114 Excursion to Ellliam, and St. Helena. rvoi"^xxxvi 



EXCURSION TO ELTHAM AND ST. HELENA. 



The day appointed for this excursion (Saturday, i8th October, 

 1919) proved to be ideal as regards weather conditions, and 

 it was not surprising, therefore, to find, on assembling at 

 Eltham, that our party numbered thirty-four members and 

 friends. We were met by Mr. W. Tonge, a local resident and 

 enthusiastic ornithologist, who kindly gave up the afternoon 

 in order to point out the nesting-places of a number of birds 

 which he had located. After crossing the Diamond Creek, 

 Mr. Tonge guided the excursionists along its banks, the descent 

 being made on the steep western side. The picturesque nooks 

 and bends of this tortuous stream were much admired. Silver 

 wattles grew abundantly, and several varieties of eucalypts 

 were noticed, whilst buttercups and maiden-hair ferns were 

 observed growing in profusion. Several specimens of the 

 spider orchid were obtained. The afternoon of a decidedly 

 warm summer day is perhaps the least favourable time to see 

 much bird-life, but signs and sounds of numerous species were 

 nevertheless noted. The ubiquitous Kookaburra, the dainty 

 Blue Wren, the Rufous-breasted Whistler, and the Harmonious 

 Shrike-Thrush were mostly in evidence. Under Mr. Tonge's 

 guidance several nests in occupation were pointed out, the first 

 being that of the Derwent Jackass or Butcher-bird, Cradicus 

 destructor. This was situated in a stringybark-tree about 

 twenty-five or more feet above the ground, and is a nest made 

 of small twigs and lined evenly with grasses. Perhaps the most 

 interesting event of the afternoon's excursion was the next 

 nest, located in the horizontal fork of a stringybark-tree, some 

 twenty-five feet from the ground. This was a flimsy apology 

 for a nest — just a few twigs and leaves thrown together — and 

 on this the hen bird of the Tawny Frogmouth, Podargus 

 sirigoides, was sitting, apparently asleep. It was difficult for 

 the uninitiated at first to believe it was the upper part of a 

 bird which we were looking at, there being at least no sign of 

 a beak. The resemblance to a short, bark-covered, broken 

 branch was very marked, and it was not until the bird was 

 disturbed by throwing sticks towards it that this evidence of 

 animal mimicry was clearly illustrated. The bird, evidentl}^ 

 resenting the intrusion, changed from its stretched-out sleeping 

 posture to an attitude of alertness and attention, slowly 

 turning its head from side to side looking for the cause of the 

 disturbance. Much regret was expressed that no one had 

 brought a camera, as it was felt a unique opportunity was lost. 

 Considerable intenst was shown in several nests of the White- 

 winged Chough, Corcorax inchnior/uDii faints, of which excellent 

 views were obtained. Made of nnid strengthened with 

 shredded stringybark and lined with the same material, and 

 set high up on lateral branches of stringybark-trees, these bowl- 



