178 IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS 



First one, and then the other flew to the nest, and the 

 fledglings each received a generous share of partially 

 digested food, which the parents regurgitated. Galahs, 

 also, were feeding their young in a thousand dark 

 hollows. 



The nest of a pair of White-rumped Wood- 

 Swallows [Artamus leucogaster] was revealed by the 

 actions of its owners, which flew around our heads as 

 the boat glided beneath a big, slanting bough. The 

 nest was in a slight depression on the upper part of 

 the limb, and shielded by a broad strip of bark; it 

 would certainly have escaped notice had the parent 

 birds remained tranquil. Three fledglings were 

 secured, taken ashore, and ranged on a slender 

 branch. But they tried the photographer's patience, 

 one after another, in response to the old birds' urgent 

 notes, fluttering from the perch. It was impossible 

 to photograph all three in a row, and, finally, the 

 troublesome birds were allowed to rejoin their parents. 



Camp was shifted next morning. Crossing the 

 creek, we followed its course along a bush road 

 sheltered by ancient Eucalypts. Near a bridge we 

 stopped to admire some Ground-Doves [Geopelia tran- 

 quilla}, which were pecking busily among dead leaves 

 and twigs in a shady spot. Strangely enough, the 

 nest of a pair of Nankeen Kestrels [Cerchneis 

 cenchroides] was discovered a few minutes later. 

 Attention was transferred from peaceful Doves to 

 birds of prey. The Kestrels' home was in a hollow 

 of a gum tree by the creek side, and one of the four 

 fledglings that it contained was perched in the "door- 

 way." We captured the quartette after a sharp 

 skirmish, in which the birds used beaks and claws 

 with effect, and placed them on a low bough. They 

 remained quiet for awhile, and several photographs 

 were obtained. But when we attempted to catch them 

 again, to replace them in the nest, they developed 

 wing-power and flew over the creek. 



