186



the window-sills, then they squatted on the flower-pots ; when

I drove them from the flower-pots, then they squatted on the

floor ; when I drove them from the floor, then they squatted

on the pictures hung up against the walls. The Masked

Grass - finches were the worst ; I never saw such creatures

in my life ; side by side they squatted until it became

monotonous ; and, fearing that they might take root and

become fixtures, I eventually turned them out into the

garden. Here they still squatted, usually on the ground, always

side by side, on a gentle declivity, in the sun when possible.

Then there came a time when they became excited, and dashed

about, and finally disappeared in a dense and impenetrable jungle

at the end of the garden ; and visions of baby Masks and gold

medals dangled before my eyes. Sometimes for days and days

I would not see them, and then only when creeping about on

the ground feeding ; but weeks and weeks have passed, and no

baby Masks have appeared ; and if you were to ask me what

I now think I should find if I were to invade the pathless depths

of the jungle, I should answer that I think I should just find

those two birds squatting.


Of the Tong-tailed Grass-finches I had many hopes ; but,

objecting to their squatting on the window-sills, I shut them up

entirely. Feeble signs of nesting appeared occasionally, but

nothing came of it, and it ended in my turning them likewise

out into the garden. Now these birds had never been in the

garden before, yet no sooner were they let loose than they flew

straight to the nearest tree, and commenced building forthwith.

They did not make any attempt to explore their new domain ;

and, although very strong birds, I doubt if they have even yet

visited the jungle, or been to the end of the garden, which is

only a few yards long. The lime tree to which they flew had

been cut hard back during the winter (by the Parrakeets), and

had thrown out a fairly thick head of young branches. In this

they built a Magpie-like nest, about the size of a Rugby football,

entirely of straw externally, but lined with finer straw and dried

grass. Of what possible use a lattice-work dome of straw could

have been I cannot imagine ; but perhaps it was for ornament,

not for use. After the completion of the nest, there was a quiet

pause ; then the birds practically disappeared ; and once more

grand visions of gold medals galore danced before my eyes.


Now, I hope the readers of this Magazine will not think

that I am poking fun at them when I say that I am a good-

natured man. About this time it so happened that a friend of

mine had a pair of Nonpareils which he wanted to get rid of ;



