122 THE HEAD OF THE AUSTRALIAN BIGHT 



same parts in another bird of the same family, common 

 near my home in New South Wales, are of a light yellow 

 colour. 



As these birds are eminently woodland haunters, it 

 is singular that this odd specimen should be found here, 

 where there are but few trees, and these not very flourish- 

 ing. They are not solitary birds in their habits either, 

 but generally associate in small parties, which, though 

 they scatter a little when in search of food, they seldom 

 fly out of sight of each other. Sometimes a dozen may 

 be seen on the trunk of one tree, tearing vigorously at 

 the bark that they may get at the insects which lurk 

 beneath it, and it is surprising what strength so small 

 a bird is capable of exerting. Strips of bark are some- 

 times torn off which weigh more than the bird that 

 tugged them from the trunk. 



The shrike-tits have a noisy and boisterous note, 

 freely uttered when anything annoys or angers them, 

 and they will fiercely attack other birds that intrude on 

 their particular trees. They feed on insects and grubs 

 of all sorts, principally on those which infest trees, but 

 the birds will attack ant-hills, and may often be seen 

 on the ground turning over leaves and rotten sticks with 

 an impatient jerk of their pretty crested heads. They 

 are as familiar in their general habits as English tit-mice, 

 and will permit a near approach of an observer ; but, as 

 a rule, they work on the trunks and branches of trees 

 at some distance above the ground, and I have seen them 

 at work on fallen timber which was in a state of decay. 



We were now compelled to seek water without delay, 

 the stock on board the Swan having sunk very low. 

 We therefore coasted along the cliffs, still to the westward, 

 landing at every likely looking spot, ascending to the 

 plain and digging whenever we thought it likely the 

 necessary element would be found. In this way we 

 succeeded in replenishing our barrels with water which, 

 though neither actually brackish nor saline, was not good 

 and had an unpleasant flavour, something like that which 

 is often found in peat-water. 



