which 

 lives and breeds in several of the larger patches, never leaving 

 them except on a foraging expedition. For its nesting-place it 

 chooses a horizontal fork at the tip of a branch, and builds the 

 nest of tough wiry tendrils and small sticks ; the three eggs can be 

 seen from below showing through the structure. The Fig-bird 

 breeds in bands of a dozen or so, and several pairs of the Oriole, 

 Oriolus viridis, are generally in the company. 



The Pheasant Coucal, Centropus phasianus, is a phenomenal 

 bird, approaching in relation nearest the Cuckoo family; but it 

 builds a rough nest for itself in cover near the ground, and lays 

 four dull whitish eggs. The bird frequents patches of bracken, 

 fern, and other undergrowth, and is well known by its deep, 

 resounding guttural call, which can be heard a great way off. It 

 is a very awkward creature, having a long thin body, which, with 

 the large tail, is black, while the wings are mottled brownish. 



