Vol. XIV 

 1914 



"I Stray Feathers: 65 



by the male and female joining their voices together in such a 

 manner that they seem to be uttered by one bird. At that rate, 

 a pair claims ownership of the top end of the creeklet, where it 

 enters this estate. Crossing the swamp at that point, the calls 

 have been heard often enough in the dense covers which terminate 

 at the upper boundary of the property. Once a Coachwhip-Bird 

 was seen prancing along a fallen tree whose bole was bare of bark 

 and had a mat of bracken on both sides. I studied the bird's 

 capers. It seemed to be a born dandy, dominated by self- 

 esteem. With partially elevated taO, and crest perked up, it 

 bounded along the log until it reached a splinter, which it 

 endeavoured to displace. Failing, it retreated a httle distance, 

 returned, and, putting in a supreme effort, met with success. The 

 next procedure was to search for food. Not finding any, the 

 bird took refuge in his ferny bower. My first view of this scrub 

 denizen was obtained in the orchard in winter — it must be 

 remembered that fruit trees were leafless. This bird, without 

 being really shy, proved extremely restless ; it visited one apple- 

 tree, then another, and never ahghted upon the ground. 



On 6th March, 1914, my sister informed me that a bird never 

 previously observed was in the garden. On my going to the 

 front verandah the newcomer was seen, and instantly recognized. 

 A variety of flowering plants abut upon the verandah, which runs 

 all round the house. Apparently the bird was at home. It was 

 surprising to me that a timid bird such as the Coachwhip 

 seems to be should prove so tame. This bird was fearless 

 in the presence of human beings. A close approach did not alarm 

 it in the shghtest degree. Of course, I avoided movements of 

 an alarming nature ; but the bird did not heed footsteps on the 

 verandah floor, though when a loose board slipped down vidth a 

 clatter it instantly darted into cover. With rare exceptions, it 

 was seen at all hours prospecting busily around the house, 

 generally under the shrubbery, until nth March, when it finally 

 disappeared. My impression was that it had gone to a more 

 suitable location, but this conjecture was wide of the mark, for 

 later my sister discovered the bird drowned in an underground 

 tank. This tank, though planked over, has openings, through 

 one of which the bird had entered either for a drink or to make 

 an inspection. Evidently this mishap occurred on the nth, 

 because at 11 a.m. it came to drink water from a shallow pie-dish 

 placed in the shade for our pet Magpies. On the previous day 

 it was not visible till 2 p.m., when it bounded briskly along the 

 verandah, straight for the dish, and slaked its thirst in a rapid, 

 jerky manner. Once, while drinking, it lost its hold on the 

 vessel's rim, and_shppediinto the water. The mischance did not 

 trouble the bird. Regaining the rim, it once more proceeded to 

 refresh itself. On one occasion both passage doors standing wide 

 open, the bird pranced through the hallway, which is 46 feet in 

 length. Another day I was standing on the garden path when 

 the Coachwhip-Bird passed barely 6 inches from my feet. 



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