BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



in mind that the distance separating the bird from the awe- 

 inspiring eye of our camera is small indeed. If it were 

 greater, we know positively that our difficulties would be 

 lessened in proportion. However, we would much rather 

 obtain a few pictures from a distance of eighteen inches 

 than a greater number from a distance of thirty. 



But to return to the subject : The Yellow-faced Honey- 

 eater, whose picture appears on page 154, has the honour of 

 being our first successfully portrayed subject. It was 

 operated upon with the old camera, and for that reason, per- 

 haps, the picture is hardly up to the standard at which we 

 usually aim. The nest, which is hidden to a great extent 

 in the photograph, was suspended from a forked horizontal 

 tea-tree branch overhanging Deadman's Creek (a cheerful 

 name) at Meredith, It contained two eggs, and the owner 

 thereof was quite unusually tame. Our excitement during 

 these first exploits was intense. The approach of a thun- 

 derstorm caused some anxiety as to the necessary supply of 

 sunshine, especially as there was only one plate to use. 

 Great was our feeling of triumph when the image which the 

 reader now sees on paper appeared on the negative. It was 

 our first bird photograph, and its familiarity during several 

 years has never robbed it of a special place in our regard. 

 The same may be said of our second, and perhaps our most 

 remarkable photograph, that of two White-browed Wood 

 Swallows at the nest, which is printed on page 151. After 

 a short period of indecision, during which the aforesaid 

 storm advanced ominously, the Honeyeater condescended to 

 visit its nest. It was difficult to restrain the hand which 

 held the key to the situation until such time as the bird 

 occupied a suitable position. We succeeded fairly well, 

 however, and made good use of our one plate. The sense 

 of elation which we felt at the two successes mentioned has 

 been excelled only once. On that occasion Dr. Leach 

 showed some three or four of our photographs on the screen 

 at a public lecture. We were proud youths that night. 



The nest of the Yellow-faced Honeyeater is a beautiful 

 structure, as indeed are most nests of the family. This 

 one was built of green moss and lined with rootlets. It 

 was so filmy in construction that the eggs could be plainly 

 seen from beneath. The eggs follow in coloration those of 

 most other Honeyeaters. The ground colour is a delicate 



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