282 Cleland, Birds oj the Pilliga Scrub, N.S.W. [„f April 



566. Colluricincia harmonica (C. h. harmonica). Grey Shrike- 

 Thrush. — Sixteen birds counted, uniformly distributed throughout 

 the journey. Estimated minimum population, 1,056. 



575. Grallina picata (G. cyanoleuca). Magpie-Lark. — Thirty-eight 

 birds counted, for the most part distributed over the route traversed. 

 Estimated minimum population, 2,508. 



576. Struthidea cinerea (S. cinerea). Grey Jumper. — These " lousy 

 birds," as they are popularly called, from the presence of Mallophaga, 

 were amongst the most numerous and universally distributed of the 

 species met with. Companies were often seen in the heart of the 

 scrub, apparently often not near water. Altogether, 194 were 

 counted, which, on the previous estimation, gives a minimum popula- 

 tion for the scrub of 12,804. From my notes I find that the numbers 

 of birds found together in " families " during the trip were as follows : 

 ■ — 14 on one occasion, 9 on three occasions, 8 on three, 7 on three, 

 6 on five, 5 on five, 4 on five, 3 on five, 2 on six, and i on six occasions. 

 Possibly in some instances, as when 14 were seen, two " families " 

 may have been met with near each other, and probably in many cases 

 not all of the members of the " family " were counted. It would be 

 interesting to know the sex and age of the members of a " family " 

 and also whether " families " ever amalgamate. 



577. Corcorax melanorhamphus (C. m. melanorhamphus). White- 

 winged Chough. — Of this species, also congregating in " families," 

 62 members were seen, distributed mostly in the centre of the Scrub. 

 Estimated minimum population, 4,092. The numbers of birds seen 

 in the various " families " were as follows : — Twelve on one occasion, 

 8 on one, 7 on two, 6 on one, 5 on one, 4 on two, 3 on one, 2 on two, 

 and I on two occasions. 



578. Aphelocephala leucopsis {A. I. leucopsis). Whiteface. — Four 

 birds seen on the Baradine side. 



592. Climacteris scandens {Neochmia p. picumna). Brown Tree- 

 creeper. — Fourteen birds counted, uniformly distributed through the 

 scrub. Minimal population, 924. Iris dark brown ; bill and legs 

 black ; throat blackish. No entozoa. 



Pardalotus, sp. — Several Pardalotes were seen but not identified, 

 and a number of others were heard. 



619. Melithreptus brevirostris (Af. a. africapillus). Brown-headed 

 Honey-eater. — A party of 7 seen round a water-hole at Merebene. 

 Iris dark brown ; bare space below eye pale sage green above, pale 

 blue below ; bill black ; throat orange ; legs light brown ; liver pale 

 yellow. No entozoa. 



661. Ptilotis penicillata {Ptilotula p. penicilla(a). White-plumed 

 Honey-eater. — Forty-six birds counted on the trip, uniformly dis- 

 tributed throughout the journey, but especially found in tall 

 eucalypts near water-courses. The estimated minimum population of 

 3,036 is probably considerably too low, as many birds were probably 

 not observed in the leafy trees. A specimen shot had the bill black, 

 the iris very dark brown, the pharynx and palate orange, and the 

 legs greyish-brown. The liver was pale, as is so frequently the case 

 in the Honey-eaters, being perhaps attributable to so much sugary 

 food, though this particular species must feed chiefly on insects rather 

 than nectar. No entozoa detected. 



