52 



IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS 



formed a plan of action. It was a puzzle to fix the 

 camera. One tripod leg was plunged into the bush, 

 and the others, wide apart, in the crumbling bank of 

 the creek. It was still more difficult to focus. The 

 bird became restive, and a slight noise made in 



NEST OF HELMETED HONEY -EATER 

 (Containing egg of P. Cassidix and Pallid Cuckoo's egg -on left;. 



handling a dark-slide confirmed her suspicions. 

 Slipping from the nest, she flew down stream, bearing 

 with her my hopes of a unique photograph. Still, it 

 was a memorable day. We were able to observe the 

 rare birds at close range. And the nest near camp 

 was not the only one discovered; no fewer than four 

 others rewarded a diligent search. The last of the 

 series, found towards sundown, contained an egg of 

 the Pallid Cuckoo and one of Ptilotis cassidix. 



