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,^"] White, Trip to Tambourine JMoitntain. 213 



under the trees and listened to their chatterings. On the other 

 side of the ridge a very large swamp was situated, and as far as 

 we could see around its margin great flocks of Bald-Coots were 

 feeding, while the snow-white plumage of Egrets stood out against 

 the dark green rushes. 



Next morning, after breakfast, I induced the landlady to give 

 us a lift in a springcart for a few miles ; then we proceeded on 

 foot up the mountain, which rises 2,000 feet, almost perpen- 

 dicularly, from the plain. It was a hot day, and the climb was 

 a stiff one ; but we soon forgot the heat in admiration of the birds 

 around us. The eucalypts were in blossom, and the Blue-bsllied 

 Lorikeet {Trichoglossiis novce-hollandicB) and Scaly-breasted Lori- 

 keet were present in thousands, chattering and screeching The 

 clear call of the Forest Kingfisher was heard amongst the timber. 

 After a very stiff climb, occupying about two hours, we reached 

 the summit and followed the track through some park-like 

 country, the Eucalypti and Angophorce being gigantic and pic- 

 turesque. Here we heard the Coachwhip-Bird — a sure indication 

 of a scrub being near — and, following the direction of the sound, 

 we could see between the boles of gigantic trees the graceful 

 fronds of the scrub palm, lawyer cane, and other creepers. " Capo 

 di Monti," a picturesque building perched on piles, some 15 feet 

 from the ground, was reached. After a wash and some lunch we 

 were ready for a ramble in the scrub, which came right up to the 

 edge of the clearing around the house. At this place we spent 

 a few days, never tiring of expeditions into the heart of the vast 

 scrub along innumerable bridle paths. Sometimes we came out 

 on to the verge of the cliffs to win a magnificent view. From one 

 spot, where the cHffs had a sheer face of 2,000 feet, could be seen 

 a river winding through the country below, and the high bluff 

 of Tweed Heads standing out in the blue distance. The scrub on 

 the mountain-top was rich in bird-hfe. The deep booming note 

 of the Purple-breasted Fruit-Pigeon echoed through the lofty fig- 

 trees, while the clear call of the Pheasant-tailed Pigeon, and the" deep 

 cooing of the White-headed Fruit-Pigeon came from the dense 

 mass of vines and creepers. Great numbers of Flock-Pigeons 

 were alarmed from their feeding-trees. Now and again a Wonga 

 Wonga Pigeon passed on swift wings. In the most shady and 

 secluded spots a " pitter patter " over dry leaves revealed the 

 presence of the pretty little Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon. In the 

 same locality, with a long, clear call, repeated many times, that 

 lovely little creature known to the settler as the " Dragoon-Bird " 

 (Noisy Pitta) may be attracted to within a short distance. Another 

 little bird which finds its food scratching amongst the dead leaves 

 and rotten wood of the scrub is the Spine-tailed Log-runner, called 

 by the settler the " Scrub-Hen." These birds were building on 

 the ground ; nest composed of large masses of leaves and twigs. 



As we rambled along, our attention was often drawn to the 

 large, dark-coloured nests, suspended from the lawyer-vine (order 

 Palmae, species Calamus muelleri) of the Yellow-throated Scrub- 



