164



Mr. D. Seth-Smith,



tlie Werribee Gorge. We started down into the aforementioned

creek and followed the nearly dry stream bed until we came to

the approach to the gorge.


As we approached a large flowering Eucalyptus tree we

heard the note of Lorikeets, and soon discovered numbers of

these birds busily working at the flowers. Most were Muskies

(Glossopsittcicus concinnus'), but after watching for some time we

were able to identify several specimens of the Little Lorikeet

(G. pusillus). These honey-sucking Parrots are remarkably tame

and take hardly any notice of one, feeding industriously on the

flowers within a few feet of the observer. We watched this in¬

teresting tree for some time as the birds kept arriving singly or

in twos and threes. The Eucalyptus trees are very irregular in

flowering, only perhaps a few scattered trees being in flower at

the same time in a whole forest, and these are sure to be visited

by the honey sucking birds such as Lorikeets, Wattle-birds and

Honey-eaters of many kinds. Pennant Parrakeets, mostly in

immature plumage, were common in this gorge, and allowed of

a fairly close approach. The little Red-browed Finch ( SEgintha

tempo?alis) was very common in places, but by no means easy to

see though their note was constantly heard. They nest all about

here, being especially partial to clumps of mistletoe which grow

in the Wattle bushes.


A Whistling Eagle (Haliastur sphenurus) flew past 11s, being

mobbed by a Brown Hawk ( Hieracidea o?'ie?italis ) ; the loud cries

of the Black Magpie or Grey Crow Shrik ^{Strepera ciuieicaudata)

came from the wooded sides of the gorge.


While we “boiled the billy” and did justice to the ample

provinder which our kind hostess had provided, we watched the

little Scrub-Wrens, small birds something like our Hedge Spar¬

rows, Blue Wrens, Tree Runners, Spine-billed Honeyeaters, and

other small fry which appeared to take very little notice of our

presence.


On our return that evening we saw more rabbits than I had

ever seen together before. The station had been surrounded by

a so-called rabbit-proof fence of wire-netting let well into the

ground, and under ordinary conditions this is quite effectual, but

in times of drought, when almost every blade of grass outside the



