THE PINC-PINC. 217 



idea that the birds of Australia have no song, the Yellow-tailed 

 Acanthiza sings a bright, cheerful note, very like that of the 

 goldfinch, so that it is in aU points a pleasing little bird. 



It is seldom seen on the wing, or, at all events, seldom flies 

 to any distance, as it prefers to remain on the ground, or in the 

 bush, and when disturbed will fly for a few yards and then settle 

 again. It is generally found in small flocks, consisting of six or 

 ten in number, and as it is by no means timid, wiU allow itself 

 to be approached closely before it takes alarm. 



The nest is a very remarkable structure. In most cases it is 

 formed as has just been mentioned, a little nest being stuck on 

 the large one. The materials of which it is made are grass, 

 wood, and leaves, and the structure is rather loose and careless. 

 Generally it is suspended from the delicate mimosa branches, 

 especially in Van Diemen's Land ; but when it builds in gardens, 

 as is often the case, it mostly prefers a low shrub for that purpose. 

 Unfortunately for the bird, the bronze cuckoo has a predilection 

 for its nest, and lays its eggs therein. Whenever this is the case, 

 the parasitic bird takes entire possession of the nest, and no 

 other young are found in it. 



The supplementary nest is not invariably present, and both 

 the size and shape are extremely variable. The reader may 

 perhaps remember that the Pinc-pinc of Africa (JDrymoica textrix) 

 has a similar custom, constructing a supplementary roosting-place 

 upon the nest. The home of the Pinc-pinc is of much firmer 

 structure than that of the Yellow-tailed Acanthiza, being made 

 of vegetable fibres, interwoven so strongly and elaborately that 

 a thick, felt-like substance is produced. The entrance to the 

 nest is formed in a tubular shape, and projects for an inch or 

 two, so as to look like a spout, and near the entrance is con- 

 structed a rounded projection on which a bird can repose. 



Some persons think that the male bird uses this perch, and 

 that he posts himself by the entrance in order to act as a sentry 

 and to keep guard over the inmates. It is more probable 

 however, that the projection is used, not so much as a resting- 

 place for the male, although he may possibly take a fancy for 

 sitting in the fresh air rather than in the nest, as a perch on 

 which the bird can settle before it passes into the tubular 

 entrance. Tliis supposition is borne out by the fact that there 

 are mostly several of these perches on each nest, so that the 



