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Mr. D. Seth-Smith,



came forth, and we watched a whole family of six Blue Wrens,

but not one in colour unfortunately, all of a soft brown, the most

dainty and aristocratic looking little creatures. The English

Goldfinches’ twitter made one imagine one’s self back at home,

and’ as we approached a cottage the flocks of house-sparrows

that rose up reminded one more than ever of home. But the

illusion was soon dispelled .as a party of some dozen or more

“Yellow-tails ” (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa ) flew up from the grass,

auda perfect cock Blue Wreu (Malurus cyaneus) appeared on

some low bushes in front of us.


The males of this lovely little bird seem to be very irregular

in the time at which they change their dress: some were com¬

pletely in undress plumage at this time while others, such as the

solitary male above-mentioned, were in full dress. Mr. Brittle-

bank arrived after dark, and we drove out to his Station.


The following morning Mr. Campbell and I rose early and

went out. A short distance from the house the ground com¬

menced to slope away to a creek with thickly wooded sides, and

towards this we made our way. White-backed Piping Crows,

or “ Magpies,” as the Australians call them, and as we will call

them here, were about the farm-buildings in numbers, looking

out for any chance of plunder. These are the only birds that

Messrs. Brittlebank do not strictly preserve as they sometimes

become too numerous and are nearly as bad as our Jackdaws are

here in the way of stealing.


We soon had abundant evidence of the drought which was

becoming more serious here than it had been for many years.

During the famous drought of a few years ago this part of Victoria

did not suffer; grass was plentiful, and sheep and cattle from

affected districts were being brought here to feed on the abundant

supply. At the time of my visit all of this was changed. Out¬

side the rabbit-proof fence one looked in vain for grass. The

hill sides were bare red soil, from which the rabbits had eaten

every green blade. Within the fence the herbage was becoming

dried up, but there was still some left, and the rodents had taken

to climbing the fence, and were all too numerous within the

boundary.


As we descended the slopes towards the creek we came



