48 



What time the timirous hare leaps forth to liiul, 

 When the soft--\viiigecl owl skims over the grassy mead 

 Then high in the air, and poised npou his wings, 

 Unseen the soft enamoured lark doth sing. 



The ground pipit (Al^thus-Australia), from Tuthus, a small l)ir(i 

 and Australis. southern, although called a ground lark, differs 

 much from the true lark, both in habits and structure of bill and 

 feet. It is essentially a ground biixi, for it will sooner try to 

 escape on foot than take to the wing, and when compelled to fly- 

 its flight is of short duration, ajid it alights again after 20 or 30 

 yards. This most useful bird is an unpaid worker, and does his 

 duty well in keeping down the insect pests. Pipits are dispersed 

 over the whole of southern Australia, and are to be met with on 

 the mountain side and on the plain in almost all localities, i>rovid- 

 ing the timber is not too thick. Others of the lark family who 

 rival in song their cousins of the Northern Hemisphere were not 

 met with on the trip, but may put in an appearance later on as this 

 country becomes cleared of timber and broom. 



n 



The crows and choughs that wiu{ 

 Seem scarce so gross as beetles. 



the midwa.v air 

 (Shakspeare). 



t^ 



The next to come under our observation was the much-abused 

 "crow" Corone-Australis (Raven). Many tell us of the harm this 

 bird does, but they pause not a moment to put his good traits on 

 the other side of the scales. Apart from the discoveries made by 

 Australian ornithologists, we see that America has spent much 

 labour and money in this research. The Government at Washing- 

 ton halt the stomachs of crows examined at all times of the yeai". 

 Crows to the number of 1.000 were dissected, and Dr. Hart 

 Merriam tells us after 10 years of research (most of the time oc- 

 cupying the attention of specialists) that crows have a liking for 

 insects possessing a strong smell. For this I'eason they detroy 

 uuich insect life that may be passed by other birds. The amount 

 of fruit eaten is very small, the number of birds' eggs and young 

 poultry show 1 per cent, of food for the year. Insects form 2G per 

 cent, of entire food, and in conclusion Dr. Hart Merriman tells us 

 that the crow is a decided friend to the farmer and not an enemy. 

 So much for our poor old crow, who has the same nature as his 

 American cousin. The white-browed babbler (Pomatorhinus 

 superciliosus) has been called the "codlin motheater" by many, 

 Avhich goes to show Avhat good our native birds will do if only 

 encouraged by protection. Babblers live in small communities, 

 and are most restless birds. They are continually on the hop 

 and jump over the gi'ound and logs, prying into every crack and 



