NUMEROUS SMALL SUBJECTS 



the Whistlers. The main feature of the appearance of the 

 bird is a prominent and immovable black crest. 



Its food comes from beneath the bark of trees, and the 

 short stout bill is used to good effect in the search for the 

 insects and grubs to which it is partial. If the bird were 

 common about suburban gardens, it is quite possible that 

 many of our ornamental Acacias would thrive there instead 

 of falling victims to the inevitable borer. 



The nest is as a rule built fairly high, and in a gum 

 sapling for preference. It is made of grasses and bark, 

 and is neatly and evenly covered with cobweb. Mr. A. H. 

 Chisholm, who is the moving spirit in Queensland bird 

 study, and an ardent bird protectionist, devoted a consider- 

 able amount of time to observing and photographing these 

 birds when he resided at Maryborough, Victoria. His 

 notes and his pictures are most interesting, as, in fact, are 

 all works from the same source. 



The Swallow — Welcome or House Swallow — is a com- 

 mon bird known to everyone. Almost everyone also knows 

 that it follows the summer from one portion of Australia to 

 another, sometimes even its migration is much more exten- 

 sive and other countries are reached. It is a wonderful 

 journey for a small bird, and a glance at the picture on 

 page 32 will show how Nature has provided it for under- 

 taking such extensive migration. Its body is long and 

 slender, as if built for speed, and its wings are both large 

 and powerful. The great speed which the Swallow is able 

 to attain is well known. 



It is a homely bird, never more satisfied than when 

 relying for shelter for its mud nest on house or shop veran- 

 dahs, or other works of man. One evening, while walking 

 along Chapel Street, Prahran, a very busy street, we 

 counted no less than nine nests built under the shop 

 verandahs. 



We are extremely fortunate to have been able to photo- 

 graph the Swallow. The position of its nest usually does 

 not lend itself readily to photography, on account of the 

 absence of strong light. After a long search, however, 

 we found a nest in an unusual position, which gave just 

 the opportunity we sought. It was built upon a post in 

 the trench which holds the disappearing targets at the rifle 

 range at Meredith. This trench is fitted with a lid which 

 is removable, and an abundance of bright, unaccustomed 



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