60 MATESHIP WITH BIRDS 



found, in a situation which necessitates a stiff climb. 

 But there came a day when, after the flushed bird 

 had returned reassured, I approached the old post 

 quietly, and gazed directly down into a pair of clear, 

 timid eyes. The mother came forth again with a 

 startled rush when the menacing presence was 

 withdrawn, and pleaded for her three callow babies 

 from the side of an adjacent tree. 



Those droll youngsters were less sophisticated. A 

 slight scratching or whistle at the top of the post on 

 later occasions was sufficient to persuade them to 

 balance precariously and comically on their tails 

 and screech for food. But the indiscreet anxiety of 

 the parent birds never relaxed. I came upon them, 

 subsequently, giving the fledglings lessons in loco- 

 motion, and the resultant commotion disturbed the 

 placidity of the entire gully. As the "Pee-pee-pee" 

 of the Tree-Creepers grew in intensity, an unusual 

 thing happened a couple of young Fuscous Honey- 

 eaters jumped out of their cradle hard by. I re- 

 placed the smaller of the pair, but it was thoroughly 

 alarmed, and would not stay. Moreover, the cheep- 

 ing of the baby Honey-Birds drove their parents 

 almost frantic; they joined in the tumult, at the 

 same time fluttering and tumbling along the ground, 

 and generally presenting the appearance of birds 

 in the last stage of distress. 



If there is one baby bird-voice more prominent 

 than another at this period in the district of which 

 I write (the fringe of the Mallee country of Vic- 

 toria), it is that of the Harmonious Shrike-Thrush. 

 The adjective is used only to denote the species, for 

 the voice of the Thrush at this stage is anything but 



