270 '' Down Mario Way." FisfA^'i 



grass-tree {Xanthorrhcea aiistralis) replaced most of the other 

 shrubs. 



This country was the special home of Emu-Wrens, Grass-Birds 

 {Megalitriis gramineiis), and Ground-Wrens (Hylacola), all of 

 which were very numerous. Stubble-Ouail were also frequently 

 flushed, and, most interesting of all, the Ground-Parrot {Pezoporus 

 terrestris) was found to be by no means scarce. This rare Parrot 

 is a dainty dark-green-coloured bird, marked all over the head 

 and body with a pattern of vertical stripes or lines of black, its 

 general tint thus harmonizing wonderfully well with its sur- 

 roundings. When flying past at close range the yellow stripes 

 on wings and tail can be seen. On the ground it is difficult to pick 

 out a bird. One watched us from a distance of 20 feet ; all that 

 was visible was the head and neck and an alert black eye. The 

 green and black stripes on the side of the neck looked exactly 

 like the short, green, needle-like leaves of the dwarf Banksia or 

 sheoak. In such country the bird is well camouflaged. When 

 flushed the Parrot flies as fast as a Quail, and makes a sweeping 

 flight, usually alighting 50 to 100 yards away. It never alights 

 in a bush or sapling, often flying over them when disturbed until 

 it finds an open space on which to settle down again. Of the 

 numerous birds seen by us, not one uttered any call or note of 

 any kind, even a wounded bird remaining quiet when handled. 



The Mario plains, the home of this Parrot, have a beauty all 

 their own. The road to Cape Conran runs along the crest of the 

 ridge parallel to the sea for many miles ; yet, though the country 

 has a general similarity, it is by no means wanting in variety. 

 Over the open stretches the Spine-tailed Swifts seemed to enjoy 

 chasing and circling at top speed, whilst the more homely Wood- 

 Swallows also found the heath a good hunting-ground for insects. 

 Unlike the more-travelled Swift, the Wood-Swallow does not 

 scorn to settle in a tree from which to watch for his prey. 



Driving home through this country in the first of the dusk, 

 we flushed a Ground-Parrot. As it flew away an inquisitive 

 Swift gave chase, and the Parrot held its own for a short distance. 

 A light drizzle had set in, and the Swifts were flying low. The 

 sun, sinking through the rain squall, flooded the plains with a 

 silvery shimmer of light. Inland the low scrub and bushes were 

 wrapped in the soft grey of twilight, whilst oceanwards the end of 

 the sunset merged into two broad bands of blue and gold where 

 sea and sky met. Seen under such conditions of failing light 

 and gathering storm, this wild, wide-stretching country seemed 

 to us an ideal home for so anomalous a bird as a silent, ground- 

 dwelling Parrot. 



Every mile or two the road dips deep into valleys separated 

 from the sea by a single line of sand-dunes, and in one secluded 

 spot we surprised three great grey kangaroos and a dingo. The 

 reptile world is also represented here. Black snakes were not 

 uncommon ; one killed and opened up contained in its stomach 

 nothing but water and a few frogs' hmb-bones. A large goanna 



