THE GIFTS OF AUGUST 21 



the aloof, gipsy-like ways, quite a lot in the early 

 Spring, and hear it most on those grey days which 

 may precede either rain or sunshine. Then, when, 

 "all the air a solemn stillness holds," and the earth 

 seems to be listening tensely for the fluting of the 

 Spring, a company of the dapper green birds with 

 the red under-wings will suddenly start from a blos- 

 soming eucalypt, and go rushing pell-mell through 

 or above the tree-tops, breaking the spell with their 

 ringing, metallic "Clink-clink-clank-clink." 



With customary sense of the eternal fitness of 

 things in this way, we boys knew this bird as the 

 "Clink," just as we distinguished its little relative 

 with the red face by the title of "Gizzie." To the 

 aboriginals this latter bird (Glossopsitta pusilla) 

 was the "Jerryang ;" but who that has heard a com- 

 pany of the 'Keets calling "Giss-giss !" as they hurry 

 through the upper air, will not agree that the white 

 boys' name is at least as fitting? 



It is not to be assumed, of course, that one must 

 of necessity go bush wards on these days to enjoy 

 the smile of her Grace whom Hugh McCrae has pret- 

 tily termed "milkmaid August." The almond trees 

 are flowering in the towns now, and birds and bees 

 are revelling among the snowy blossoms. The plant- 

 ing of trees in any situation brings its own particu- 

 lar aesthetic and economic reward ; but there is little 

 to excel the pleasure to be derived, at this period, 

 from the proximity of a big almond tree to the home. 

 Towards the end of July, when "blossom by blossom 

 the Spring begins," the keen eye of a roving Lori- 

 keet notes the invitation of the opening buds; and 

 very soon then for news of this nature travels 



