68 
The Queensland Naturalist 
November, 1943 
on the Pallid cuckoo's offspring, and Mr. and Mrs. 
White-throated warbler devoted their energies to the 
education and advancement in life of the golden-bronze's 
young 'un. This year so far the White-throated warblers 
have had better luck but the white-napes have landed a 
golden-bronze, and so also has a yellow-tailed tit. I 
think it's dead mean ! 
This little white-throated warbler I mention is a 
first cousin to our acquaintance of the mangroves. Its 
wistful, elfin notes (rather like those of the mangrove 
warbler) wander down vaguely from the tree-tops. A 
stop to trace the singer is well worth while. The clear- 
cut white circle of throat above the yellow breast is 
rather enchanting. I like the white-throated warbler; 
it always seems cheerful and has a beautifully detached 
air I've never seen it hobnobbing with other birds 
much, but I'm sure it isn't a snob. These questions 
are very important. We could never spend hours among 
birds if they didn't present more than ornithological 
problems. To know what they are is not enough to 
know what they are like in themselves brings much 
more entertainment. 
To return to the spring — the red-backed wrens are 
nesting in the long grass. They only seem to take one 
wife, although appearances certainly are against them. 
A few years back our redbacks had some bad luck. They 
built a dear little home in the grass with a neat side 
entrance and filled it with three charming babies. 
Unfortunately the creek rose rapidly and all this was 
swept away. Nothing daunted, the pair of them started 
on another nest and this time it was built about 20 feet 
away from the first nest, but well above high water- 
mark. In time, thanks to the intelligence of their 
parents, the eggs grew into fine citizens. 
By October, the brown weebills are past the first 
fine frenzy and settling down to some good solid build- 
ing. I found a nest about 20 feet from the ground, 
also with a side entrance. It was in a gum tree, just 
among the leaves on the outer edge. Through the com- 
ing months I watched the comings and goings with great 
interest. Eventually the nest was finished with, and I 
thought you naturalists would like to see it, so I set 
forth and tried to get it — well, the branch was too thin — 
that was no good, and I'm not strong enough to carry 
