BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



found the species to be of that exasperating class which give 

 promise of great things until such time as you actually 

 accept their unmistakable invitation and try them. Then 

 they let you know that you are mistaken, and the disappoint- 

 ment is the more keen. On two occasions previously we had 

 found nests which contained young birds, and, acting on 

 the extreme trustfulness of the parents in our presence, we 

 had settled down to obtain pictures. On each occasion we 

 persisted for hours, but the birds persisted longer. 



In November, 1915, we were fortunate enough to cap- 

 ture, after a stiff chase, a couple of young Spine-bills, 

 which had lately left the nest, but were strong fliers never- 

 theless. It was almost dark, also, and we could not attempt 

 photography that day. We took the young ones to the 

 house, and kept them in an old billy with some dry grass for 

 comfort, and a gridiron for a cage front. In the morning 

 early we returned them to their parents' haunts, focussed 

 the camera on a nearby bracken frond, and waited. While 

 the parents were excited we exposed a few plates, and it 

 was as well that we made full use of these opportunities. 

 The adults soon calmed down, and, though we waited for 

 a couple of hours, did not again favour our fern with their 

 attentions. Our advice to any photographer who sets out 

 to photograph the Spine-bill, or as far as we can see, any 

 other species of Honeyeater, is to lose no time in making his 

 preparations, and to let slip no opportunities if they are 

 given. All the Honeyeaters with which we have had deal- 

 ings show a decided tendency to tire of posing for the 

 camera fiend. 



The Spine-bill is a beautiful little bird of quite remark- 

 able appearance. Its long curved bill and bright colours 

 remind one of the Humming Bird. The back, wings, and 

 tail are of a dark brown colour, and a patch of lighter yel- 

 lowish brown sets off a white shirt-front effect. The 

 bright red eye adds to its attractiveness. The markings 

 are fairly well portrayed in the picture on page 161. 



Other members of the Honeyeater family we have 

 attempted to picture, and we have in some cases exposed 

 plates, but with little success. The rapidity of the move- 

 ments of the Honeyeaters has been the cause of failure in 

 most instances. A picture of the White-plumed species 

 is one which was put aside for many years, and was 

 restored to a place in our collection only while this book 



164 



