107 



NOTES ON THE DISAPPEARANCE— TOTAL OR PARTI AL- 

 OP CERTAIN SPECIES of BIRDS in the LOWER 

 LACHLAN DISTRICT. 



By K. H. BENNETT, F.L.S., &c. 



While collectiiif;' for the Australian Museum sonio years ago, 

 I was asked by the Curator to make a few notes on tlie migration 

 of birds, their arrival and disappearance, shortly after my notes 

 were mislaid, but recently on their turning up again, I thought 

 perhaps a few remarks on the rarer forms would prove interesting 

 to Ornithologists. 



It is a noticeable fact, and one that must strike an observer, 

 that great changes have taken place in the avifauna of this part 

 of the Colony during the last eighteen or twenty years. Species 

 that were formerly numerous, have for many years past entirely 

 disappeat'ed ; others that were numerous, during certain portions 

 of each year are now repi-esented at long and uncertain intervals 

 l)y a few stragglers. Wliilst on tlie other liand species that were 

 at that time few in numbers have now become plentiful and per- 

 manent. Amongst those that have entirely vanished may be 

 mentioned P/iaps Idstrionica, Geopha'ps scripta, Pedionomus tor- 

 qiiatus and Oreoica eri>itafa. Whilst amongst the now occasional 

 visitants (once plentiful) are Faico subniger, Milvus afilnis, 

 Coturnix jjectoralis, Turnix velox, and Syiioicus australis. Tliere 

 can, I think, be little doubt, but that in most cases this disapj^ear- 

 ance is due to the occupation and stocking of the country with 

 sheep, whilst the prevalence of the domestic cat (gone wild) has 

 doubtless in some cases proved another factor. In former years 

 the whole of these vast plains were covered with a dense mass of 

 vegetation in the shape of dwarf saltbush, herbaceous plants and 

 grass, affording at the same time a safe cover, and a plentiful 

 supply of food in the large quantities of their various seeds. For 

 many years past, this state of things has been entii'ely changed 

 by stocking with sheep, and as a rule the country is bare, or at 

 best affording but a scanty covering and an equally scanty supply 

 of food. The disappearance of Pedionomus torquatus, I think, is 

 due to other causes, for this bird (never very numerous) had dis- 

 appeared long before the country became bare or thinly clothed with 

 herbage. It is from the shortness of its wings a very poor flier, and 

 always reluctantly takes flight during the day time, instinct 

 teaching it that it would become an easy prey to any predatory 

 feathered foe. Its journeys on the wing, as I am assured l)y the 

 natives, and which my own observations tend to confirm, are for 



