GIPPSLAND WILDS 55 



contained eggs and others nestlings. The parent birds 

 were dodging among the bushes and the long grass in 

 which their nurseries were built, all the time ; but none 

 of my long vigils with the camera was successful. The 

 birds were too elusive, and always kept out of range 

 of the lens. It was delightful to watch their glancing 

 forms ; to be on rather friendly terms with them ; and 

 at least gain some knowledge of their domestic life. 

 A favourite haunt was a patch of jungle, near an old 

 log hut on a rise, dotted with gum trees that fire had 

 killed. It was a "snaky" region, too While I was 

 at Springfield a lad was bitten by a venomous snake; 

 but, fortunately, his life was saved by prompt action. 

 Miss Fletcher, wisely, wore stout leather gloves when 

 searching for nests in the grassland and swampy 

 places. She knew all the birds of the district; and 

 many that frequented the school ground and her garden 

 were fairly tame. A Gray Shrike-Thrush [Colluri- 

 cincla harmonica'] every morning flew on to the sill of 

 the kitchen window, and pecked at dainties placed 

 there for it, while Miss Fletcher and her sister stood 

 close by. Wild nature can be won by kindness; fear 

 is the fruit of persecution. Springfield is far from 

 Gippsland, but in memory it is linked with that incult 

 paddock where the Emu-Wrens outwitted us, because 

 at both places the small birds were seen at their best. 



