APRIL 85 



of my study or the brown of my hall for background, they are 

 always a much-to-be-desired decoration. So, laying the other 

 blossoms down in a cool spot, I was soon stretching on tip-toe 

 to pick the coveted beauties. 



As I was pushing through some thick undergrowth to reach 

 a specially fine one, a bird flew out past my face with a fright- 

 ened, scolding note. It was a New Holland honey-eater, of 

 which there were, as usual, a number about. From the tone 

 of his note I suspected a nest, and 

 after a few minutes' search came 

 upon the little cradle, set low in 

 another banksia, with two half- 

 fledged baby birds cuddling together 

 at the bottom. The New Holland 

 and the white-cheeked honey-eaters 

 both have a distinct autumn breed- 

 ing season, amd as the scrubby 

 banksia country is their favourite 

 nesting place, I looked about for 

 more nests. After half an hour's 

 search I was rewarded by finding 

 another New Holland's with one egg, 

 and a half-finished nest ; also two 

 white-cheeked honey-eaters', one 

 with two creamy-pink eggs and 

 one with two bare little nestlings. 



BANKSIA 



