File:The Australian Museum magazine (1921) (20342463422).jpg

Title: The Australian Museum magazine
Identifier: australianmuseum1192123aust (find matches)
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Australian Museum; Australian Museum
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: Sydney, Australian Museum
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 305
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Brammo Bay Beach, Dunk Island. A Flame Tree in foreground, whilst in the distance is seen the Queensland mainland. This beach was Mr. Banfield's favourite promenade. (Photo.—C. Barrett. charmed me more than a honey-eater, which came every day to feed upon a bunch of over-ripe bananas hanging in a shed. From its favorite perch, in a tree nearby, it would fly straight to the pendant fruit, provided solely for its benefit. A few quick pecks, and back to the bough ; and thus many times, until hunger was appeased, or some sudden fancy took the bird away to the jungle creek. " Jacky," if I remember aright, was the name of this feathered pensioner. The sunbirds (Cinnyris frenata) were not nesting when I stayed at Dunk Island, but they foraged about the bungalow, and sol had the rare pleasure of seeing Australia's " humming birds " at their best. They are beautiful small beings, active and graceful as Oberon's people, but rather assertive than gentle, in regard to their " place in the sun." I never tired of watching them flash from flower to flower, in the sunshine, or visit the cool verandah, where, in some seasons, they select a building site. " The Beachcomber " has described their aerial f roUcs when the flame tree's flowers are due ; how they gather, six or more, in a circle, and " with uplifted heads directed towards a common centre," utter their twittery song notes in unison. THE DRONGO AND OTHERS. Trees in the neighborhood of the bun- galow were frequented by the curious di-ongo-slmke (Chihea bradeata), the " bully, swaggerer, swashbuckler," of a biography in Confessions of a Beach- comber. He is a permanent resident, and his actions inchcate that he regards himself as, at least, one of the lords of the isle. Though a bully, and " boastful," he is no coward, for bigger and stronger birds go in fear of the drongo. I walked right beneath a fish-tailed, scolding " king-crow."

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