Ornithological notes. II. On a curious nesting-site of Anthus australis
Abstract
[No abstract is given for this work, it begins as follows] The Trustees of the Australian Museum are indebted to Mr. A.M.N. Rose, for a nest of the Australian Pipit or common "Ground Lark," Anthus australis, placed in a very curious position. It is built inside an old rusty preserve tin, measuring four inches and a half in length by three inches and a half in diameter. The entrance to the nest is narrowed to two inches, by a small platform of dried grasses which protrudes out of the mouth of the tin. This nest was found on the 24th of November, 1896, by Mr. A. Payten at Campbelltown in the same paddock as he shot the specimens of Emblema picta, and contained two slightly incubated eggs. The tin, which has the lid still attached, but bent at a right angle, was lying exposed on the ground, without shelter or concealment of any kind, beyond a few short blades of dried grass. The eggs are of the usual type, a greyish-white, ground colour thickly freckled all over with pale brown markings; length (A) 0.8 x 0.67 inch; (B) 0.84 x 0.67 inch. As will be seen on reference to the accompanying plate, it is a curious site for a bird to select which builds an open cup-shaped nest concealed only by an overhanging tuft of grass, or the surrounding herbage.
