March, 1923 
19 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
25. “Commonwealth Records of Australia,” Series 1, Vol. 1, 
Sydney, 1914. 
26. “First Australian Rabbits.” by A. W. Greig, Hon. Secre- 
tary. Historical Society of Vicoria, Melbourne “Argus,” 
31st May, 1919. 
27. “Annual Report of Thos. A. Tabart,” Rabbit Inspector, 
Tasmania, Hobart. 1921. 
28. “The Victorian Historical Magazine,” Sept., 1913, Vol. 
HI., No. 1. 
29. “The Rabbit Question in Queensland,” by C. L. Morgan. 
Brisbane, 189 8. 
WHY THE BIRDS SHOULD BE PROTECTED. 
By Mrs. F. H. HOBLER. 
A lovely morning* in late September! Ye gods! I 
drink the balmy air as I isit under a young mango-tree, 
whose low braniches protect my retreat, and s’helter me 
from the sun’s rays, already gathering force from the 
coming summer. To escape from one s household duties 
and sit and feast on the extensive view, and study the 
wonderful varietle-s of greens, from the flowering fruit 
trees close by, to the light and dark shades in the valleys 
and on the hills, is a life worth ■'While. 
Then, last but not least, comes the cill of the birds 
from every side. Quite close the little pardalote has 
her nest in the emUiaiikment, and, by the constant fljdng 
to and fro 1 know the ])air are feeding their young. Now 
it is a caterpillar, now a small moth, and so on. ever busy 
killing the insect life till the tiedgling?^ are ofut in the 
world finding their own way — next year in all probabil- 
ity to be busy parents’ themselves. The yellow-rumped 
tits twitter unceasingly in the hedge close by, their nest 
in the fir tree is nehrly completed. 1 watched them lately 
as they hopped about the rose-bush that shelters the ver- 
anthili; the>’ are fearless litne fellows ami would like to 
say to us, “We are only tiny tits, surely no oiie would Imrt 
us, and see how We dear the rose boiigiis.” Sure enougli 
that Wiis what kept them busy, their wee bills now here 
now there pecking off the apliis. What splendid little gar- 
deners ! I am told the silver-eye also doea this same work, 
