Vol. XVIII 



1919 



•1 Campbell, Additions to " H. L. White Collection." 265 



Plains, Victoria, can hardly l)e separated from hartogi, and with 

 same wing (82 mm.) Ogilvie-Grant did not recognize any differ- 

 ence in the Bernier Island bird to the common Anthns. 



The Barrow birds are, however, redder in colour — more like 

 the tone of Mirafra woodwardi from Cossack and contiguous 

 mainland — and most resemble subrufus (Mathews). A. montebelli 

 (Mathews), from Montebello Islands, near Barrow, is, no doubt, 

 similar to the Barrow bird, and consequently also to subrufus, 

 which race is shown as the " Rufous Pipit " for N.W. Australia 

 on the R.A.O.U. " Check-list," p. 105. 



Taeniopygia castanotis, Gould. Chestnut-eared Finch. 

 T. c. wayensis. 



Two SS, 2 ?? (more or less in immature plumage), from Barrow 

 Island. During Mr. Carter's visit to Dirk Hartog and the 

 immediate mainland he found this far-distributed species 

 abundant. The Barrow Island bird seems to agree with wayensis, 

 which appears to be a light-coloured race with bill " vermilion " 

 instead of " orange," as in typical birds (Mathews). Gould gives 

 the colour of the bill " reddish-orange " for typical birds. 



*' Down Mario Way/' 



Being the Account of a Trip Taken by Dr. Brooke Nicholls, 

 F. Nicholls, W. B. Alexander, and Tom Tregellas. 



The party left Melbourne early on a very hot morning, and after 

 an oppressive journey, the last part of which was through bush 

 fires, arrived at Orbost, the terminus of the Gippsland railway, 

 at 9.30 p.m. The lo-mile run by motor along the banks of the 

 Snowy River to Mario, with our big headlights flashing on the 

 recumbent cattle and horses by the roadside, with rabbits 

 scuttling for their burrows by the river, and big moths and beetles 

 dashing themselves to death on our wind-shield, was a ride long 

 to be remembered. A refreshing dip in the river in the dark 

 before turning in, and a cool change working up from the south 

 during the night, soon restored our energies, and next morning 

 we were ready to start exploring the locality. 



Mario (aboriginal for " white earth ") is situated on a cliff 

 overlooking the estuary of the Snowy River, between which and 

 the sea stretches the long line of sand-dunes behind the Ninety- 

 Mile Beach. Looking from the highest of these dunes, a 

 wonderful view is obtained. Close at hand, and almost at one's 

 feet, lie the lagoons, in which, according to the tourist map, 

 " bream, perch, and ludrick " teem. A little to the right is seen 

 the township of Mario, across the estuary where " bream, salmon, 

 skipjacks, silvers, trevalli, and yellowtail " are obtained. On 

 quiet evenings great numbers of fish, chiefly mullet, are seen along 

 the backwaters, jumping out of the water and gambolling in the 



