4 Mellor, a Visit to the Tiiggerah Lakes {N .S.\Y .) [,sf "juiy 



avenues and perch for a moment and off again, while the usual 

 alarm cry of the Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Pachycephala rufi- 

 ventris) would resound again and again in the dense wood at the 

 occasional report of our firearms. The curious note of the Coach- 

 whip-Bird {Psophodes crepitans) rang out at intervals with startling 

 effect, but as the afternoon was advancing, and we had to get away 

 in good time, there was nothing for it but to leave " Lyre-Bird 

 Retreat " and trudge away to our boat, and with a strong breeze 

 that got up quite " a sea " on the lake we sped merrily forward, 

 ever and anon receiving a little spray. On our way we came across 

 a specimen of the Little Mangrove Bittern {Butoroides stagnatilis), 

 which we were fortunate in adding to our small collection. We ar- 

 rived in due course at our main camp, Mr. Legge's Tnglewood Farm. 



Saturday being our last day, we resolved to rise early and study 

 the birds around Inglcwood Farm more closely, and, by getting out 

 before breakfast, were able to watch the birds in the crisp frosty 

 air. Two species of Wrens — the Blue Wren {Maliirus cyaneiis) 

 and the Variegated Wren [M. lamberti) — were observed in the open 

 fern country. The Magpie-Lark [Grallina picata) was busy near 

 some swampy ground, while the Black-backed Magpie {Gymnorhina 

 tibicen) was frequenting the open country. Several Finches, notably 

 the Red-browed [Mgintha temporalis) and the Spotted-sided 

 {Staganopleura guttata), were about in the bushes ; the former was 

 nesting, and a clutch of eggs was noted well advanced in incubation. 

 The Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike {Graucalus melanops) made its 

 appearance, and on our way back to breakfast, a hen bird of the 

 large Caterpillar-eater {Edoliisoma tenuirostre) was seen to fly to 

 a tree, and upon careful watching its nest was found, high up in a 

 forest oak, far aloft, but yet not out of the way of an agile climbing 

 member, who soon was rewarded with an e.^g — a full clutch for this 

 bird. 



A morning spent near the lake's edge gave oj)portunity of seeing 

 a few shore birds, and several Sharp- tailed Stints {Hcteropygia 

 acuminata) were secured. The Curlew {Numcnins cyanopns) could 

 be seen wading in the shallows, while a White-fronted Heron 

 {Notophoyx novcc-Jiollandice) was perched on a neighbouring dry 

 tree. A few Spur-winged Plovers {Lobivanelliis lobatus) gave their 

 warning cry, which every sportsman well knows, often to his cost. 

 Some Silver Gulls {Larus novcB-hollandice) were floating on the 

 wing just above the salt water. Over the open flats between the 

 lake and the timbered country a Spotted Harrier {Circtis assimilis) 

 soared in search of prey, and the innocent httle Nankeen Kestrel 

 (Tinnunculus cenchroides) hovered in the air over a mouse or other 

 titbit ere it descended to carry it off. Here too the Swallow 

 (Hirundo neoxena) swept the surface of the pools and chased the 

 gnats, that were i)lentiful. A pair of White-shouldered Caterpillar- 

 eaters (Lalage tricolor) hung about a spot where the timber was 

 thin, apjK'aring as though they were breeding. 



In the afternoon another direction was taken, to a piece of virgin 

 scrub where the sleeper-cutter's axe had laid low many forest giants. 

 Our trip here was almost expressly to try and get a glimpse of the 



