Spring in New South Wales.



77



possessed some most charming photographs of Z. capensis by Mr. G.

Lowe, which he wished to publish in the Magazine, he thought I

might like to write an article on the genus to accompany them :

of course I was only too glad to do so.



SPRING IN NEW SOUTH WALES.


A DAY IN THE BUSH AMONGST THE BIRDS.


By G. A. Heumann.


A day out in the bush on a fine spring day is truly a great

treat for the naturalist, especially for him who loves to observe

bird-life during the mating season. The Australian spring set in

very early this year; wild flowers are plentiful, shrubs and flower¬

ing trees well forward and the birds have commenced breeding early.

It is said “ the early bird catches the worm,” which may be applied

to anyone wishing to see Nature at its best. One must get up early,

when the lawns and shrubs are still heavy with a fine greyish dew

and the spiders’ webs, busily prepared during the night, appear to be

studded with thousands of diamonds as the sun slowly rises from

behind the hills. To me it seems as if the earth is bathed in

torrents of tears, shed so profusely at present. Nearly all the birds

which have been away during the colder months are now with us

again.


The lovely notes of the thickheads, both the rufous and

yellow-breasted, are floating up from the gully to the hill upon

which my home stands. The melancholy call of the fantail cuckoo

is now heard everywhere. Upon the telephone wires the grey fly¬

catcher whistles its love song' to his mate. Birds everywhere, and

one often wonders where they all come from. x\s the sun rises

they become more animated. The love of life and delight of living

seems to permeate them. Now the spinebills are coming to hover

like big moths over the scarlet Salvia blooms until discovered and

chased by one of their species. The yellow-tufted honey-eaters,

a very- plentiful bird about here, are chasing, with vociferous pro¬

testations, a fantail cuckoo, their natural enemy. It seems to me

these birds are fully aware of the identity of this bird with the



