BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



and it is here that our principal opportunities for 

 observation have occurred. With the convenience of 

 the week-end house we were able to devote a con- 

 siderable time to an attempt to elucidate some of 

 the mystery which appears to surround the pecu- 

 liar call of the species. Almost everyone who has 

 spent any time in those localities, now so popular as holiday 

 resorts, in the mountainous districts around Ferntree Gully, 

 Warburton, and Healesville, will have heard the loud note 

 resembling the crack of a stock-whip, which accounts for 

 the bird's name. Some will also have noticed that in many 

 instances two short notes follow directly on the completion 

 of the whip-crack. Observers are apparently fairly well 

 agreed that the male bird is responsible for the whip-crack, 

 but about the origin of the concluding notes there is con- 

 siderable controversy. We will not weary the reader with 

 a full account of our investigations of the matter, but will 

 simply state our conviction that the female bird utters the 

 two short notes in answer to the call of her mate. 



The appearance of the nest of the Whip-Bird is shown in 

 the picture on page 23. This particular one was built in 

 bracken fern at a height of not more than two feet from 

 the ground. Dull weather prevented our doing moi^e than 

 picturing the nest and eggs. 



The photograph of the adult bird was obtained the fol- 

 lowing season, not more than ten minutes' walk from the 

 house. The characteristic chuckling note of one of the 

 birds first drew our attention, and we searched the spot. 

 The excitement which our presence caused soon satisfied us 

 that this pair had treasure somewhere near. It was only 

 after we had retired two or three times, however, to some 

 little distance that their movements led us to a little thicket 

 of fallen branches. Here we discovered two fully-fledged 

 young birds, and captured them promptly. 



The young birds were tethered carefully, and the camera 

 sighted on the point of a small stump in a cleared space. A 

 few hours' trial of this method convinced us that it was not 

 workable, and, in fact, left us rather doubtful of success 

 under any circumstances. As a last resource we moved 

 the young birds to the inside of a hollow stump amongst the 

 undergrowth and focussed on a point on the side of the 

 stump. After another couple of hours, we were successful 

 to the extent shown in the picture on page 184. We exposed 



186 



