Australian Birds
Writing of the Tawny Frogmouth which often saves its life by imitating a dead branch! an Australian friend, Mr. Max Henry 01 Chatswood, sends me an interesting letter on what are to me the quite fascinating birds of New South Wales, and remarks, ' The Frogmouth is no beauty and appears to be ao insect eater. It is saved from its enemies hY mimicry and the only common bird that defends its young is the magpie. In fact, th° first time a small boy hears the vicious snaP of a magpie's beak he may well be alarmed. It is of interest that this bird is general!, credited with musical notes but no Australian bird excels the grey shrike-thrush in beautl of song and fine limpid, swelling notes while, for oddity, the kookaburra beats them alL It is no wonder that our first settlers 00 hearing the kookaburra- considered his vota that of a mocking demon.'
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