THR BTKPS OF roOT>ABAH AND r.RRWARRTNA— NORTH. 149 



A pair of Australian Pipits, or tlie more popularly known 

 "Ground Lark" was observed while driving with Constable 

 W. C. Wrightsoii through Willeroon Station to Bundong. Not 

 seen elsewhere. 



MiRAPRA HORSFIELDI. 



Horsfield's Bush Lark. 



Mirufra horsjlehUi, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1847, p. i.; id., Bds. 

 Anstr., fol., iv„ pi. 77 (1848) ; id., Haiidbk. Bds. Austr., 

 i., p. 404 (1865) (part). 



Mtrafra hnrsjieldi, Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., xiii., p. 604 

 "(1890) ; North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., 2nd. ed., ii., 

 pt. iii., p. 305 (1909). 



A single example of this species was seen hovering about 

 ten feet up in the air, pouring forth all the time, as is its 

 wont, its sweet, and varied notes. This was in the private 

 grounds of Hayes Bros.' Wool Scouring Woiks, on the Barwon 

 River, about two miles out from Brewarrina. 



Merops ornatus. 



Bee-eater 



Merops oniafns, Lath., Ind. Oin., Suppl. ^). xxxv. (1801); 

 Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., ii., pi. 16 (1848); /</., Handbk. 

 Bds. Austr., i., p. 117 (1865) ; Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. 

 Mus., xvii., p. 74 (1892) ; North, Nests and Eggs Austr. 

 Bds., 2nd. ed., ii., pt. iii. p. 349 (1909). 



Common both at Coolabah and Biewarrina, which at the 

 former place I was informed had only appeared the week be- 

 fore my arrival. This migratoiy sj)ecies is usually seen in 

 pairs, perched together, near the dead end of a lateral branch 

 of a gum tree, about thii-ty feet up; and occasionally low down 

 in a Wilga, but always near tlie extremity of an outer branch. 

 Seen in the sunlight, its brilliant general golden-green plumage 

 and orange-rufous quills render it a most gorgeous and con- 

 spicuous object during it somewhat erratic flight. If it weie 

 I'are, instead of a very common bird at certain times of the 

 year, much more would be thought of the Bee-eater. 



