^^Ll^'] W'lLSOX, Inif^rcssioiis of Justraliau IVirds. 203 



Watch one day the wonderful control of the Masked variet\-, 

 and see if you do not agree. 



T am also struck by the unrivalled opportunity for original 

 research and discovery given by Australian birds, where the 

 humblest seeker can still find somethmg new. My own observa- 

 tions during the past year have been mostly concentrated on 

 migration. A study of books would lead one to think that a 

 very large proportion of birds in this country is non-migratory : 

 a state of things so greatly at variance with conditions in Europe 

 and America, that I could not believe it. Are we sure that the 

 last word on migration has been said? Because a bird like the 

 Magpie is always with us, have we any reason to believe that 

 those we see in winter and summer are the same birds ? Now 

 where I live we have all noticed, and that almost daily, a grey 

 and white Mag])ie, \\\xh. no black feather on it; this bird we 

 know in summer and early autumn : but in winter and spring it 

 never ap])ears, and yet other Magpies remain with us all the 

 year round. Let any keen observer count the Magj)ies he sees 

 every day in January and June or July, and he will notice how- 

 many more there are in January. I therefore regard the Mag- 

 pie as a limited migrant : that is, limited in the distance travelled. 



The Crested Bell Bird is another accepted non-migrant. Now 

 this species hapjiens to be very common here, just north of the 

 coastal ranges, north of Bendigo, where its southern limit is 

 reached. In summer there is a road where I expect to see be- 

 tween 30 and 40 of these birds running along the wheel ruts 

 after insects, and it is always so. In winter I look in vain, and 

 the scrub near by is empty of their bells. But in Central New 

 South Wales, where they can be seen all the year round, one 

 would say casually that the same birds remain there stationary. 

 I wonder if it is so. I could multiply instances, and so could 

 anyone interested, es|)ecially by watching albinos, birds w'ith 

 some peculiarity such as one-legged specimens, or extra tame 

 friends. 



Another matter open to investigation is, "Why do some birds 

 sing?" Many people will at once say there can be no practical 

 reason ; it's just because they are happy or something. And yet 

 are we sure there is no reason? Surely it is j)roved that Owls 

 hoot to frighten into a shiver some startled mouse or small bird 

 asleep, so as to force it to give its presence away. Now if you 

 study Dr. Leach's valuable book, you will notice that insect- 

 eating birds almost all sing at their work ; but you w^ill look in 

 vain for a fish- or yabbie-eater who does the same (the Whistling 

 Eagle is an exception). Can you imagine a Heron carolling as 

 he stands waiting for his timid, wary quarry to approach ' Such 

 birds have a voice, and use it as a call of alarm, even as Ducks 

 do, or to sound the "all clear" at dusk to show^ others that some 

 sheet of water is undisturbed for the night's labours. Rut insect- 

 feeding birds sing all day long. Is it to galvanise into action, 

 and therefore render visible, their food? 



