14 THE WOMBAT. 



two. These birds are purely insectivorous in habit, and the 

 first three species are very useful to the farmer and fruit grower. 

 I was repeatedly told by vignerons in the Bendigo district 

 that they considered these birds and the pallid cuckoo the 

 best friends that they had, as they kept their vines clear of 

 caterpillars. 



Early in August I first heard the spirited song of the- 

 reed warbler from amongst the herbage of one of the lakes in 

 the city of Bendigo, and later on in the lakes round about 

 Kerang ; this bird's song is in marked contrast to the 

 plaintive note of the little grass bird, which is usually heard 

 in similar localities ; you will have to search to see this little' 

 denizen of the marshes, as it is even more shy and retiring 

 than the reed bird. I came across several nests of this little 

 bird in a swamp near Pyramid Kill in the month of November. 



The little cisticola was often heard pouring forth its little 

 song high in the air over the wheatfields throughout the- 

 district ; this little bird presents so many changes of plumage 

 that the great naturalist, Gould, thought himself justified in 

 dividing it into four distinct species. Acanthizce, as usual, 

 were constant features of the landscape, mainly represented 

 by the yellow-rumped and little brown kinds. 



The white-fronted Ephthianura was found nesting at Bet 

 Bet in August, and a nest of young of the little Chthonicola 

 was found on One Tree Hill in December. 



The black-faced Graucalus was met with in different 

 parts of the district, and its congener, the varied, was seen at 

 Echuca, amongst the gum saplings and wattles in the public 

 park. Robins were common, the red-capped being most 

 frequently seen. The " blue wren " or superb warbler, 

 found about Bendigo, was also represented in the Murray 

 district by the white-winged species (M alums leucopterus). 



The white-shafted fantail and " willie wagtail," or black 

 fantail, lead us on to the restless flycatcher ; at a distance 

 this bird bears a resemblance to the black fantail, but is more 

 prim and staid in its movements. Its note is entirely 

 different, and differs under different circumstances. The 

 ordinary conversational note is a sharp and very characteristic 

 one, resembling that of the leaden-coloured and shining fly- 

 catchers ; its call note is a whistling or piping one, repeated 

 three times in succession ; the third note is that grinding 

 sound emitted whilst the bird is poised in the air looking for 

 insects beneath ; this note has earned it the name of grinder. 

 I once had the opportunity of watching a pair of these birds 

 building. They were uncertain for a long time as to where 

 to place the nest ; one would seem to choose a spot, and would 

 consult its mate, who would not approve. Several of these 

 consultations were held in different trees. At last they were 

 both agreed as to a spot on a horizontal limb and about 30 

 feet from the ground, and flew off in different directions to get 



