2 A BUSH CALENDAR 



with a single flower on the end of a tall stalk, the other with 

 several similar though much smaller blossoms on the slender 

 stem. Close by, the faint pink of a different orchid glowed 

 softly, all three together making a dainty bunch. 



Last week the bed of the creek was quite dry, but now a 

 perfect river rushes along, drowning beneath its torrent the 

 bright green herring-bone ferns which make a glade of 

 greenery all the year round. Last week, too, I watched a 

 tomtit bringing food to his mate as she sat on her nest in a 

 small turpentine overhanging the creek, and I spied on a pair 

 of blackcaps as they carried fine twigs to the making of their 

 cradle nest in the highest branch of a much taller turpentine. 

 To-day, as i neared the group of dark-leaved trees, two tom- 

 tits flew past w r ith much agitation, the little golden backs 

 gleaming brightly, and I guessed that there was no longer need 

 for the mother bird to sit ; for as the tomtits are about the first 

 birds of all to build, the babies would be hatched. The little 

 family had survived the long wet week, and now the parents 

 were taking advantage of the fine spell to catch some tasty 

 insects for the wee things. But the blackcaps had been out- 

 done by the weather, and a few solitary threads were all that 

 remained of the cradle. Overhead, amongst the topmost 

 branches a number of the beautiful things darted, chattering 

 and scolding, and probably looking out for likely spots to hang 

 their nestfe. The blackcap is one of the prettiest of all the 

 honey-eaters, with back of bright olive, breast of snowy white, 



