Emu 



140 Hall and Rogers^ Birds froyn North-W est Australia, [^^j "]' 



miles from Derby, as well as upon the Logue River, some ^o 

 miles from Derby, and upon the Broome road (24/9/02). 



Malurus DORSALIS (Lewin), Red-backed Wren, is again in 

 full plumage (15/9/02, Fitzroy River) ; one or more " reds and 

 blacks" are to be seen in each little flock. Many fuU-plumaged 

 males are now visible (30/8/02, Stewart River). 



Artamus superciliosus and A. personatus (Wood-Swal- 

 lows) have disappeared from the Stewart River (1/9/02). 

 Doubtless they have gone south for the " hot weather." Nothing 

 peculiar was noted in their behaviour before leaving. On the 

 Robinson River (18/8/O2) both species were very numerous, 

 while on the 9/10/02 they all retired from the flats of the river. 

 There was still an abundance of flowering trees on which these 

 species had congregated, and doubtless plenty of insects in the 

 nectar-pots. It was, therefore, not a scarcity of food that sent 

 them away. In Derby (20/7/02) A. personatus was to be seen 

 in thousands, while A. superciliosus was not numerous. A few 

 of the males of the latter species were among flocks of the former 

 species. Both species had left Derby 23/9/02. 



Artamus cinereus (Vieill.), Wood-Swallow, started to build 

 its nest on 28/10/02 — first notice for this season. It was placed 

 upon a low bauhinia and 8 feet from the ground. The nest was 

 made of fine twigs and stems of grasses, built very much as is 

 usual with this genus. 



CUCULUS inornatus (PALLIDUS),* Pallid Cuckoo, was heard 

 for the first time this season 13/10/02, 4 a.m., on the Fitzroy. 



CiNCLORHAMPHUS CRURALIS (V. and H.), Brown Song- 

 Lark, was heard to sing (14/10/02) for the first time since last 

 summer. Several were singing 29/10/02. The Mirafra has not 

 yet commenced to sing. 



MlRAFRA (sp.), Bush-Lark, commenced to sing to-day 

 (26/1 1/02) — the first heard this season. Many were full of song, 

 possibly owing to the fall of 30 points of rain. 



Cracticus PICATUS (Gould), Pied Butcher-Bird, sub.-sp., had 

 a nest containing three young, 17/11/02. On the 30th inst. 

 one was taken and preserved, when the stomach was found to 

 contain a young snake 8 inches in length, one lizard, and a 

 second so long as to be partly exserted from the mouth. 



Petrochelidon ARIEL (Gould), Fairy Martin, was seen in a 

 large flock, numbering many hundreds, 24/8/02. They were 

 flying over a pool in the early morning. Their wings made a 

 rustle like a far-off wind in timber. [No skin came to hand. — 

 R. H.] 



*C/. Ibis, Jan., 1900. 



