20 IIii.i-, Birds of Ararat District. [ij'^'juiy 



Friar-Bird {Philemon coriticulatus).— These birds are scarce, and 

 seldom build in the lower country, but appear to be more numerous in 

 the vicinity of the ranges. 



MiSTLETOE-BiRD {DiccBiim hirundinaceiim). — It would be interesting 

 to know how the mistletoe (Loranthus), which is now very plentiful, 

 was spread over this area, for these birds are extremely scarce now, 

 and unless they were formerly far more numerous they could never 

 have accounted for the distribution of so much seed. 



Red-tipped Pardalote {Pardalotus ornatus). — -Common throughout 

 the district. The nests are generally built in hollow branches, but are 

 also found in burrows in the banks of creeks. 



Spotted Pardalote (Pardaloins punctatus). — Numerous in the 

 limbered localities. Various situations are selected for nesting pur- 

 poses, but generally speaking mounds thrown up around rabbit- 

 burrows in sandy soil are chosen. Frequently the burrows for their 

 nests are made in the loam under the stumps of stunted box scrub ; 

 sometimes in the sides of prospectors' shafts or at the side of much- 

 used sheep tracks. One instance was noted of a burrow being made in 

 side of a fern basket hanging on a verandah. A pair nested three or 

 four consecutive years in our fowl-run, the burrow in each case being 

 located under the roots of box scrub. 



Swallow (Hirundo neoxena). 



Tree-Martin {Petrochclidon nigricans). — This species is plentiful in 

 the low country, but the nests are usually built in almost inaccessible 

 spouts of trees, consequently the eggs are seldom taken. 



Fairy Martin {Petrochclidon ariel). 



White-browed Wood-Swallow {Artamus super ciliosus). — A regular 

 spring visitor, which arrives in large flocks in November. 



Masked Wood-Swallow {Artamus personatus). — This species was 

 fairly numerous in the summer of 1898, but I have no more recent 

 notes concerning them. 



WooD-SwALLow {Artamus sordidus). 



Ground-Lark {Anthus australis). 



Spotted-sided Finch {Staganopleura guttata). — Like the following 

 species, this Finch is by no means plentiful. Nests may be found in 

 all parts of the district. 



Red-browed Finch {/Egintha temporalis). — Occasionally seen in the 

 scrubby country, but generally found near the mountains, where they 

 nest along the tea-tree creeks. 



White-rumped Swift {Micropus pacificus). — A more regular visitor 

 than the next species. 



Spine-tailed Swift {Chcstura caudacuta). 



Tawny Frogmouth {Podargus strigoides).— This bird is seldom seen 

 now, but is said to have been more numerous some years ago. 



Owlet Nightjar {/Egoiheles novfe-hollandice).—T\hs appears to be a 

 rather common bird here. A harsh cry heard every sunny morning 

 during the winter was for a long time difficult to locate, but, after the 

 expenditure of some patience, an observer was rewarded by seeing one 

 of these birds sitting at the mouth of its hollow, repeating its cry many 

 times while it enjoyed the warmth of the rising sun. 



