CREEK LOVERS AND OTHERS 



the highest and most prominent points in approaching their 

 nests or young. Not so the Grass Bird. Any object ele- 

 vated ever so little was consistently and resolutely shunned. 

 This was a serious disability from a photographic point of 

 view, because, as we have explained previously, it is neces- 

 sary to focus exactly upon some definite point, and to make 

 the exposure when that point is occupied. Eventually we 

 succeeded in inducing our subjects to agree to the degree of 

 elevation afforded by a stick lying on the ground. To 

 achieve even this result, it was necessary to cut off every 

 other avenue of approach by barriers of handkerchiefs and 

 other articles more likely to inspire fear than the chosen 

 perch. 



Stubble Quail are fairly plentiful at certain periods in 

 and about the crop-paddocks along the course of the Dare- 

 bin. Once or twice we have found their nests, and once 

 we captured two young birds. The parents in either case, 

 however, were in no mood for portraiture. Protectively 

 coloured birds we have never found otherwise, and the 

 Quail is essentially a protectively coloured species. The 

 nest is not a nest at all (if such a statement may be 

 allowed). It is simply a depression in the ground, a few 

 grass stems, with a large clutch of spotted or blotched eggs 

 on top. 



A nest of the Pectoral Rail, containing seven eggs, was 

 also found during a Saturday afternoon ramble through 

 the wilds of Preston. The opportunity of being disap- 

 pointed by the owner of this home was denied us by the dan- 

 gerously close proximity of some small boys, who would 

 have had their curiosity aroused had we attempted photo- 

 graphy. Probably we are not much worse off for the loss 

 of this opportunity, as the Rail is another bird protectively 

 coloured. 



The suburban birds we have already mentioned, though 

 the list is far from complete, will be sufficient to keep any 

 beginner at bird-photography busy for a considerable 

 period. If they do not keep him employed until his appren- 

 ticeship is fully served, he is indeed fortunate. 



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