yO Dove, Birds at Essendon. \^, 



Emu 



Oct. 



Tamar about eight months ago, and I knew it to be that of the 

 Grass-Bird {Megahirus grauiineus, Gould), usually frequenting 

 clumps of reeds and rushes by a riverside or in wet pastures and 

 swamps, but very unusual in a park close to the main road and 

 frequented daily by numbers of people. This just bears out 

 good old White of Selborne's dictum of over a century ago, 

 that that district always turns out to be the richest in natural 

 productions which is the most searched, and we have only to 

 keep eyes and ears open to come upon interesting things in most 

 unlikely places. So it was in this case. By concealing myself 

 as much as possible and continually imitating the weird, pene- 

 trating call which arose from the thicket of reeds, I was presently 

 able to draw the shy little fellow up fairly close to me and obtain 

 a good view of him. Not very striking in appearance : the back 

 marked much like that of a sparrow, under side grey with dark 

 streaks upon the breast, tail rather long and somewhat elevated ; 

 no brilliant hues to attract the eye, but still most interesting to 

 the naturalist from its shy nature and recluse mode of life. 

 Scores of folk dwelling near rivers and swamps must be familiar 

 with the weird call of the Grass-Bird and yet have never seen 

 the little recluse, so closely does he conceal himself amid the 

 dense vegetation in which he makes a home. 



Of the Honey-eater family, the familiar White-plumed {Ptilotis 

 penicillata, Gould), or " Greenie," is, of course, the most numerous, 

 its lively notes and rapid motions making it very conspicuous. 

 Numbers are always to be seen and heard amid the group of 

 graceful gums on the eastern side of the Park, a portion which 

 has been very wisely left as far as possible in its natural state, 

 and forming one of the most delightful spots in this reserve. 



Another Honey-eater, the Spiny-cheeked {Acaiithogenys rufi- 

 gnlaris, Gould), is far less generally known than the " Greenie," 

 but is quite numerous just now in the Park and in many of the 

 gardens of the district. It derives its name from a whitish 

 bristly patch just behind the eyes. But to my mind the notes 

 uttered by this species form its most remarkable feature. The 

 tone reminds one of a gate creaking on its hinges, and the bird 

 while calling elevates its head and beak almost perpendicularly, 

 reminding one of the attitude adopted by the familiar Shrike- 

 Thrush {Collyriocijicla Jiannonica, Lath.) when challenging a rival. 



This native Thrush is also to be seen the Park, although its 

 numbers are exceedingly small when compared with those of the 

 imported Song-Thrush, which, with the Blackbird, may be seen 

 on every lawn and in almost every bush ; still, the fine, bold, 

 cheerful notes of the Australian bird make it a welcome resident. 

 On awaking early in the bush on a fine spring morning it is 

 most inspiriting to hear a number of these bold warriors 

 whistling against each other, and making the forest resound with 

 their melodious challenges. 



