BIRDS OP^ OUR BUSH 



knew, could not be left exposed to the glare of the summer 

 sun for any length of time. 



Some little idea of the difficulties overcome when this 

 picture was made, may be obtained from the fact that the 

 exposure was effected from a distance of more than two 

 hundred feet, where the operator was concealed in the bed 

 of a dry creek. He had not the slightest idea as to the 

 position of the bird when the shutter was released, and 

 simply judged that, by that time, the parent would be shel- 

 tering her young. Apparently she was just in the act of 

 leaving the nest. Possibly she had been startled by the 

 movement of the cotton, from the operator's hand amongst 

 the grass. It was a fortunate picture, in any case, and the 

 turn of the head in the direction of the camera was most 

 opportune. The newly-hatched young — protectively 

 coloured also with long grey down — may be seen in the nest. 

 The Ground Lark is a common brown and grey bird 

 well known everywhere. It builds a small round nest of 

 grasses in a depression in the ground, and lays three stone- 

 coloured eggs, marked with numerous spots of dark brown. 

 The life history of the Pipit exemplifies protective colora- 

 tion. The adult bird is protectively coloured, and, espe- 

 cially when sitting, makes the best use of this protec- 

 tion by remaining still. Its nest is built with due regard 

 to the colour of the surroundings, and the eggs harmonise 

 also. The young birds, when hatched, instead of being 

 naked and bare like most young birds, are covered with a 

 long down of neutral grey. Thus Nature, in her wisdom, 

 protects the Ground Lark against its enemies from infancy 

 onwards. 



The suburb of Preston, like most outer suburbs of Mel- 

 bourne, has a running creek within its boundaries, and 

 such places always have a particular attraction for certain 

 birds. Perhaps the actual creek bird best known to the 

 ordinary observer is the Reed Warbler, a handsome, 

 sprightly bird, noisy yet capable of a pleasant song. The 

 Darebin Creek is well overgrown in parts with reeds which 

 provide excellent cover for the wonderful nests of this 

 species. 



Our experience of the bird has been considerable, and it 

 is a matter of sincere regret to us that, so far, our collection 

 does not contain any picture of the adult bird. Photo- 

 graphs of young birds we might have had in plenty had it 



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