IQ2 Cleland, Some Bird Observations. L2nd'April 



in time became comparatively tame, but still would not allow any 

 close approach. As we came near first the head would be 

 stretched straight out, so that a straight line was made from the 

 tip of the beak to the end of the tail ; then he would utter as it 

 were surprised queries ; and finally, after several short runs and 

 halts, would fly away. At times these Plovers performed peculiar 

 antics or dances. When in this humour one of the birds would 

 run with outstretched wings about 20 or 30 yards, bending 

 occasionally to this or that side, or even turning suddenly com- 

 pletely round. (Is there any connection between this and, on 

 the one hand, the weird dances of the Native Companion — 

 Antigone australasiana- — on the other, the peculiar little duck of 

 the head when walking practised by some of the Dottrels and 

 their allies .') 



We found, amongst other food, that the birds would eat mice 

 and half-fledged Sparrows. On giving them one of these, the 

 Stone-Plover would take it by the head and give it blows as if 

 to break the bones and render the morsel less bulky, but these 

 efforts seemed too feeble to accomplish much. After some 

 minutes thus spent, the animal would be swallowed whole. We 

 often noticed the tame bird, " Jip," with a clucking sound, 

 picking up small sticks in her bill as if intending to make a nest. 

 This was done at different times of the year, but no such 

 structure was ever formed. One of the others, however, twice 

 laid eggs, placing them, as usual, quite in the open and on the 

 bare ground. Apparently they were not fertilized, as one in the 

 first nest was found broken and rotten, and the two in the 

 second one suddenly disappeared after being incubated for a 

 very long time, the old bird still keeping about. These birds, 

 contrary to the usual habit of wild ones, would not leave their 

 nest until we were quite near it, and then, instead of flying off, 

 would spread their wings and tail like turkey-cocks, utter a 

 harsh note, and bravely attack us. Both sexes assisted in the 

 incubation process. 



The Coachwhip-Bird. 



By a. H. E. Mattinglev. 



Travelling along the mountains that traverse the whole of 

 the eastern side of the continent, and are known as the Dividing 

 Range, and its dependent system of hills, one's attention is 

 arrested, as one makes one's way through the thick scrubs in 

 the declivities of this mountain system by the " whip-crack " 

 call of the Coachwhip-Bird {Psophodes crepitans). To the native- 

 born Australian accustomed from his infancy to the call of the 

 " Coachwhip," the note loses to some extent its interest, but to 

 the " new chum " travelling through these forests the immediate 



