OF VICTORIA. 101 



was unsuccessful. Thanks to the Thrush, for it is the police 

 bird of these same gullies, keeping in subjection the snails 

 and other vermin that quickly disturb the balance of nature 

 when opportunity arises. The watchfulness of the bird 

 applies as well to hundreds of hillsides upon which fruit 

 trees have in recent years been planted. This creek-loving 

 species is at all times to be observed. It has a varied taste, 

 and any creeping thing does not come amiss. It tugs away 

 at a cluster of woven leaves till the hidden spider's nest or 

 that of certain caterpillars is dissected, or carefully pries 

 into any suspicious-looking corner that is likely to harbour 

 a good-sized beetle. Among many curious forms, a young 

 lizard in good order, and in length two inches, I drew from 

 the gizzard ; it evidently had been a late find. The usual 

 nest is described below, but on two occasions on the 25th 

 of November, 1894, two nests each contained eggs, and 

 were neatly lined with mud, as if done with a trowel and an 

 instrument for making the spherical form. There is a 

 great likeness to the nest of the introduced Thrush in this 

 particular build. November gave the majority of nests 

 containing fresh eggs. As late as January, on Phillip 

 Island, a peculiar nest was described to me by Mr. C. 

 Gabriel. The nest was on the sea beach, just four feet 

 above high water and at the edge of the bank. The birds 

 could fly out of the nest just as if it was that of a Pipit 

 It was not strongly built, and contained three young, which 

 were taken away some distance (50 yards). The birds 

 followed and objected, and when the young were returned 

 one parent immediately settled upon them with great joy. 

 Nests may be placed in stumps of trees, in large hollows, or 

 in a tangle of twiners. It is cup-shaped, made of bark, 

 roughly speaking, and just sufticiently large to accommodate 

 the sitting bird. 



