24 



at least fourteen days after its arrival. One of the Black 



Cockatoos {Calyjdorhynchus funereus Shaw) was seen, and from 

 tlie general behaviour and noise made by the flock, preparations 

 were clearly being made for breeding. The Rosehill Paroquet 

 (Flafi/rerciis exiruuts, Shaw) was very plentiful and in fine feather. 

 The Sassafras Tableland, and more particularly the immediate 

 neighbourhood of the Mount itself, is a well known locality for 

 certain birds. For instance, tiie Gang-Gang (CaUocephalon 

 galeatnm, Latham) in small flocks of five to seven individuals 

 was seen on several occasions, and specimens obtained ; the King 

 Parrot {Ajyrosmictus scapulatus, Bechst.) seen but not captured, 

 and evidently now rare there. The Laughing Jackass (Dacelo gigas, 

 Bodd.) was found to be very plentiful, and in good feather. The 

 specimens shot appear to be finer and of larger size than those 

 usually met with in moi-e open forest country. The Wonga-Wonga 

 (^Leucosarcia picata, Latham) was well known here, but this tine 

 pigeon has been almost exterminated. One example of the rarer 

 Scrub-Thrush (GeocicJiIa lumdata, Latham) was shot in the vine 

 scrub by Mr. Alfred Stuart. The White-winged Corcorax [Corcorax 

 melatioj'hamphiis, Vieillot) was common in large flocks, and very 

 tame. Tlie pleasant note of the Brown Thrush [Collyriocinda 

 harmonica, Latham) betrayed its presence throughout the moi'e 

 open ground near the summit of the Mount ; and the Coach-Whip 

 [Psophodes crepitans, V. & H.) was equally noticeable by its 

 peculiar and characteristic note. The Satin Bird (Ptilonorhynchus 

 violaceus, Vieillot) frequents this locality in lar-ge flocks, feeding 

 on the berries of the wild raspberiy, and always accompanied by 

 a few old full plumaged males. Lastly, the rocky gullies and 

 escarpments afford excellent co\'er for the Lyre Bird (^Menura 

 stiperba, Davies), which undoubtedly exists here in certain spots 

 in large numl^ers, and I would more particularly point out the 

 neiglibourhood of the Bulee Gap. We heard them in great force 

 here when passing through on our way up from Nerriga. 



Little need be said of the Reptilia. Our specimens have been 

 named by Mr. J. Douglas Ogilijy, who has determined amongst 

 the frogs LyDiodynastes dorsalis, Gray, from Mayfield, and 

 L. tasmanie lists, Keferst., from the Sassafras. Numerous examples 

 of Pseudophryne hihronii, D. & B., from both localities, and a 

 few individuals of the rarer frog Crinia signifera, Girard, also 

 from Mayfield, and the Sassafras. The Lacertilia are numerously 

 represented by Lygosoma musielvituin, O'Shaun., a numljer of 

 other forms of the same genus, at present uiuiamed, and an 

 example of Egernia kiagi, Gray. 



Insecta. — Throughout the whole Silurian area between Tarago, 

 Mayfield, and the Bulee River, the prevalence of white-ant hills is 

 a very marked feature, some reaching as much as seven feet high. 

 They are conical in shape, spreading at the base, and usually of a 

 light yellow colour. On the Sassafras Tableland the "hills" become 



