Sept. 30, 1908, The Queensland Naturalist. 
57 
advocacy of the claims of our useful birds for protection 
in our primary schools, these two species promise to become 
more numerous than of late. Two of our most elegant, peace- 
ful Doves {Geopelia tranquilla) were seen also feeding on the 
bare ground beneath standing timber. Walking along 
the creek that traverses the scrub, but in an opposite 
direction to the latter, were seen several little bands of 
Silver Eyes (Silvs) (Zosterops cwrulescens) flitting hurriedly 
through the branches of the various eucalypts, or exploring 
their leaves for insects. Another little bird — whose loud 
notes uttered in series of threes, with an emphasis on the 
third, strangely contrasted with the faint twitter of the 
last — performed various gymnastic feats searching the 
foliage too of these trees in quest of lerp-insects. 
Flying eagerly from tree to tree, and hurriedly running 
along the smaller branches, was a beautiful little bird, 
bright russet green above, save for a black cap, and a brown 
white collar, and snowy-hued beneath. This was the 
Melithreptus alhigularis or White-Throated Honey Eater, 
and occurred in two and threes, rendering the woods vocal 
with its varied notes. Less commonly in the same situation 
was seen another Honey Eater — a Ptilotis ( ‘I So7iora). 
Suddenly from a tall tea-tree {Melaleuca) arose a 
sound as if produced by striking small glass-marbles together 
rapidly, but interruptedly. This was recognised as the 
alarm note of that beautiful Yellow and Gray Robin : 
Eopsaltria australis. 
Inquiring into the origin of its trepidation, it was 
found to be occasioned by the presence of the Boobook Owl 
{Ninox boobook) in the denser foliage of the tree. Owls 
are usually regarded as entirely serviceable creatures, 
through their habit of consuming mice and other small 
rodents. The Boobook Owl, however, derives its food in 
a great measure from the members of its own tribe : the small 
birds holding it in especial dread. Of course, the Eopsaltria 
belongs to the Shrike family, and is somewhat aggressive 
itself. A relation of it, the Red-breasted Robin (Packy- 
cephala rufiventris), that delights so many a Brisbane resident 
with its beautiful song — loud, but sweet — and sometimes 
reproduces the utterance of the Coacliwhip Bird in lesser 
volume of sound, was serenading its mate at no distance 
away. And flitting amongst the boughs of a small tree, 
spreading its ample tail that it moved from side to side 
at its resting place, and dropping suddenly as a winged- 
insect approaclied, to as quickly regain its perch again, 
was that lively little creature, the White-Shafted Fly- 
Catcher {Rhipidura albiscapa) that finds its winter w'ith us 
here. 
Visiting in succession the angle where a large branch 
joined the trunk of the tree from which it sprung, were several 
