Vol XVIII. 



igiq 



1 Whitlock, Birds Breeding in Dumpier Archipelago. 249 



my researches on the island the previous October. I landed this time 

 miich earlier in the year — viz., 15th July — and at once got to work. 

 My first day in its haunts proved that pairs had commenced nesting 

 some weeks previously. After a few hours' search near the tide-line 

 amongst the innumerable tussocks of sea-grass (Spinifex longifolius) 

 and the common harsh spinifex (Triodia), I found the remains of a 

 nest recently torn out, also a nest containing newly-hatched young, 

 and lastly a nest containing three fresh eggs. 



The first nest had been placed right on the top of a very solid 

 clump of spinifex, where it can hardly be said to have been con- 

 cealed. The other two nests, on the contrary, were well hidden, and 

 both placed two feet or so from the ground in masses of the less harsh 

 but coarse Spinifex longifolius. The nest containing eggs was dis- 

 covered by flushing the sitting bird ; that containing young was found 

 by close search, and through the materials of the nest not harmonizing 

 with the grass surrounding it. Though I waited near for some time, 

 and, as I thought, well concealed from view, neither of the parent 

 birds ventured near the nest ; but on rising to change my post of 

 observation I caught sight of a male in nuptial plumage and two 

 brown companions in a bush some 50 yards away. I subsequently 

 found it the rule that whilst an intruder is near a nest the proprietors 

 keep away, even should they be feeding the young. On the other 

 hand, once the young have left the nest, but are still under the care 

 of their parents, both male and female will come fearlessly within a 

 few feet of the observer to convey food to their young concealed in 

 the scrub near at hand. Under these circumstances, they take 

 little flights vertically into the air, and until they find out the exact 

 position of the enemy will not venture nearer. I watched young 

 being fed under these conditions several times, but could never see 

 what the parents were carrying. Probably it was small insects, 

 as it was quite concealed in the closed bill. During the ensuing six 

 weeks I saw much of the nesting habits of this species. 



Other nests found were either in harsh spinifex (Triodia) or in the 

 coarse sea-grass ; but later on a very prickly herbaceous plant, with 

 seeds like the well-known " double G." was selected. This plant 

 also grows on the mainland, and in the Upper Coongan River district 

 is resorted to by the Blue White-winged Wren (M. cyanotus) for 

 nesting purposes. Nests built in this plant were not difficult to see, 

 but every plant had to be examined. This was best done by stooping 

 down on the opposite side to the filtering rays of sunlight. A nest 

 on the top of a large clump of particularly harsh spinifex {Triodia) 

 was very well concealed. When at some distance I thought I saw 

 a " streak of brown " leave the clump and instantaneously disappear 

 into cover. On reaching the clump I could for a minute or two 

 make out nothing, and had it not been for a small piece of nesting 

 material catching my eye I might have overlooked the nest. I found 

 it was placed in a natural cavity in the spinifex, and so effectually 

 was it hidden that only the entrance — which this time was right at the 

 top — was visible. This nest contained newly-hatched young. Another 

 nest was placed on the side of a large clump of spinifex. When 

 found this was not quite completed, and on being visited a week 

 later showed unmistakable signs of having been disturbed. I 

 imagined the eggs had been devoured by a lizard or other plunderer. 

 Judge of my surprise, on ptissing the nest several days later, 

 to find it contained three fresh eggs, easily visible, in the tumbled 

 state of the nest, without a close inspection. I had a similar ex- 



