216 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



attached is the bird to these localities, that it is never seen in the 

 forest, nor ever has been observed to perch upon a branch. The 

 generic name, Origma, is derived from a Greek word, signifying 

 a rock or a precipice, and is more appropriate than are many 

 scientific titles. 



It is a small bird, no larger than our sparrow, and is soberly 

 coloured, the general hue being brown, relieved by a dull red on 

 the breast, something like that of the female robin. It has a 

 melodious though not very powerful note ; but its chief claims 

 to admiration are founded upon the extraordinary nest which it 

 builds. In general shape this nest somewhat resembles a claret 

 jug without a handle, having a long, slender neck and a globular 

 and suddenly-rounded bulb. 



It is suspended from the rocks in sheltered places, and 

 wherever an overhanging ledge of rock affords protection from 

 the elements, there the strange nests may be found. Just as the 

 martins take a fancy to some favoured spot, and bmld whole 

 rows of nests on one side of some particular house, utterly dis- 

 daining neighbouring houses, which, to all appearance, afford 

 exactly the same advantages, so do the Eock Warblers affect 

 some particular rock, and hang their nests by dozens in close 

 proximity to each other. The material of the nest is the long 

 moss which is plentiful in the country; and, as may be seen 

 from the illustration, the entrance is near the centre of the 

 rounded bulb. In consequence of the material of which the 

 nest is constructed, it is very rough on the exterior, though 

 smooth and comfortable enough witliin. 



AusTEALiA certainly produces some of the most singular objects 

 in the world. Among the many varieties of birds' nests which 

 are found in this region, there is one of a very curious form, 

 resembling veiy greatly a common cottage loaf, and being in fact 

 a double nest, one being placed upon the other. 



The bird which makes this nest is termed the Yellow-tailed 

 AcAMTHiZA (Acanthiza ehrysorrham), and is not uncommon in 

 different parts of Australasia. It is rather a neat-looking bird, the 

 colours being beautifully blended together. The back and upper 

 parts are greenish, like the hue of our common wood-wren, and 

 below it is pale yeUow, while there is a patch of bright golden 

 yellow at the base of the tail. As if to contradict the popular 



