CALLISTEMONS 



times they hung head downwards, their 

 white breasts gleaming against the 

 scarlet blossoms ; sometimes they fluttered 

 in the air, their bright olive wings 

 quivering in support ; and always they 

 were most beautiful, with the vivid colour 

 of the flowers for a back-ground to their 

 bright black heads, white breasts and 

 .olive backs. The wet summer had held no 

 terror for them ; it had robbed them of 

 their second nesting time, perhaps, but 

 it had given them this gorgeous, luscious 

 feeding ground, this sumptuous field 

 of red callistemons ; and like true 

 philosophers, they were taking the good 

 )the gods had provided, without a 

 thought of the good they had lost. 



Some of their philosophy imparted 

 itself to us. 



" What a good thing we came this 

 way!" we declared as we began to 

 retrace our steps over the wet paddock. 

 Then, as we plunged ankle-deep into a 

 puddle, we laughed aloud and bade each 

 other " look not down, but up " an easy 

 thing to do when the callistemons are in 

 flower. 



BLACKCAP 



