2^6 Barnard, Bird Life as Affected by Drought . [zi^Tril 



however, they have become plentiful again, and the " bushman's 

 clock" chimes regularly every morning. Magpies became so weak 

 that they could not fly, and no doubt many died. Also many of 

 the smaUer ])irds died. 



Observations from the Fern^tree Gully District (Vic.) 



By R. T. Littlejohns, K.A.O.U., and S. A. Lawrence, R.A.O.U. 



For the last two or three seasons we have carried out our modest 

 observations with the comfort of a house at Upper Ferntree Gully 

 as headquarters. Here we have used our limited opportunities 

 in an endeavour to secure photographs and reliable information 

 of the local birds in their natural surroundings. We always make 

 it our aim to refrain from injuring our subjects in any way, and, 

 probably for that reason, know very little of sub-species. We 

 are more bent on obtaining photographs such as that of the 

 Yellow Robin here reproduced than on seeking new forms. It 

 appears to us that the bird in question would far rather be 

 recorded by photography than have the honour of position as a 

 type specimen. 



Our experience has satisfied us that results can be obtained even 

 with an inexpensive outfit. Some of our first photographs were 

 obtained with an ordinary box camera of the cheapest variety. 

 Much time and energy, however, we have always found it 

 necessary to spend. During the season 1915-16 practically every 

 week-end from June to January was spent at Ferntree Gully. 

 For the early part of this time our attention was confined almost 

 entirely to the Lyre-Bird {Menura victorice), with which we were, 

 and are, anxious to try conclusions. Several week-ends of 

 strenuous hunting through damp gullies failed to disclose a nest. 

 The time was not wasted, however, as on two or three occasions 

 we were able to observe from very close quarters. The first 

 occasion was at Belgrave, when we located a pair feeding a few 

 yards from a tourist track. By carefully stepping from log to 

 log we approached close enough to obtain a glimpse of the male 

 as he paraded to and fro on a fallen tree-fern. For some time 

 he treated us to imitations of various bird-calls, including those of 

 the Laughing Jackass, Coachwhip-Bird. and many others. 

 Eventually our presence became known, and the pair began to 

 work slowly down the gully. A silent chase on hands and knees 

 brought us more than once to within a few feet of them when 

 they paused to feed. 



A few weeks later we spent the whole of one damp, foggy 

 morning watching a male bird we had often heard in the Ferntree 

 Gully Reserve. We had located a fresh dancing-mound the week 

 before, and made our way carefully to this spot. Unfortunately 

 for our proposed attempt at photography, the bird was already 

 on the mound when we arrived. We were fully compensated, 

 however, by a fine performance lasting about half an hour, and 



