Emu 



2j^A White, Trip to Tambourine Mountain. [isPd 



Wren, known to the settler as the " Black-nest-Bird." We were 

 often 'startled by the peculiar call of the Cat-Bhd. Leaden Fly- 

 catchers flitted from bough to bough, uttering their frog-like 

 call, and here and there a pair of White-shafted Fantails would 

 be easily detected by their restless motion. We came upon 

 deserted mounds of the Brush-Turkey, and caught a glimpse of 

 the birds themselves. In the early morning the Lyre-Bird, down 

 by the creek, in the thick scrub, imitated the sound of sawing 

 and wood-chopping, and now and again the barking of a dog. 



On the edge of a clearing one bright morning a small party of 

 Regent-Birds flew up and down from the scrub-trees to their 

 feeding-grounds amongst the ink-weed. The harsh call of the 

 Rifle-Bird was heard every little while amidst the scrub. The 

 male bird seems conscious of his glorious plumage, and keeps high 

 up on the tallest trees. He perches across a limb, and only his 

 bill on one side and his tail on the other can be seen. In the more 

 open gum country the Leach Kingfisher was seen and heard, and 

 also the Forest Kingfisher. In the same locality we found the 

 Pied Crow-Shrike, its presence being always made known by the 

 peculiar noisy call. Amongst the gums the Harmonious Shrike- 

 Thrush's familiar call could be heard. I think that their notes are 

 not so clear and liquid as those of birds found further south. I 

 observed a bird which I took to be a Frontal Shrike-Tit, and on 

 closer inspection found it to be much smaller than our southern 

 bird, and with a different note. We observed the Drongo 

 on several occasions on the edge of the scrub, but these birds 

 were very shy. 



In open gum country Pennant Parrakeets were fairly plenti- 

 ful, their crimson bodies and blue wing markings striking a note 

 of vivid colour in the landscape. Wherever there were gums in 

 flower, flocks of Blue-bellied Lorikeets (Trichoglossiis novcB-hollandice) 

 assembled, making a great noise squabbling over food. Another 

 scrub bird was the Yellow-breasted Robin, whose beautifully- 

 constructed nests were often seen attached to the lawyer vines. 

 The Satin Bower-Birds interested me much, and I was fortunate 

 in discovering a nest, placed in the fork of a straight eucalyi:)t. 

 70 or 80 feet from the ground. After a stiff climb, I reached the 

 nest, which was constructed of dry twigs and lined with gum 

 leaves. The eggs were of the usual dark colour. Of Raptores 

 we saw only the Wedge-tailed Eagle and Nankeen Kestrel. The 

 Boobook Owl was heard at night. No Owls were observed on 

 the mountain. On the evening of our last day we found a fine 

 . bower of the Satin Bower-Bird. The twigs were well arched 

 over, and the play-ground at either end was decorated with bright 

 feathers, snail shells, seeds, glass, pebbles, bright-coloured leaves. 

 &c. 



At 3 o'clock on the morning of our departure a terrific thunder- 

 storm swept over the mountain. 2i inches of rain falling in 20 

 minutes. At 5 o'clock we started to descend the mountain in 

 a specially constructed " buckboard." When the edge of the 



