OF VICTORIA. 45 



second species of the genus of seven known species, but the 

 yellow is displaced by white (E. gularis, White-breasted 

 Shrike-Robin). 



The growers of the small kinds of fruits scarcely 

 realize the value of tliis most thorough insect-eater, for 

 where there is a humid valley this is one of the sure birds 

 to be daily found doing its duty. 



The silent, unobtrusive bird, that would not so much as 

 disturb a thought of the naturalist in a glen, will remain 

 for minutes together without any apparent movement of 

 muscles or feathers, attached in a perpendicular position to 

 a tree. Both watcher and watched are as if immovable 

 and uncomfortable, and the thought naturally arises in 

 five minutes' time who is to be first in the move ; however, 

 the bird settles it by noiselessly darting at a fly, and 

 regaining a position that warrants a change for you also. 

 The bird will fly from undergrowth to stem of tree, clinging 

 thereto as is the manner of the tree-creepers, but not 

 creeping. One Saturday afternoon I approached a tree, 

 thinking to take oflf what I considered at the distance to 

 be quite a new fungus for Box Hill, when, without any 

 previous movement, the object became winged, and away 

 went a Yellow Robin. This species is one of the foster 

 parents of Guculus pallidus, a bird somewhat similar to 

 C . flahelliformis. On 24th November I saw birds in many 

 grades of plumage, juvenile to adult markings, in this 

 year's brood. The changes are rapid — first, yellow on 

 the neck ; second, chest yellow ; third, nearly developed 

 yellow, with straggling brown feathers showing irregularly 

 along dorsal surface. 



By November the nests become deserted. In one the 

 fearless bird had to be pushed off before it would evacuate. 

 Although nests are generally placed within a few feet of 



