Vol. VII. 



1907 



1 Austin, Notes on Birds from Talbragar River, S'.S.W . 3I 



Blue-faced Honi%y-eater {Entomyza cyanotis). — Rather numerous, 

 especially during the autumn. I have never known them to breed 

 here, although I feel sure they do. 



Friar-Bird (^Philemon corniculatus). — This species is a very common 

 bird, and is one of the worst in the fruit gardens ; it is a great ti'ouble 

 to the grape-growers. It is a permanent resident, and breeds in the 

 river oaks. In the autumn they congregate in the trees by the river, 

 and are exceedingly noisy. 



Red-tipped Pardalote {Pardalotus ornatus). — This lovely little 

 bird sometimes builds its nest in a hollow of a tree, but more often in 

 a tunnel in the banks of the river and creeks. No matter how high 

 the bank is the tunnel is always made within a foot or eighteen inches 

 of the top, generally just above the clay and in sandy soil. 



Fairy M.^rtin {Petrochelidon ariel). — They arrive here in very large 

 flocks about September, and at once commence to build their peculiar 

 bottle-shaped mud nests in great clusters under the overhanging banks 

 of the river and creeks, sometimes in a partly burnt-out red gum tree 

 leaning over the river. 



Tree-Martin (Peirochelidon nigricans). — Only on two occasions 

 have I noticed this species, about half a dozen in each Hock, and I 

 think they must have had young, as they were continually going in 

 and out of holes at the top of two tall dead trees. 



Masked Wood-Swallow {Artamus personatus) ; White-browed 

 WooD-SwALLOW {Artamns super ciliosus). — I have thought it best to 

 mention these two species together, as their habits are so much the 

 same, and they always arrive here in flocks of thousands together. I 

 consider them (with perhaps the exception of the Straw-necked Ibis, 

 Carphibis spinicollis) the very best friend amongst birds that the 

 squatters have. The great numbers — in fact, countless millions — of 

 caterpillars and grasshoppers that these beautiful little feathered 

 creatures must destroy every day is without a doubt of wonderful 

 benefit to the country. Although a few of the latter species remain 

 here and breed, most of them, and all the former, depart for the 

 breeding season. 



Tawnv Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides). — The only one of the 

 four which I know of in these parts. Although it is a bird very 

 seldom seen here, its peculiar notes may often be heard on a slill night, 

 especially a little after sunset. I only once found them breeding here ; 

 the nest was upon a thick bough of an apple tree. I could see one 

 bird sitting on the nest, and it was not till I was within a few feet of 

 it that I detected a second bird, not more than a foot from the nest. 

 I think there must be a great number of these birds breed here. 



Owlet Nightjar {^goiheles novcs-hollandia,').— Though seldom 

 seen, on account of its nocturnal habits, I think it must be rather 

 common. It spends most of the day in hollow trees, from which it 

 often flies out when one is travelling beneath with stock, only to be 

 attacked by the Honey-eaters. 



Dollar-Bird (Eurystomus aiistralis). — A summer visitor in con- 

 siderable numbers. Arriving in October, it leaves again in March. I 

 once found a young one on the ground, whicii had evidently left its 

 home before it could properly fly, for I had no difficulty in catching 

 it, and of all the noisy youngsters I have ever heard I must give the 

 Dollar-Bird first place. 



