JAA Lhogr, Location of Birds in the Vicinity of j ,^t'"jai,. 



which in past years had doubtless retired back to the timbered 

 areas at the foot of the surrounding ranges, to again, particularly 

 in the breeding season, take up their abode with us. 



Noteworthy among these are the genera Cracticus, CcUyriocincla, 

 Petrceca, RJiipidura, Zosterops, and AcantJiiza, as also Cala- 

 manthus, which has, while still inhabiting the " saggs" and rushes 

 in open paddocks, taken much to hedge-rows, particularly those 

 protected by ditches in the lanes, by-roads, and fields in the 

 district. 



The following notes refer chiefly to the above-mentioned 

 birds : — 



Circus gouldi (Harrier). 



This Harrier has been mentioned before in TJie Emu as 

 breeding here. Three pairs breed not far from the homestead. 

 Their favourite locality is the belt of water-rush surrounding 

 lagoons, or tussocky, damp marshes in low- lying bottoms. One 

 pair has recently bred in an immense cutting-grass tussock, the 

 trampling down of the rigid interior of which to form the plat- 

 form having been a work of some labour. In the breeding 

 season the old male of this species courses on the same ground 

 regularly morning and evening. The parent birds are bold 

 enough to forage around the farmyard for chickens, a small 

 number of which are lost every year through their depreda- 

 tions. A nest in a lagoon here, annually occupied, was deserted 

 this year, owing to its being trampled on b)' stock, and a fresh 

 one built close by. 



NiNOX MACULATA (Spotted Owl). 



This little Owl would not affect the vicinity of the homestead 

 were it not for the cover afforded by tree-planting. Every 

 breeding season it is more or less heard in the shrubberies, its 

 call commencing in August. A favourite roosting-place is the 

 Wellingtonia gigantea, the horizontal branches and thick foliage 

 forming good shelter for it. Some years ago one took up its 

 abode in one of these conifers in the carriage drive, sleeping 

 undisturbed within 2 yards of the passing vehicles, its perch 

 being about 10 feet from the ground. 



COLLYRIOCINCLA RECTIROSTRTS (Whistling Shrike-Thrush). 



This interesting bird, which is a denizen of forest and thickly- 

 wooded flat country, comes every year to breed in the exotic 

 plantations, choosing those around the house. Its habits in the 

 breeding season are noteworthy, inasmuch as it then becomes 

 tame and fearless — characteristics, however, which are subject 

 to modification in years when' our mischievous Butcher-Bird 

 {C. cinereus) occupies the same haunts. In some years the 

 latter does not breed about the grounds, and then the " Whistling 



