BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



other in that the breast, instead of being uniformly grey, is 

 streaked with darker markings as the picture on page 163 

 will indicate. 



The portrait of the female Yellow-breasted Whistler was 

 easily obtained. The nest was built at a height of not more 

 than three feet from the ground in a patch of bracken. We 

 have not since found another nest of the species built in 

 such a lowly position. It contained two eggs, which is the 

 usual clutch, and the bird was quite evidently anxious for 

 their safety on account of their progress towards incuba- 

 tion. Hardly had the camera been placed in position than 

 she was back on the nest, and remained there while the lens 

 was adjusted to the correct distance. It is often a simple 

 matter to determine which of our pictures were obtained 

 in this satisfactory manner by the higher degree of sharp- 

 ness attained. 



We were able to touch this bird on the nest without dis- 

 turbing her, but her brightly-coloured consort contented 

 himself by endeavouring to cheer her with his lively song 

 at a safe distance. A thoughtful observer is able to dis- 

 cern the all-pervading wisdom of Nature in these habits of 

 her creatures. In most cases where there is a considerable 

 difference in the degrees of brightness of the plumage 

 between the male and the female, the more soberly coloured 

 will be found more trustful than the conspicuous one. The 

 conspicuous bird is taught by instinct that its correct place, 

 both for its own safety and for that of its home, is well out 

 of the way. We have, however, on two or three occasions, 

 and after a very considerable expenditure of time been able 

 to expose a plate or two close to the male bird. They have 

 not been great successes. 



The picture of the female Rufous-breast was obtained at 

 Meredith, and cost considerable trouble. This particular 

 pair of birds were exceptionally wild. The male was not 

 in sight at any stage of the proceedings, and the female 

 made her entrance to the scene at the eleventh hour. Before 

 she consented to do even this, the length of cotton used was 

 increased by instalments until the operator was at a dis- 

 tance of nearly fifty yards and well hidden. 



At Ferntree Gully some years later we captured two 

 young birds, but lately out of the nest, and imprisoned them 

 as usual. In a short time both parents had lost much of 

 their fear, and allowed themselves to be photographed 



168 



