118 
The Queensland Naturalist 
August, 1938 
by stating that lie is to be found around the reserves in 
uncultivated paddocks, crops and swampy country; in 
fact, anywhere where there is plenty of rank grass and 
weeds, and plenty of blue sky overhead. Four species of 
Thornhill are well represented. The Brown and Striated 
are closely associated and some difficulty is experienced 
in identifying them. The Striated is more strikingly 
marked, and much more yellowish than the Brown, 
although the presence of immature birds complicates 
matters. The Brown Thornbill lias a note peculiar to 
himself, a short musical trill, which is quite unmistakeable 
once heard. The Buff-tail is a merry little fellow and a 
lover of mountain ranges, in comparison with the Yellow- 
tail, a creature of the open and a. ground-loving bird, 
although he seems to prefer a convenient pine-tree in 
which to build his double-storied nest. The mysterious 
white-browed Scrub Wren is well domiciled along the 
shady creeks and undergrowth where he builds his nest, 
well hidden from the chance passer-by, but strangely 
enough not so well hidden to prevent him from being 
occasionally imposed upon by some maurauding Cuckoo. 
The genus Malurus is represented by the Variegated and 
Bed-backed Wren. 
The Peewee, or Magpie Lark, is much in evidence. 
The Grey Thrush is the prima donna of the range, but is 
occasionally challenged by her relative, the Rufous 
Thrush, who is of a more retiring disposition and who 
prefers to scratch for a living among the undergrowth. 
Occasionally she will be seen out in the open, and has a 
habit of climbing up the trunks of trees to pry out any 
insects from the rough bark. A species that would be 
very easily missed in a casual examination of the bird life 
of the district. 
The Magpie carols in the dawn from the neighbour- 
ing paddocks. So also is heard the sweet note of the Grey 
Butcher Bird. I have frequently noticed, however, that 
where a colony of Butcher Birds have established them- 
selves, all other forms of bird life seem conspicuous by 
their absence. The Pied Butcher Bird is rarer and pre- 
fers the more open country. 
Two gifted vocalists are the Golden and Rufous 
Whistlers. The Golden prefers the more thickly timbered 
country, and has a voice of exceptional power. “Be 
quick ! Be quick ! Be quick ! ’ ’ he cries, to be answered by 
his plainer coloured mate in similar strain. The Rufous 
has a song that is well sustained and brilliant, only rivalled 
bv that of the Gray Thrush. He is found in the more 
open country. He is very quiet in the autumn, but sings 
