Vol. XVI H. 

 191 



"1 Alexander, Notes; on Birds Seen on Miiyray RU;er. I23 



point (<ut that, judged from the standpoint of tlu' ornithologist, 

 tlu' upper part of the river, where it is narrower and there are 

 fewer settlements, is the more interesting, and that some species, 

 notably Whistling-Eagles, are much more plentiful in the 

 Victorian-Xew South Wales section of the river than in the South 

 Australian. Since my observations were limited to birds seen 

 from the moving steamer, or on the river banks during the short 

 periods when the steamer stopped to take on wood for fuel or to 

 discharge and load cargo, I naturally did not see as many species 

 as Captain White and Dr. Morgan, who penetrated into the back- 

 waters and flooded areas in a small boat. I actually identified 

 51 species of birds as against 131 recorded by Capt. White ; but 

 of these four species were not met with by him. I give below 

 notes on these and on a few other species as to whicli my observa- 

 tions supplement those given by him. 



Marsh Tern (Hydrochelidoii lencopareia). — A small party flew 

 past us when we were standing on the bank of a small billabong 

 on the Xew South Wales bank of the river whilst the steamer was 

 loading fuel. Their red beaks and black heads were conspicuous. 

 Capt. White did not meet with this species. 



White Ibis [Ibis (Threskiornis) niolucca). — Plentiful between 

 Swan Hill and Mildura, but only occasionally seen lower down. 



White-eyed Duck {Nyroca aitstralis). — Some very large flocks 

 of " Wigeon " were seen on the river just below Wentworth, at 

 the juncti(jn of the Darling and Murray, and some were seen lower 

 down. Unlike the other species of Ducks, which were mostly in 

 pairs, these birds were still in flocks. They were not met with 

 l)y ("apt. Wliitc. 



Whistling-Eagle [Haliastur sphennnis). — Extremely abundant on 

 the upper part of the river. Some were almost always to be seen 

 sailing overhead, and their fine whistle is one of the characteristic 

 sounds of the river. On the first day's journey, at almost every 

 turn of the river one of these birds was seen to leave its nest on 

 the approach of the steamer and join its mate in the air. 



Little Falcon {Falco longipennis). — One was seen to fly across 

 the river with a small bird in its talons. The species is not 

 recorded bv Capt. White. 



Nankeen Kestrel {Cerchncis cenchroidcs). — These birds were 

 <'vidtntl\- nesting on the cliffs along the lower part of the river. 



Blue Kingfisher {Alcyone aziirca). — One flew out of a hole in 

 the l)ank as the steamer passed. The species was not met with 

 by Capt. White. 



Chestnut-crowned Babbler (Poinatorhiniis {Foiiuilostoniiis) ni/i- 

 ci'ps).^ During a walk through the mallee on the top of the cliff 

 at Morgan we came on a family party of these birds. They made 

 off when we were some distance away, but one \'oung bird 

 apparently got entangled in a inish, and its cries on our approach 



