184 yotes. [^n"""- 



In the Heytesbury Forest. — The column " Bush Notes," 

 by " F.R..'" in the AiistralasiaiK is usually worth reading. In 

 the issue of Saturday, 6th January, he gives a pleasant account 

 of recent wanderings between Camperdown and the sea. The 

 district is, he says, a wonderful place for bird-life. The Heytes- 

 bury Forest does not consist of a dense growth of tall trees, but 

 of more open country, with plenty of medium-sized shrubs, 

 &c., such as birds delight in. If there are birds about, November 

 is the month to hear them. The glorious fluting of the thrush 

 was to be heard through the forest all day long, while the sweet, 

 silvery song of the pretty little White-shafted Fantail betrayed 

 its presence everywhere. Robins were disturbed on their nests, 

 and " F.R." thinks that both the Scarlet-breasted and the 

 Flame-breasted were present. Kookaburras were very numerous, 

 and one afternoon a dozen of them set up a chorus, the sound 

 of which can scarcely be imagined. Parrots of many species, 

 especially Rosellas and Crimson-winged Lories, were common. 

 Gang-Gang and Black Cockatoos Were in evidence. From end 

 to end the forest was blue with wrens, and the singing of them 

 and the tits often made quite a chorus. The glorious cobalt- 

 blue of the wren was a dominant colour-note of the bush, and 

 caught the eye instantly. Wood-Swallows were very plentiful 

 everywhere. The Halcyon Kingfisher betrayed itself by its 

 high-pitched, monotonous " Too-too-too-too." There are 

 always the four notes, and the bird keeps up the call for an 

 interminable time. Dozens of other species are mentioned, 

 and the ramble must have been a delightful one 



A New Tourist Map. — The Lands Department issued just 

 before the Christmas holidays a tourist map of the Healesville. 

 Marysville, and Warburton districts, and, as Lilydale is also 

 shown, it may be imagined that only a small amount of detail 

 can be given, the scale being ih miles to i inch. The district 

 can fairly be called a mountainous one, yet little beyond the 

 Dividing Range is shown. One unacquainted with the district 

 might take it with him and expect to find a nice level walk from, 

 say, Healesville to Launching Place, whereas he would have 

 a climb of at least 2,000 feet half way on his journey. Again, 

 such beauty spots as Mathinna Falls, Condon's Gully, Myrtle 

 Creek, and Britannia Falls are not marked. Ben Cairn appears 

 to be placed too far to the north, while the heights of Juliet 

 (the most commanding mount on the map) and other summits 

 are not given. The only new information vouchsafed is the 

 new tourist track to Donna Buang, and that is on so small a 

 scale as to be practically useless. We hope detail maps of each 

 district will be issued at no distant date. 



