Vol 



.^"l Bkkney, Birds ui Ike Richmond District, N .Q. 



Yellow-tixted Tree-Tit [Smicromis fiavescens). — Here all the year 

 round ; their cheerful and lively notes may be heard daily as the tiny 

 birds thread their way among the trees — eucalypts for choice, and 

 always the tops of 'them. 1 found a nest containing two slightly 

 incubated eggs on the 5th June, 1903, suspended among the foliage 

 at the end of a coolibah (eucalypt) limb. The structure was doined, 

 entrance high up on the side, and was composed of the seed-head 

 portion of very fine grasses and sheep's wool, bound together with 

 spiders' web and dotted over with spider egg-cocoons and the pollen 

 portion of some small flower. 



White-winged Wren {Alalurus leucopterus). — Saw this species 

 about in the summer of 1899, and obtained a male that Mr. C. W. 

 de Vis kindly identified for me, and again in midwinter of 1901, but 

 these are the only notes I have concerning them. Both times they 

 were among polygonum bushes round a swamp. 



Variegated Wren (Malurus lamberti). — Shot a full-plumagcd male 

 in December, 1899. 



Reed-Warbler (Acroceplialns australis). — With the advent of the 

 artesian bore streams and their attendant bulrushes (Typha) the Reed- 

 Warblers have invaded the Western downs, and are now common 

 where previously they were unknown. They are really beautiful 

 songsters — possibly our very best — and from their rich notes and the 

 habit of singing at night might well be called the Nightingale's under- 

 study. A degree or two of frost does not deter them, and their song 

 seemingly sounds better in the crisp, dry air. I have found nests 

 with eggs and others with young in Noveinber and December. 



Spotted Bower-Bird (Chlamydodera maculata). — To be seen fairly 

 frequently about the scrubby districts. A " play-house " that I found 

 was shortly after abandoned and dismantled, the best of everything 

 being removed to a new site three or four hundred yards away. 



Grass-Warbler {Cisticola exilis). — The Grass-Warbler is a constant 

 resident with us, but is much more often heard than seen ; it keeps 

 to the bulrush beds, where one may sight its small form as it clings 

 to the top of a rush for a moment and then drops out of sight. This 

 bird has a single sweet liquid note, with which is interspersed a sharp 

 buzzing sound. I have found its rather peculiar nests, of which 

 an excellent illustration is given in the Australian Museum's No. i 

 Special Catalogue, but not until they had fulfilled the purpose for which 

 they were constructed. I notice by the publication just quoted that 

 Mr. A. J. North considers this a coastal bird. 



Yellow-rum fed Tit (^Acanthiza chrysorrhoa). — This elsewhere 

 familiar Tit is a rare bird in these parts. I have only come across it 

 once or twice, and one of these occasions includes a nest and three eggs. 

 This latter observation was made on the Flinders, 40 miles below 

 Richmond. I suppose this must be its most northern limit, but going 

 south from here 1 used to see this species and find its two-storied nests 

 fairly frecjuently on Cameron Downs, 40 miles south of Hughenden, 

 while in the Blackall district of the Barcoo it was common. 



Babbler {Pomatorhinus temporalis). — To be seen pretty constantly 

 on suitable timbered country, where their big stick nests are con- 

 spicuous objects. On 30th March I examined one of these, and 

 found it to contain an addled egg and one chick a few hours old ; and 



