BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



the ire of a pair of Fantails which had their home close to a 

 spot where we were wont to fish. They scolded him, snapped 

 their beaks at him, even settled on his back with such evi- 

 dent ill-humour that the poor little beast could not after- 

 ward be enticed near the place. 



The photograph reproduced was taken between Greens- 

 borough and Eltham, a little off the main road, in a paddock 

 very favourably known to us. It was a considerable dis- 

 tance from water too, by the way, which goes to prove that 

 to every rule there are exceptions. The three eggs which 

 the nest contained were well advanced towards incubation, 

 which fact probably accounted to some extent for the ease 

 with which we were able to obtain pictures. The Willie 

 Wagtail, however, we have seldom found to be a difficult 

 subject. The appearance of the nest is well depicted, but 

 the bird unfortunately rested too low to show the distinctive 

 white breast. 



The other common Fantail is the White-shafted, a 

 smaller bird, almost as well known as the Willie Wagtail. 

 In appearance, however, it differs considerably. The 

 "Shafty" is plain and grey, with a very little relief in the 

 shape of white markings to its otherwise sober colouring. 

 Its flight is even more erratic than that of the Willie Wag- 

 tail and it is seldom indeed that it flies in anything ap- 

 proaching a straight line. It is not unable to fly straight, 

 however, as is proved by the business-like manner in which 

 it moves to or from its nest. 



Our pictures of the White-shafted Fantail are numerous, 

 and it has been difl?icult to decide which were to be omitted. 

 The bird represented in the photograph on page 173 had 

 built its nest quite close to a week-end house at Evelyn, 

 where we happened to be spending a few days. It possessed 

 one egg, well incubated ; in fact, when we passed the place 

 next day a young bird had taken the place of the egg. This 

 Fantail was exceptionally trustful, and our only difficulties 

 arose out of the inconvenient position of the nest and the 

 unwelcome presence of myriads of mosquitoes. The efforts 

 of the latter left impressions on all available parts of our 

 persons and annoyed us mightily. 



On this occasion, we came very near to breaking a record 

 of which we are very proud. We were nearly instrumental 

 in destroying the egg, and have to thank the bird itself that 

 our reputation is still intact. The nest was built about 



172 



