^•^^••1 Excursion to Eltham and St. Helena. ii^ 



1919J -" 



like nests, so symmetrically formed, were much admired. 

 Sometimes the same nest is used for several years. A deserted 

 home of the Harmonious Shrike-Thrush, Colluricincla harmonica, 

 was next visited, and, as it was perched only about six feet 

 high, an interior as well as exterior inspection was made. The 

 creek bank and flats were then left for higher ground, and a 

 Magpie's (White-backed, Gymnorhina leitconota) nest was pointed 

 out. This was specially interesting from the fact that a pair 

 of Yellow-tailed Tomtits, Acanthiza chrysorrhoa, had built in 

 the under portion a home for themselves. Thus, two grades 

 of bird society were represented in quite modern fashion — 

 the Tomtits in the lower and the Magpies in the upper flat 

 of this domicile. An adjournment was then made for afternoon 

 tea, which had been thoughtfully provided by Mrs. Tonge at 

 her home close by, and while partaking of " the cup that cheers " 

 the visitors were able also to enjoy the extensive view across 

 the Yarra valley to the Dandenong Ranges. Thanks were 

 expressed to Mr. and Mrs. Tonge for their hospitality by the 

 leader and Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, and were suitably acknow- 

 ledged by Mr. Tonge. The party at this stage divided forces, 

 some wishing to catch the early train back to Melbourne, the 

 majority, however, deciding to complete the afternoon's 

 programme by journeying to St. Helena. A walk of about 

 a mile through some interesting scrub country brought the 

 excursionists to the desired haven, which was found to be a 

 quaint little church hidden in the bush, built in the old English 

 style, and surrounded by a churchyard planted with cypress 

 and other trees. The visitors were delighted with the beauty 

 of this secluded place of worship, with its mural tablets and 

 stained glass windows and its touch of the old world. Though 

 not quite in the study of natural history, the ancient tomb- 

 stones, bearing dates of 1790 and onwards, were carefully 

 scanned, one remarkable epitaph recording the resting-place 

 of the last of a family descended in one unbroken line from 

 father to son for 779 years. A pleasant walk of about two miles 

 to Greensborough, where the home train was caught, completed 

 the outing. About eight or nine of the party elected to miss 

 St. Helena, and remained with Mr. Tonge, who delighted them 

 by showing his fine collection of eggs, containing many rarities, 

 and a number of nests displayed in their original positions in 

 the tree branches, also in his collection. Notable among these 

 were those of the Olive-backed Oriole, Oriolus viridis, the Orange- 

 winged Tree-runner, Sittella chrysoptera, the Yellow-breasted 

 Shrike- Robin, Eopsaltria australis, and the White-shafted 

 Fantail, Rhipiditra alhiscapa. In his own grounds the nest of 

 the Striated Tit, Acanthiza lineata, in a red box sapling, was 

 also viewed, and in a clump of mistletoe a nest of the Yellow- 

 tailed Tit, A. chrysorrhoa, both in occupation this season. The 



