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Mr G. A. Heumann



opening. Before they got much there it was blown inside by the

wind. But the starlings persisted, and the result was the heap of

straw, all of which had been carried by this pair of birds. The

carpenter using the shed again put an end to the birds visits, or it

would be interesting to know how long they would have kept on in

this way.


The Pied Wagtail is a resident about here, but the yellow

wagtail is scarce, only being seen occasionally.


The early-setting sun was now low in the west. The robin

had ceased his little bursts of autumn melody. The call of birds

were lessening. The starlings flew off with a great rush to the

woods to roost. Bound the church-yard elms the rooks were gather¬

ing and giving a final chorus of “caw” before retiring. The small

fowl were all seeking their resting-places for the night. From the

low-lying meadows came the faint “ pee-wit ” of the plover, an eerie

sound through the oncoming darkness.


A slight mist began to rise from the country, and a fading

pearly-gray light disappeared from the hills, as the lights began to

twinkle from the houses.


Then the faint silvery yellow of the crescent moon peeped

above the hills, and the stars crept out, whilst all the country-side

was hushed to silence.



BIRDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES I


HAVE CAUGHT AND KEPT.


By G. A. Heumann.


(Continued from page 272).


THE SMALL AND MOBE DELICATE SOFTBILLS.


At the present time I have sixty-five species of native birds

in my aviaries. Amongst them is the Crested Shrike Tit (. Fulcuncu -

lus frontatus ) my favourite bird. In appearance it is a little like

the Coal Tit of Europe, only much brighter and twice the size,

with a fine black comb-like crest. Strange to say, contrary to other

birds so ornamented, it raises the crest when excited, hut when in

the act of fighting it lowers it fiat on to its head and stretches the



