..^..»..t.1..4"4" 



4 

 NEST AND EGGS OF THE MISSELBIRD. 



PLATE IV. 



The Misselbird most commonly places her nest in an 

 ash tree, at the coming out of one of the branches, a 

 good height from the ground. In the nest before me 

 the first lay consists of several kinds of moss, hay, stalks 

 of dried plants. Sec. which being brought in great plenty, 

 and disposed in a very rugged manner, constitute the 

 chief part of the fabrid|| Upon this follows a lay of 

 plaster, composed of clay mixed with cow's dung, so 

 well tempered together as to form^ when dry, an hard 

 tough shell of about half an inch thick. Upon this is 

 laid another covering of soft dry grass, which is neatly 

 platted both in the cavity and all round the borders 

 of the nest. The diameter of the cavity is about four 

 inches, the depth not fully two. 



This nest was built between the triple division of the 

 branch of an ash tree, and hung all round with the * ash- 

 liverwort, so as to hide it on every side. On remo^dng 

 it I found that some part of the liverwort grew from 

 the tree above and round about the nest ; but the greater 

 part of it was very artfully wove in with the grass and 

 moss on the outer margin of the brim, and left to hang 

 loose about the sides of the nest, just as it hung on other 

 parts of the tree. By this artifice the bird often secures 

 her nest, concealing it from the gape of the ignorant 

 country bumpkin, or the prying eye of the mischievous 

 school-boy. How cunning is nature in the indulgence 

 and preservation of her species ! 



She lays four eggs of a dusky flesh colour, having a 

 cast of green, and large spots of brown or purple. The 

 Misselbird is the earliest of our song birds. In the 

 month of Januaiy, if the weather is mild, he sings most 

 sweetly ; his song resembles that of the throstle, but his 

 pipe is sweeter, and his notes more mellow. 



* Lichen fraxineus. 



