238 Camera Craft Notes. [i^f "lan 



reared their broods in peace till the builders came to cover the 

 moorland with villas and cottages. In recent years species that 

 were formerly abundant in the tea-tree have become scarce, 

 notably the Ground-Thrush, which favours quietness and solitude. 

 At Black Rock, before the era of progress dawned there, when- 

 ever I rambled through the tea-tree I was sure to see many 

 Thrushes, and in July or August rarely searched in vain for their 

 nests. One of the first subjects of a Victorian pioneer in nature- 

 photography (Mr. C. P. Kinane) was the nest and eggs of O. 

 Innulata, and a lantern slide of it was screened at the Gould 

 League demonstration in Melbourne on 24th October, 1919. I 

 was present when the photograph was taken, and incidents con- 

 nected with it are still fresh in memory. Most of my own early 

 attempts at camera craft were made at Black Rock. After the 

 usual failures of the novice, I obtained photographs of the bird 

 on its nest, but years passed before I gained the picture most 

 desired : a Ground-Thrush in its characteristic attitude, standing 

 alert among twigs and dead leaves, in the chequered shade of a 

 tea-tree grove. And success was achieved only with the help of 

 two companions. Stepping softly over the mould, we approached 

 the bird each from a different quarter. My friends stopped when 

 within about 15 feet of the Thrush, and tried to attract its atten- 

 tion while I stole nearer. For fully three minutes my subject 

 remained still (save for a sharp twist of the head when the 

 camera shutter was set), and I was able to focus nicely and give 

 a time exposure. With three strange forms about it the bird was 

 unable to decide quickly upon a way of escape from what it may 

 have regarded as a position of peril. Had I been alone, doubtless 

 it would have run to cover while the camera was being placed in 

 position. If the Ground-Thrush were a lover of sunshine instead of 

 shadows, it would not be a difficult subject for the hand camera, 

 for I have frequently approached to within a few feet of one before 

 it became alarmed ; and at close range I have watched them 

 searching for food in the mould and scratching up the golden- 

 green moss which they use so freely in nest-building. All their 

 actions are quiet. They are " silent " birds, but not voiceless, 

 though only those who know their ways are likely to have heard 

 their "song at twilight." It is finely described by Mr. A. J. 

 Campbell, who writes with deep enthusiasm of this " lovable 

 bird."* In the shadowy tea-tree groves, where greys and browns 

 are dominant colours, the plumage of the Ground-Thrush 

 harmonizes well with its environment. One may be close at 

 hand and escape notice, unless it is betrayed by the large, bright 

 eye, so conspicuous in my photograph. These birds live " close 

 to the ground," and Nature has patterned and coloured their 

 plumage so that it offers no strong contrast to twigs and leaf- 

 mould and the misty greyness of tea-tree boles. — Chas. Barrett. 

 C.M.Z.S., Melbourne. 



* " Nests and Eggs," p. 186. 



