The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-08-30

Once my friend suddenly drew rein.
writes w lillian Sharp Ia Harpcr's Ma0o-
zine In an article on the magic OF the
bush. and motioned me TO do likewise.
For . few seconds / heard nothing.
then sharp and clear through the
silence rang the crack of long whip,
and expected TO see some stock-rider.
or perhaps some strayed packman.
issue from the scrub. With q quick
Hush" my companion whispered to
me that what had heard was only the
whip bird. " and that what he wanted
me to see was Tyre bird. whose native
note he had heard moment before
close ut hand. Very shortly a some
what low but sweet burst OF melody.
though within limited compass. came
from glade TO the left. the greater
part OF which was shrouded from sight
by intricate fern-tree growths; with
rapid transitions the song thereafter
rose and fell. now initiating the joyous
freedom of the magpie. now the laugh.
ing gurgle OF tho jackass. now other
forest denizens. Again silence. and
then--right In the midst of the fern
glade saw for the first time bird /
had often heard of and which | was
anxious to see. The Tyre bird, or
mountain pheasant (Menura superba).
is:extremely shy and though by no means
rare In certain districts Is thus com.
paratiyely seldom seen. In size II
very closely resembles the common
pheasant. aud Is of an anhurn-browp
color; but Ii would not be specially
attractive bird were II not for the large
and delicately graceful tail-feathers.
which. when fully erected. exactly re-
semble the instrument after which the
bird Is called. Like the shark. and
perhaps the cuckoo. the mountain
pheasant Is generally accompanied by
a satellite. in this instance the latter
being small. jerky little bird. popu.
larly called the ''pheasant's mother
but mono such was visible to our eyes
on this occasion. The whip bird, OF
coach-whip bird. referred TO Is gener-
ally heard in the scrub proper and has
received its name from its habit OF end.
ing its loud cry or note with an abrupt
crack like that produced by the long
lash OF stock-whip.
As we rode on the sun grew higher
and higher In the heavens and grad.
ual silence crept through the forest with
the ripening noon. The scrub which
had lately been so full OF lite appeared
TO be deserted by its noisy dcnizens.
aud only ut rare intervals the mufiied
chuckle of the jackass broke the still.
ness. Ere long we came suddenly up
on n rare sight in an Australian forest.
and few yards farther brought us
within the charmed circle. than which
! have seen nothing of the kind moro
lovely. Immediately before us lay
quiet pool OF an intense azure hue Mt
Its center. but with wide margins re-
necting the green fern-tree fronds and
all else Hswery and beautiful that
grew near; fringing its edges with
great quantities of beautiful species
Of iris; beyond. and forming circular
wall. varying from five TO eight or nine
feet In height. were thick magnolias In
magnificent full bloom and whose de.
licious fragrance made the air seem
heavy with sweetness; over these waved
the long. delicate green fonds OF the
tree-ferns and shimmering acacia
sprays. while beyond glimpse was
caught OF the SUBMITS of the lofty
blue-gums darkly silhouetted againstfhe
purple-blue sky. Not breath OF wind
stirred leaf or flower; not sound was
heard save faint. almost inaudible,
hum at regular intervals. or an
occasional subdued rustle--as of
leaf falling to the ground or bird
drowsily shifting its position in the
dense green shade. Hark! what
was that? Like n PARKWAY village bell
soft sound rings or rather swcls
mellifluously through the still air. and
now another--a silyery tolling. ex.
quisitely impressive and even solemn
In these hushed and lonely solitudes.
Wonderfully and at first startlingly
strange as the Illusion was / had al
ready fathomed that / was listening 10
the bell q no forest sanctuary. when
my friend whispered to me; THE bell
birdf' The solemnity of the noon
seemed TO deepen, and the promised
vigor OF the day 10 subside into
luxurious dream. Having dismounted
and tied our horses 60 tree. we be-
took ourselves TO an hour or two's mid.
day rest. and as we lay below huge.
spreading tree-fern lazily smoking. with
the scent of the magnolias In the warm
air. and the dreamy call of the distant
bell bird rising and falling at solemn
intervals. we became drowsy. and
doubtless each INDUCED In good deal
OF unspoken sentiment. III so, IL Ger.
tainly did US no harm. From our rest.
ing-phce on slope above the pool we
could just see the blue line OF distant
range rolling away northward. and be.
hind II some outlying summit OF the
misty Bogongs
Morning and evening the Australian
forest Is awake; at noon IL is asleep.