ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 



1S1 



with his heavy Right and occasional chuckle when landing, could blunder into the boughs above our 

 heads, dart to the nest before or.r eyes, and fly oil again without being detected, it would certainly be 

 remarkable. A Jackass called across the creek ; the Grallinas relumed to safeguard their nest, while 

 I went to the camera. Dr. N'icholls selected a shaded nook about two hundred yards away, with his 

 binoculars trained upon the scene, prepared to signal the moment to make an exposure. Presently a 

 plunge was made at the nest from above and behind my head, I made an exposure, but to my great 

 surprise recorded the male Grallina, and not the Jackass, extracting the chick from the nest. Though 



The male Grallina taking chick from nest. 



bewildered momentarily, I noticed that the Grallina actually dipped into the nest and out again without 

 a noticeable .pause ; in fact, Dr. Nicholls, looking through his glasses, declared it to be a flypast, but 

 the photograph confirmed my observations. The Jackass was still perched on the limb above my 

 head, glancing down into the nest. I changed the exposed plate and waited anxiously 

 for a considerable time, but the bird eventually departed. 1 then decided to finish for the 

 day by photographing the young bird in the nest. I had previously arranged to have some old cases 

 carted in readiness for this purpose, so f placed two boxes one above the other in a suitable position, 

 then mounted to the top, but on peeping into the nest, I was surprised to find it tenantless. I now 

 feel positive from my observations that the young Grallina was taken by the male parent, and 1 am sure 

 that the Jackass was equally mystified as to who took it. — Harry Burrell, Kensington. 



