August, 1938 
The Queensland Naturalist 
117. 
In this part of the country the Swallows do not leave 
us during the winter, so that the Welcome Swallow and 
Fairy Martin are to be seen all the year round. At cer- 
tain times of the year they congregate in large flocks, 
apparently augmented by migrants from other parts 
Our smallest bird, the Brown Weebill, is much in 
evidence among the sapling growth and low bushes. He is 
generally found in small parties, and can be easily dis- 
tinguished by his short, stumpy bill, his general restless- 
ness and his call, a loud one for such a small bird, which 
sounds something like “We need it. ” He is fond of 
associating with other small birds, and more often than 
not, the Buff-tailed Thornhill appears to be his choice. 
The dainty little white-throated Warbler is also a station- 
ary species in this part of the country. He is a bird of 
the treetops, where he will sit and sing his half a chromatic 
scale (with extemporisations) by the hour. He is prettily 
clothed in yellow and olive, and builds a neat little bag- 
shaped nest to rear his young. Altogether a charming 
little fellow. 
The familiar Willie Wagtail needs no introduction. 
He is everywhere. He is also to be heard with his 
“Sweet Pretty Creature” at all hours of the night, and 
appears just as lively next day in spite of the fact that he 
must get very little sleep. Almost as common is the 
Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, which is reputed to be a 
migratory bird, but can always be found at any time of 
the year in Brisbane. His relative, the Varied Triller, is 
one of the distinctive birds of Mt. Coot-tha. He is to be 
found in pairs along the creeks and gullies, and is very 
quiet and unobtrusive in his ways. Apparently he has 
not the vocal abilities of his relative, the White-Winged 
Triller, or if he has he does not display them very often. 
The thick growth of lantana in places around the reserve 
affords excellent cover for our old friend, the Whip Bird. 
If you are up early enough in the morning or out late 
enough in the evening, you will surprise him out on his 
foraging expeditions, which he regularly takes into the 
open. Besides the usual whip call, he has other notes. 
He is capable of a series of whistles, and when he is 
scratching among the dead leaves and other debris that 
afford him his food supply, he indulges in a most peculiar 
call that sounds as though he were chuckling to himself 
over some huge joke. 
Probably the most eccentric of our small birds is that 
little fellow we call the Golden-Headed Fantail Warbler. 
A digression upon him and his peculiarities would con- 
stitute an article on its own, so we will content ourselves 
