BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



have already been mentioned in the chapter dealing with 

 suburban birds. These two species, and two additional 

 ones, are well-known to us, but there are others about 

 which we have had no experience. The Buff-tailed Tit is 

 a near relative of, and much resembles, the Tom-tit pre- 

 viously described. Some points of difference have already 

 been mentioned, and a few additional ones will become 

 apparent when the nests of the two species are compared. 

 The nest of the Buff-tailed Tit may be found in a variety of 

 positions, but is not as a rule suspended as is that of the 

 Tom-tit. The space between the loose bark and a tree 

 trunk is quite a favourite position, as is also some tangle 

 of undergrowth near the ground. This nest, moreover, 

 is without the upper shelter which is invariably associated 

 with the nesting chamber of the Tom-tit. 



It was when we discovered the nest of one of these 

 birds in the side of an old stump on our favourite hillside at 

 Ferntree Gully and essayed to picture its owners, that we 

 first discovered it was a separate species. The bird 

 in question was a particularly trustful one, and we were 

 able to approach the stump quite closely before it would 

 leave. We then noticed something unusual in the marking 

 of the forehead and throat. Dr. Leach's book was con- 

 sulted, with the result that we at once became anxious to 

 procure photographs. This we did a fortnight later, not- 

 withstanding the fact that the trustfulness shown on the 

 previous occasion was very far from maintained when the 

 camera appeared. After a whole day's work we had our 

 subjects quite accustomed to our presence, and to that of 

 our camera and tripod. Eventually, by holding one of the 

 young birds in our hands, we were able to coax the parents 

 into positions which, to the uninitiated, suggest something 

 in the nature of witchcraft. Many people have doubted 

 our word, we know, when we have mentioned cases in which 

 an adult bird hopped on to our ears, or fed their young 

 in our hands. In a couple of cases we are in a position 

 to prove the fact to the reader, and this is one of such cases. 

 Of course the reader has to accept our assurance that such 

 photographs are genuine ones. In any case, we doubt 

 whether such a degree of deception would be possible did 

 we have any inclination to attempt it. 



The following year we discovered a nest not far from 

 the same spot, and probably the property of the same pair 



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