22 CLELAXD, Taking a Bird Census. TisffuT 



Magpie population is about equal to the area in square miles. 



\Velcome Swallows {Hlrundo neoxcna), now in great part 

 continecl to the neighbourho(jd of human dwellings, where they 

 can easily find suitable nesting sites, were seen in 58 journeys in 

 ten districts, and numbered 595. It was not possible to separate 

 satisfactorily the Tree-Martins {Hylochelldon nigricans) from 

 the Fairy- Alartins {Hylochelldon arlel). One or other was 

 seen on 49 journeys in eight districts, and the number of indi- 

 viduals counted, 2919, was far greater than for any other species. 

 This was largely accounted for by the great numbers seen rest- 

 ing on the telegraph wires in January, 1918, on a visit to the 

 North Coast of New South Wales. 



The field-loving Australian Pipit (.Intliiis australls) was 

 found, to my surprise, in 59 journeys in nine districts, 285 indi- 

 viduals being seen. The Brown Flycatcher {Mlcroeca fasclnans) 

 is also widely distributed, with 237 individuals on 54 journeys 

 in eight districts; 126 Laughing Kingfishers (Jackasses) were 

 seen on 46 journeys in seven districts, being about one bird to 

 every ten miles o\er the whole distance travelled. These birds 

 often "sit tight," so that a number probably escaped notice. It 

 is probably a conservative estimate to reckon that one Laughing 

 Jackass occupies each five square miles of Eastern Australia. 



It is remarkable that only 96 Acciptrlformes (Hawks, etc. 

 of all kinds) were seen, and these only in 31 journeys in six dis- 

 tricts. Though on the routes travelled over they weie, with 

 several exceptions, rare birds, it is of course realised that in some 

 districts not visited they are numerous. Nevertheless, one con- 

 siders the small number seen with some surprise, coupled per- 

 haps with api:)rehension when the role that many play in vermin- 

 destruction is borne in mind. The figure 96 is probably sub- 

 stantially correct. E\en when resting, the birds often perch on 

 a dead tree or other conspicuous ])lace, so that they are not easily 

 missed. Making due allowance, however, for missmg a number 

 of Hawks, and reducing the range of vision in consequence to 

 a (|uarter of a mile on each side, one finds that the population 

 of Hawks is about one for each seven sipiare miles of country. 



I do not propose to consider individually any of the other 

 species observed. Readers may draw their own inferences from 

 the tables .submitted. The figures as regards many species are 

 necessarily not of much \alue. owing to the birds being confined 

 to certain specified areas, such as swami)s, rivers, dense brush, 

 etc., or being found in large flocks as in the case of Galahs 

 (Rose-breasted Cockatoos). Taken in conjunction wi'h other 

 species, however, they form an interesting record. 



Space i)ermits details only of twelve of the commonest species, 

 showing the numbers seen on one journey in each of the eleven 

 districts with the return journey in the last district shown as a 

 check. This table illustrates the method of recording but does not 

 record all the birds seen on a particular journey. The full table 

 is preserved in tiic R..\.().r. lil)rary. Melbourne. 



