ol. VII.l 

 1907 J 



Batey, Bird-Life Sixty Years Ago. 



Oriole (Oriohts 7>irtdis).—A rare visitor on ancient location, where it 

 never made a long stay. Saw two young ones able to fly at Mt. William, 

 near Lancetield, beginning of 1869. Old bird found some insect atlaclied to 

 pendulous eucalypt leaves. Being unable to pull it off, she let her feet go 

 and swung backwards and forwards to wrench it awa\'- 



Macpik-Lark {Csralliiia /^/tv^Az). — Continues to breed at Redstone Hill. 

 I find it distributed over a large area of Victoria. As an insectivorous bird 

 to me it seems to be unrivalled. It should be rigorously protected. I'nder 

 no circumstances have I known it to attack fruit. If undisturbed it seems 

 to court the society of man, for in pines not 30 yards from the back dour of 

 my sister's house near Drouin a pair are in the habit of nesting annually. 

 Besides this Magpie-Lark a Black-and-White Fantail, a Harmonious 

 Shrike-Thrush, and a Yeliow-rumped .\canthiza nested in the same clump 

 of pines. 



Grrv Shrike-Thrush {Collyriociucla /iarino?ricn). — A constant visitor 

 on Jackson's Creek, never in numbers ; appears to remain throughout 

 winter and spring. Probably breeds ; if so, never saw its nest. If undis- 

 turbed becomes very tame. A Thrush came about and picked up scraps 

 just outside the door at Redstone Hill. One day the bird, seizing a piece of 

 entrail, laid it on the end of a loose rail and pulled at fat. Not finding the 

 hold good it moved the entrail to a splintered end of the rail, where it held, 

 and the bird pulled off the morsel. 



Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike {Graucalus mclanops).— IK constant 

 visitor ; has nested at Redstone Hill. This bird devours grapes. 



Brown Flycatcher {Microeca fascinans). — Fairly frecjuent. Called 

 the " Peter-peter" bird, from its sweet call. 



Red-capped Robin {Petra'ca gflodc}io'<ni),— 'Y\\\?, species was rare, a 

 male and female being always in company in Glencoe sheoaks. It used to 

 be found on Bolinda station, in Fenton Hill sheoaks. The very last one 

 noted was on Lockton estate, near Bulla, in May, 1891, amongst white box 

 scrub that had grown from stumps of felled trees. 



Flame-breasted Robin [Pctrwca />/ta'n/Lra).~ From 1846 to 1906 a 

 constant visitor, arriving with us about the last week in March or the first 

 week in April. The Flame-breasted males, with their lady followers, do not 

 seem to appear in such numbers on the area as they did formerly. I do not 

 think this is due to a diminishing of numbers, but is owing to the fact that 

 agriculture has extended their feeding grounds, consequently they spread 

 about more than they used to do. I never knew this Robin to nest in our 

 vicinity. 



Scarlet-bkeasted Robin {Pctnrca legoU). — Visits the old squatting 

 stations yet, but never at any time numerous. A pair, male and female, was 

 seen in 1906. This is a very ornate bird, with a red breast, black back, 

 white cap, and white on wings. 



Pl\K-BREASTEO RoBIN {Pctni'ca rluniinoi^dstni).- During the winter of 

 1854 a Robin, one solitary bird, took up its quarters in a small patch of scrub 

 on Jackson's Creek. To the best of recollection its back was blue-black, 

 while the breast was a claret red, and it had very little white above nostrils. 

 I saw a bird of the same kind at Mt. Macedon. They are scrub-loving birds. 



Hooded Robin {Pctnvca /)ico!or).—Or\ Redstone Hill and Olencoe for 

 years it could be met with at any time. Its favourite haunt was in sheoaks 

 — never seen out of them. But the wholesale destruction of casuarinas 

 apparently affected a change in former habits. The last pair noted on ijnu 

 Creek was close to the water's edge. Never saw their nests, yet no floubl 

 they bred with us. 



Blue Wren {Malurus cyu/ieus).— Ever present, judging from long 



