THE KOCK WARBLEK. 215 



with SO much art that it is impossible to distinguish it from any 

 of the other pendulous masses in the vicinity. These bunches 

 are frequently a yard in length, and in some places hang so near 

 the ground as to strike the head of the explorer during his 

 rambles ; in others, they are placed high up on the trees, but 

 only in such parts of the forest where there is an open space 

 entirely shaded by overhanging foliage. As will be readily 

 conceived, in whatever situations they are met with, they at 

 all times form a remarkable and conspicuous feature in the 

 landscape. 



" Although the nest is constantly disturbed by the wind, and 

 liable to be shaken when the tree is disturbed, so secure does the 

 inmate consider itself from danger or intrusion of any kind, that 

 I have frequently captured the female while sitting on her eggs, 

 a feat that may always be accomplished by carefully placing the 

 hand over the entrance — ^that is, if it can be detected, to effect 

 which, no slight degree of close prying and examination is 

 necessary. 



" The nest is formed of the inner bark of trees, intermingled 

 with green moss, which soon vegetates ; sometimes dried grasses 

 and fibrous roots form part of the materials of which it is com- 

 posed, and it is warmly lined with feathers. The eggs, which 

 are three in number, and much elongated in form, vary con- 

 siderably in colour, the most constant tint being a clove-brown, 

 freckled over the end with dark umber-brown, frequently 

 assuming the form of a complete band or zone ; their medium 

 length is one inch, and their breadth eight lines." 



If the reader will bear in mind the remarkable shape of this 

 and a few other nests, he will see, in a future page, how won- 

 derful is the resemblance between the pensile nests of birds and 

 insects. 



Pensile birds do not always suspend their nests to the 

 branches of trees, but in some instances choose exactly the 

 localities which appear to be the most unsuited for the purpose. 

 Still keeping to Australia, we may find a most wonderful 

 example of a pensile nest near mountain courses. The bird 

 which makes it is called, indifferently, the Eock Wabblee, or 

 the Cataract Bird {Origma rubrkata), because it is always 

 found where water-courses rush through rocky ground. So 



