Our collection of natural history still continued
scanty. A very pretty tree, a new species of Grevillia, out of flower,
however, and which I only concluded to be a Grevillia from its habit, and
the appearance of its bark, had taken the place of the gum-trees on the
creeks, and the jasmine was everywhere common, but, with the exception of
a few solani and some papilionaceous plants, we had seen nothing either
new or rare.
Of birds the most numerous were the new pigeon and the black-shouldered
hawk; but there was a shrike that frequented the creeks which I should
have noticed before. This bird was about the size of a thrush, but had
the large head and straight-hooked bill of its species; in colour it was
a dirty brownish black, with a white bar across the wings. Whilst we were
staying at Flood's Creek, one of these birds frequented the camp every
morning, intimating his presence by a shrill whistle, and would remain
for an hour trying to catch the tunes the men whistled to him. His notes
were clear, loud, metallic and yet soft; their variety was astonishing,
and his powers of imitation wonderful; there was not a bird of the forest
that he did not imitate so exactly as to deceive. I would on no account
allow this songster to be disturbed, and the consequence was that his
rich note was the first thing heard at dawn of day, during the greater
part of our residence in that neighbourhood.
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