^"';_^_^'^'] Camera Craft Notes. 1 45 



Among the Tea-tree. — One dI my favourite haunts in early 

 bird-observing days was the belt of tea-tree (Leptospermum 

 Icevigatum) along the coast of Port Philhp Bay, between Sandring- 

 ham and Mordialloc. Fifteen years ago the scrub was much 

 denser than it is now in some places, especially Black Rock, and 

 many species of birds nested freely in the shady groves. When- 

 evei" I rambled through the tea-tree I saw numbers of Australian 

 Ground-Thrushes [Oreocincla litniilata), and in early spring found 

 many of their beautiful nests. The stream of settlement has 

 flowed through the coastal districts, and in the last few years 

 (iround-Thrushes have become comparatively rare. I have not 

 found a nest along the coast for several seasons, and have seen 

 the birds only on a few occasions. When week-enders come, 

 birds which love quiet, secluded haunts depart. 



I write of the Ground-Thrushes in the coastal tea-tree because 

 they were the first birds that I stalked with a camera. I found 

 it fairly easy, by stepping softly on the leaf mould, to approach 

 close to a Thrush, but the light was not strong enough in the 

 groves to permit of a quick exposure. However, one morning, 

 aided by strategy, patience, and two friends, I succeeded in 

 getting a good photograph. A Thrush was observed feeding in a 

 little glade. Camera in hand, I walked slowly towards the bird, 

 while my companions did the same from different points — we 

 formed a triangle. When about 12 feet away I erected the 

 camera, and then moved it forward a few inches at a time. The 

 Thrush stopped hunting in the moss for insects, and looked round. 

 It saw three motionless figures and the camera. When it turned 

 its gaze on one or other of my friends I moved a step nearer, and 

 so proceeded till I was only 6 feet from the bird. Then I 

 focussed, and was able to give an exposure of nearly two seconds, 

 during which the subject remained perfectly still. When I lifted 

 the camera the Thrush ran daintily over the moss, and was soon 

 lost among shadows. 



Later in the season photographs of the young birds were 

 ol)tained. Nests and eggs, of course, presented very little difficulty. 

 The nests are usually comjjosed externally of fresh, glistening, 

 green moss, and are readily seen by eyes used to the twilight of 

 the tea-tree groves. At Black Rock I have seen large areas of 

 moss-covered ground which have been " ploughed " by Thrushes' 

 beaks. In quest of food they turn over the moss or tear it up. 

 It seems natural that they should use such material for nest- 

 building. — Charles B.^rrett. Melbourne. Q/8/15. 



Roll of Honour. — The Council of the R.A.O.U. proposes to 

 publish in the next issue of The Emu the names of those members 

 who are on active service. Would members kindly forward any 

 name known to them to the hon. secretary. Zoological Gardens. 

 Melbourne ? 



