THE MAGPIE-ROBIN 
ficid Notes * — This bird is not only of thrush size but also 
very thrush-like in its actions. It hops about the iawns and 
tennis courts in a bold and confident manner, regales us with 
wonderful music when the spirit moves it and provides ample 
amusement when the males are assiduously courting the hens 
and singing one against the other with such goodwill that we 
often pause to wonder that they find it worth while ! 
Other babtts: — The murai makes a large cup-like nest of 
grass which is placed in the fork of a smallish tree, or in the 
Botanic Gardens very frequently in a palm in which case the 
nest is wedged in between the stalk-leaf and the stem of the 
palm; According to Ridley nests are sometimes placed on a 
beam beneath the verandah of a house. 
[With the black and white plumage of a magpie and the 
contidiiig^ habits and jerky movements of a robin this engaging 
bird is probably the best known in the Island. It may be seen 
in most gardens, cither on the lawn or perched on a branch or 
on the verandah rail uttering its very melodious and charming 
though short song. It also frequents the less dense jungle 
in rural districts but has no fear of man and is a favourite and 
tame cage bird. It is very pugnacious and bold and has royal 
battles with its brothers. 
It has a curious habit of sharply raising and lowering its 
tail just as does a robin or English hedge-sparrow\ It feeds 
on worms and insects : it properly nests in thick shrubs but 
often builds almost anywhere; in a hollow stump used for 
training orchids, in an old tin, in a hole in a wall, under the 
eaves of a house and even in a constantly used stable; about 
four eggs are as a ni!e laid of a pale-blue ground colour 
blotched and spotted with brown. — J. A. S. B.]. 
['9X] 
