CHAPTER X. 



Yellow Robin, Honeyeaters, and Others. 



THE reader may remember the advice we tendered to 

 beginners in the art of photography as to the 

 localities best suited to bird observation. In case 

 he does not, we will repeat our conviction that the 

 class of country dealt with in this part constitutes the best 

 field for bird observers and bird photographers. Our rea- 

 sons for this view we will also reiterate. A great majority 

 of the small and easily accessible birds, in this part of 

 Australia at any rate, make their homes in the vicinity of 

 permanent water of some kind. A small creek is most 

 often the central feature of such a locality. The com- 

 paratively small number of species which are actually 

 mentioned in this part, must not be regarded as 

 an indication contrary to the view we have stated. 

 The majority of the birds to which this portion of 

 the book has been reserved are those which are essen- 

 tially and almost solely creek dwellers. Due allowance has 

 also to be made for the fact that a considerable number of 

 such birds have been already mentioned as Suburban Birds, 

 and otherwise could have been just as correctly included 

 here. Several of the species also which are dealt with 

 under the heading of "Gumtree and Plain" frequently ex- 

 hibit a partiality for that portion of such country which 

 borders on permanent water. 



The observer who traverses any considerable portion of 

 creek-side scrub without meeting the Yellow-breasted 

 Shrike Robin, is unfortunate indeed. It is perhaps the 

 commonest bird in such a locality, and in addition 



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