142 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



he flew round for some time uttering a plaintive " twit twit," 

 then returned to the tree to continue his search for insects, 

 exhibiting the while considerable restlessness. 



One summer's day, some years ago, as I wandered along a 

 river bank accompanied by my friends, the Messrs. Brittle- 

 bank, a little comedy was presented, in which a member of 

 this species was the principal actor. We noticed in the 

 branches of a gum tree by which we were passing a Sittella 

 bearing a large grub in its bill. Wishing to watcli the bird 

 feed its young, which we knew could not be far away, we 

 stood our ground and waited for developments. The bird 

 was either in no hurry or objected to the presence of 

 spectators ; for ten minutes or more it continued to fly from 

 bough to bough, until, perhaps moved by the appeal of its 

 liungry voung, it finally decided to creep down the main stem 

 to a crevice in the bark where it had carefully secreted — 

 temporarily, I presume — a fully fledged young bird, which 

 greedily swallowed the juicy grub held by its mother. 



After the departure of the parent, one of our party climbed 

 into the tree and caught the young bird, who thereupon 

 created such an uproar as to attract the attention of three 

 adult birds who were in the vicinity. These joined their 

 voices to the din, and forthwith commenced a fierce onslaught 

 on our partv, tlieir graceful flight and boldness astonishing 

 each one of us. Sweeping down with graceful curves, they 

 showed some inclination to catch the hands that held the young 

 one captive, yet retiring at the least movement on our part. 



These delicate advances on the part of the angry birds had 

 continued for some time, when three more entered the scene 

 of action. These last comers, evidently young birds, however, 

 remained a little distance away, not venturing to take an 

 active part in the attack on our persons, but, much agitated, 

 added their quota to the uproar and confusion by uttering 

 startled cries and flying restlessly about. 



