BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



ground as it was turned. The fat white grubs, so much 

 appreciated in our young days for eel fishing, attracted 

 them mightily, and it was a pretty sight to see the three 

 young enthusiasts sparring for the choice of positions on 

 the rail. 



In certain quarters lately, the Jackass has been subjected 

 to a fair amount of adverse criticism. Whether it is 

 merited or not we do not attempt to say, but we will ex- 

 press the opinion that it is a very dangerous practice for 

 a person with a reputation as an expert to indulge in any 

 adverse comments on a bird unless he is perfectly satis- 

 fied that the subject of his remarks is of absolutely no 

 value. There are quite a number of ignorant and vicious 

 people who are only too glad to take advantage of any 

 excuse for indulging their lust to kill. At any rate, it 

 appears remarkable that this old bird should have posed 

 as a benefactor for so long if his character is as bad as some 

 now paint it. 



Whatever doubt there may be as to the usefulness of 

 the Jackass, there is no room for any with regard to the 

 Magpie Lark, or Mud Lark, as it is more usually called. 

 This is another bird of the open timber which has so far 

 eluded us. Its plumage is a pure white and a glossy black, 

 not unlike that of the Magpie. The Mud Lark, however, 

 is a much smaller bird. It may frequently be seen feeding 

 over swampy ground or in the shallow water around the 

 edge of some waterhole. Its claim to extreme usefulness 

 rests on its partiality for a small water snail which har- 

 bours, in one stage of its growth, the destructive liver fluke 

 — the bane of the sheep farmer. The nest of the species is 

 a cleverly constructed bowl of mud, lined with grasses, and 

 placed on a horizontal branch of fair size. There are 

 only four Australian birds within the range of our ex- 

 perience which build homes of mud. The Welcome Swal- 

 low, the WTiite-winged Chough, and the species under 

 review build open cup-shaped structures, while another 

 species of Swallow, the Fairy Martin, builds a remarkable 

 bottle-shaped nest having the entrance in the form of a 

 long neck. The appearance of the last-named home will be 

 seen in the illustration appearing on page 87. 



The nesting season of the Magpie Lark may be 

 expected to commence about the month of October. The 

 eggs, usually three or four in number, are also subject to 



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