284 Cleland, Birds of the Pilliga Scrub, N.S.W. [,^"1, 



Emu 

 pril 



Passer domesticus. Common Sparrow. — These, 38 in number, 

 were only seen near Xarrabri and Baradine (27 miles from Coona- 

 barabran railway station). Considerable interest has recently been 

 aroused in connection with the spread of these birds in Australia. 

 So far they have not reached Western Australia from the eastern 

 States, and Captain S. A. White has been deputed to watch the 

 Transcontinental line to ascertain the extent of spread in this direction. 

 At Kendall, on the North Coast line of New South Wales, a couple 

 of years ago, I was informed by a local resident that they had not 

 appeared in this town until the new railway reached there. Then 

 they first made their appearance, presumably following the con- 

 struction camps along the route from Taree. However, they are 

 abundant in the fields of the ]\Iacleay district further on, though the 

 railway has only recently reached Kempsey. They must, therefore, 

 have reached the ^lacleay by some other means than following 

 railway camps by short stages. They may, of course, extend over 

 far areas when farms and clearings adjoin each other, but as far as 

 I can see they do not pass a barrier of forest, scrub, or uncultivated 

 spaces of sufificient extent. Moreover, I do not think it likely that 

 they are ever transported in railway trucks or as stowaways on ships, 

 except on such rare occasions as to prevent a single bird from 

 propagating its kind at its destination. Where the birds have 

 appeared along the Transcontinental line I presume this has been 

 b)- their following the slowly-progressing camps from Port Augusta. 

 As this railway was constructed from both ends, meeting in the centre, 

 it seems to me there is little likelihood of the Sparrows reaching 

 Western Australia by this means, as the railway camps did not form 

 a direct moving bridge from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie. In this 

 connection, as showing another possible means of dispersion, I have 

 an interesting note made on 8th November, 1905, when approaching 

 the coast of \'ictoria from the south on a voyage from Cape Town. 

 About mid-day, whilst a strong N.E. wind was blowing, several 

 Sparrows came on board. As we were not off Cape Otway till 

 daybreak next morning, these birds must have been blown to sea 

 a distance of about 200 miles ! Presumably a strong northerly wind 

 had been blowing for several days, and the Sparrows, once caught 

 in it, could make no headway against it. Having nowhere to alight, 

 they had to fiy on till at last the ship was sighted. Of course, had 

 they been blown over land instead of sea, they would have found a 

 resting-place quite soon. Wind-blown distribution, therefore, is a 

 more practical means for the populating of islands than for distant 

 dispersal by land. 



Sturnus vulgaris. English Starling. — These, 27 in number, were 

 only seen near Xarrabri. Their powerful flight means that they 

 are readily dispersed through suitable country. 



Unidentified. Small Birds. — Though only five arc noted as being 

 seen, the number of unrecognized small birds (probably all of species 

 already detailed above) was considerably more, but only passing 

 glimpses of them were obtained. 



Stomach and Crop Contents. — ^The stomachs or crops of the 

 various birds obtained were saved. Those containing insect 

 remains were forwarded to the South Austrahan Museum to be 

 examined by Mr. A. M. Lea, and to form part of the extensive 

 series of birds' stomachs now being investigated bv him. The 



