Iq6 White, Ornithological Trips to Nullabor Plains. [jj^^]^a,„ 



leracidea berigora occidentalis (Hieyacidea occidentalis). Western 

 Brown Hawk. — -A good many of these birds came under notice, and 

 they were all of the coastal type. In one instance I saw an adult 

 bird carrying a snake to feed its young. There are without doubt 

 two forms of this bird — one, an interior bird, being very ruddy on the 

 back, and having a light breast, which I class as /. berigora ; and a 

 coastal form of almost uniform dark colour (/. occidentalis). 



Tyto alba delicatula {Strix novcB-hollandice). Masked Owl. — The 

 first specimen which came under notice was flushed from a thick 

 bush in the sand-hill country, and it appeared to me to re- 

 semble Tyto novcehollandics more than delicatula. All those examined 

 afterwards on the plain showed no variation from our commoner 

 delicatula. There must be a great number of these birds out upon 

 the plains, for nearly every blow-hole was found to contain them, 

 which are their breeding-places. Many young birds were seen in 

 captivity with the railway people, and I was the means of liberating 

 many, owing to their being confined in small boxes. 



Lophochroa leadbeateri {Cacatua leadbeateri). Pink Cockatoo. — 

 Several small parties of these birds were seen travelling in the early 

 morning towards the north-east, and there is little doubt they were 

 making to some rock-holes in that direction for water. Some wood- 

 cutters connected with the railway, who were working in the black 

 oak country, brought in some young birds to the line at Ooldea. 



Barnardius zonarius myrtae (S. A. White, Trans. Roy. Soc. of South 

 Aust., vol. xxxix., 191 5). Central Australian Yellow-banded Parrot. — 

 It was a surprise to find that the range of this fine bird extended to 

 the Ooldea sand-hills and to Tarcoola ; this gives it a very wide range 

 from the MacDonnell Ranges. They do not seem to stay in the 

 sand-hill country all the summer, but as soon as it gets dry they must 

 make to large rock-holes which hold water all through the year. A 

 very fine specimen of this bird is kept in captivity in Tarcoola. 



Psephotus varius rosin ae (P. multicolor). Many-coloured Parrot. — 

 Several of these birds were seen watering at " CuUoden rock-holes.'* 

 The bird is not numerous anywhere, but thinlj^ distributed over the 

 mulga country. 



Melopsittacus undulatus. Warbling Grass-Parrot or Shell-Parrot. — 

 One or two small parties were observed. 



Cyanalcyon pyrrhopygius (Halcyon pyrrhopygius). Red-backed 

 Kingfisher. — These birds were fairly plentiful all through the sand-hill 

 country, and, in spite of the degrees, they remained throughout the 

 year. In the early mornings their mournful call of " Chow, chow '* 

 would be heard, but in the summer, as the heat of the day came on, 

 they would become silent. They were nesting in the cuttings through 

 the sand-hills. 



Cosmaerops ornatus (Merops ornatus). Australian Bee-eater. — 

 These beautiful birds were fairly plentiful round Ooldea during the 

 summer. 



Hirundo neoxena. Welcome Swallow. — Quite a common bird at 

 Tarcoola. 



Cheramoeca leucosternum. Black-and-White Swallow. — These 

 birds were often seen in the sand-hill country. 



