164 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
things—firstly, that you require an unlimited stock of 
patience; and secondly, that the birds have well defined 
ranges, so that in a place lke Hill Top, with its ravines 
and beautiful gullies, given the time to spare, you are 
always noting something new. 
Blackguard Gully and Rocky Creek, both within easy 
distance of the railway station—one surrounded by an 
amphitheatre of rock and the other typically named, apart 
from their bird inhabitants, are well worth a visit, for 
everything is on the grand scale. At the head of Rocky 
Creek, the sandstone cliffs on the northern side afford an 
excellent home for the Martins, and the marshy ground 
on the south side of a feeding-ground ‘‘par excellence,’’ for 
these insectivorous birds. The Swallow and White 
Rumped Wood Swallow (Artamus leucogaster) are to be 
found here in plenty. Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans) 
has also chosen this spot for a home, the only one about 
Hill Top proper. The beautiful yellow Robin (Lopsaltria 
australis), with his gazelle-like gaze clearly saying I know 
you will not hurt me; (Pardalotus punctatus), the daintily- 
marked Diamond Sparrow also ignores your presence 
(sure sign that they are not shot at). The harmonious 
thrush (Colluriclincla harmonica) is also calling to his 
mate, and some Crows flying home to roost warn you that 
your mission here is ending for the day. 
Blackguard Gully gives you a restless Fly-catcher not 
figured in Leach—feeding over a vast bed of Callistemon 
lanceolatus. A scarlet-breasted Robin (Petrioica Leggit) 
and a hen Lyre-bird feeding round the rocks, whilst in 
the gully her mate is making the echoes ring. 
An eight-mile walk to the Nattai River, at the back 
of Colo Vale, doesn’t give you much time for noting the 
birds. The Spine Bill is caught in the act of punishing 
some Tit Warblers with his cruel beak, and is henceforth 
looked upon with suspicion. The Wood Pigeon is heard 
cooing in the bush, but not seen; they are very timid, as 
they are shot at sight. A flock of Galahs herald your 
arrival at the brow of the Nattai Valley, and you sit and 
uncover your head at the sight at your feet, 
Some Magpies are feeding in the clearing beneath you, 
for your path is down 2,000 feet, and about an hour’s 
walk through a fertile clearing, a patch of volcanic soil 
contiguous to Mount Jellore. Patches of Melaleuca sty- 
