THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
in general, and its mate in particular. . . The average period from the 
start of the nest to the departure of the young I found to be about six weeks. 
Building operations are usually completed in little more than a week; incuba¬ 
tion takes about 20 days ; and the young grow to the flight stage in, roughly, 
three weeks. When this period is closing, signs of restlessness in the nest 
may be observed from below. The flapping of little wings shows that the little 
chicles are eager to be abroad, and a shaking of the nesting tree at once starts 
them. Then commotion reigns. With crests erect and tails spread wide, 
the parents flit anxiously about, rapidly uttering a harsh, chiding ‘Charr- 
charr,’ and now and again breaking into the piping whistle. Fired with a 
spirit of emulation, the young birds do their best to swell the medley, and 
chime in with a ‘ Ta-ta-ta,’ * Choo-choo-choo.’ In colour they are, of course, 
more subdued than their parents, especially about the throat, where the only 
darkness is at the base of the feathers. The crest is developed early, and 
seems to afford its owner unlimited satisfaction. As with the nest building, 
so with the hatching—the female does the greater part of the work. One 
pair I observed, however, relieved each other at regular intervals during a 
hot spell. Each bird would hunt for food for a few minutes. . . Of the 
utility of Shrike-Tits there can be only one opinion. Unquestionably they 
are among our most valuable birds. The quantity of insects they eat must 
be enormous, for no part of a tree—from bole to the uppermost leaves—is 
unvisited by them. Accordingly they are acrobats of the first order, and, 
in displaying their resemblance to the true Tits of Europe, they assume some 
very graceful attitudes. By reason of its bark-hunting proclivities the 
hammering and tearing sounds at once call attention to a Shrike-Tit’s presence 
in a tree. These birds are sometimes locally known as Bark-Tits, but the 
name of ‘ Yellow-Hammer ’ will not easily be suppressed. In the non-nesting 
months Shrike-Tits often visit the towns and do great service among the codlin 
moths in the orchards and various pests in the flower gardens. In 1914 a 
pair was in the habit of visiting the Maryborough fire-station yard, and the 
keeper was entertained in watching two Sparrow’s dancing attention on them 
as they foraged in some eucalypts. When the strong-billed native birds 
ripped off bark the Sparrows dashed in to share the feast revealed, and got 
away again quickly.” 
Mr. Ashby says : “I have found this species common in the timbered 
country of South Australia and Victoria, except I did not note it in that part 
of Gippsland where the big trees grow, ranging from 200 ft. to 300 ft., but it 
may be there. In the Adelaide Hills my attention has often been first called 
to the bird by hearing pieces of bark falling to the ground; on looking up 
I have discovered the bird wrenching off the bark from the red or blue gums 
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