BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



tude of looks and gestures. Very pretty, no doubt, but not 

 always satisfying to the photographer, parched and sun- 

 baked, who sees the scorching summer day drawing to its 

 close with little prospect of his deserved reward. 



Perhaps a little clearer description of this bird is neces- 

 sary. The male is fine looking ; in size somewhat re- 

 sembling the common introduced starling. The wings, 

 back, and tail are a dark slate colour. The principal 

 feathers of the wings and tail are tipped with a much 

 lighter shade. On the neck and head the slate gives place 

 to a darker colour, which almost approaches black. Over 

 each eye appears a conspicuously white eye-brow, from 

 which the name of the bird is derived. The breast and 

 underparts are of a rich bright colour difficult to describe. 

 Something between maroon and cinnamon-brown occurs to 

 us as being fairly accurate. The colouring of the female 

 is on a similar plan, though much more subdued. 



One of the other species of Wood Swallow, the Sordid, 

 is perhaps better known than the White-browed, as it 

 remains in the south throughout the year. It is darker 

 than the previous species, has no white eyebrow, and no 

 bright colouring beneath. Its distinctive marking con- 

 sists of a couple of white feathers which edge each wing. 

 We have tried to photograph this species many times, and 

 twice have obtained something approaching its likeness. 

 As these results were not a great success, however, they are 

 classed amongst the "second rates" and never appear in 

 public. 



The third species very often accompanies the White- 

 browed during its summer visitation. No doubt further 

 north it is quite a common bird. This species is called the 

 Masked, on account of the effect given to its appearance by 

 a head and throat quite black. The remainder of the plum- 

 age is a light slate colour, more pleasing than that of the 

 White-browed. One drought year there were numbers of 

 this species building in the Meredith district. The possi- 

 bilities of photography were unknown to us at that time, 

 however, and our only acquaintance with the species was 

 that obtained while robbing a few of its nests. This was 

 in our very young days. 



The nests, the eggs, and the habits of these three species 

 resemble each other considerably. 



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