THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 49 



and the hills and valleys and sky-scraping Blackbutts of Gippsland 

 is, perhaps, the strongest. Then the beauty of the fern gullies, 

 where tree-ferns, Lomarias, Polypodiums, and the delicate 

 Gleichenias flourish luxuriantly, and Hazel, Musk, and Blackwood 

 give strength and variety to the scene ; but it requires a botanist 

 to do justice here, so I will pass on to the birds. 



I was somewhat surprised at the small number, comparatively 

 speaking, of species of birds to be seen in a day's walk, but this 

 was more than compensated for by the element of novelty which 

 pertained to most of those met with. One cannot help wonder- 

 ing, however, at this lack of variety, especially when we consider 

 how eminently suited the country seems to the requirements of 

 bird life. 



Of the Accipitres, besides the pretty little Nankeen Kestrel, 

 Cerchneis cenchroides, which was common, two others only — the 

 Goshawk, Astur approximmis, and the Collared Sparrow-hawk, 

 Accipiter cirrhocephalus — were seen. The hawk tribe, as a rule, 

 seem to avoid the heavily-timbered country, perhaps because 

 their great powers of flight cannot here be effectively employed 

 in procuring food. 



In the cleared sections the birds which most frequently forced 

 themselves on one's notice were the Great Brown Kingfisher, Dacelo 

 gigas, and the White-backed Magpie, Gymnorhina leuconota. 

 Interest was always maintained in watching their doings and 

 noting the contrast between their respective vocal efforts. As the 

 Crow is ubiquitous in the north, so in Gippsland the Great Brown 

 Kingfisher is the ornithological presence. To a stranger its 

 boisterous hilarity is quite infectious, and almost impels him to 

 join in the chorus. Like the Magpie, it is not heard to the best 

 advantage unless two or more are together ; then it tilts back its 

 head and reserve is thrown to the winds. 



In the quiet seclusion of the fern gullies a different class of 

 birds was met with. Here the little White-fronted Sericornis, 8. 

 frontalis, would come creeping through the undergrowth like a 

 mouse, prying into the darkest recesses, and pass within a foot of 

 where the writer sat. A family of Orange-winged Sittellas, S. 

 chrysojitera, would next appear, clinging in all manner of 

 ridiculous postures to the trees in diligent, untiring search for 

 insects. In this quest they were ably seconded by the White- 

 throated Tree-creeper, Climacteris leucophcea. A sweet, long- 

 drawn note, terminated by an abrupt " whack," proclaraed the 

 presence of the Coach-whip Bird, Fsophodes crepitans. Often, 

 however, this bird could only be located by a slight twittering, 

 only heard by listening intently for it. The loud, thrilling call of 

 the Lyre-bird, Menura victorice, echoing along the gully, always 

 " galvanized " me into action, with a strong desire to see this 

 grand bird in its native haunts. But, notwithstanding the greatest 



