254 JUNCTION OF THE MURRUMBIDGEE 



binger of the vicinity of water ; and these birds 

 were very numerous.* Perched on a lofty tree, 

 the " razor-grinder" bird of the colonists may 

 be heard uttering its peculiar sciz, scizaring 

 notes, which so closely resembles the noise of 

 the " razor-grinder's machine," as to render 

 its appellation well deserved. The bird first 

 commences with a rather prolonged whistling 

 note, which is succeeded by the peculiar grind- 

 ing notes, continued for some time without in- 

 termission, resembling in some degree the noise 

 produced by the drums of the male Tettigonice, 

 whose dinning notes resound through the 

 woods during summer, almost to the exclusion 

 of all other harmonious or inharmonious sounds. 

 I visited the spot, situated not many yards dis- 

 tant from the house, at which the junction of the 

 Murrumbidgee with the Tumat river takes place. 

 Many persons consider the latter to have the more 

 direct course, and consequently to be the main 

 stream which is continued to the sea, (according 

 to the discovery of Captain Sturt,) and that the 

 Murrumbidgee empties itself into the Tumat. 

 Others differ from this opinion ; but in point of 

 fact, both streams unite at this place, and form 



* The plumage of this bird is green ; legs and bill of an 

 orange colour, with an orange mark under the eye ; irides 

 brown. Length of the male specimen seven inches and 

 a-half. Its food is insects. 



