118 D'OMI'.RAIX, J Trip to the Rkrr-Scruhs. \^^iET 



timber, that we decided to put in a day there and see for our- 

 selves the mysterious "Cracking Thrush," as it was locally 

 called. Here the Painted Honeyeater was to be obtained; here 

 too, was a Whistler that needed inspecting, as he was very far 

 north; here the Crimson-Wing Parrot was nesting, and Bell- 

 Birds tolled their limpid notes. 



Accordingly, a very enjoyable lime was spent at "The Prairie,'" 

 but as the object of this article is an account of the scrub birds, 

 it must suffice to say that the Cracking Thrush is still sub jiidice, 

 and that it seems to be a connecting link between Colluricincla 

 hannonica and C. briinnca. It must be noted that we were close 

 to the Queensland border. 



Alore is intended to be recorded about this bird at another 

 time, and one must leave the birds of this region to Mr. Maw- 

 hinney to record for readers of The Emu later. The various 

 belts of timber and stunted scrubs were, however, very distinc- 

 tive, each carrying its peculiar bird-life. 



Air. ]\lawhinney's car was called into requisition, and laden 

 with tents, tucker, the cook's gear, and the cook, who was 

 rescued from the arms of Bacchus and kept at "The Prairie" 

 during "convalescence" ! Away the two cars started on their 

 long trail over the tableland, and steep descent to the lower levels 

 on the other side. An interesting journey followed from "The 

 Prairie," by wa\' of roads and tracks across huge iiaddocks, and 

 then on z'ia Delungra (which we only just managed to reach ere 

 the rain had made the roads too boggy), to Inverell, where we 

 stayed for the night. 



Much amusement was caused to the parly al the former place, 

 where we pulled up for benzine for the engines, when the writer 

 was mistaken for a shearer just "cut out" from his last shed. 

 On to Armidale next day, where we added Alessrs. Purkiss and 

 Bradley, in another car, to our ]iarty. Here the writer was mis- 

 taken by Mr. liradley for a clergyman. .\fter the shearer 

 ej)isode. the writer did not know whether to feel Mattered or 

 otherwise. 



An early start was made from Armidale, and in view of the 

 very disconcerting weather reports, after much consultation it 

 was decided, on the advice of Mr. Purkiss, who was born in the 

 Dorrigo district, to make for the Five Day Creek, Comara. 

 Breakfast was eaten about twenty-five miles out from Armidale, 

 at the Four Mile Creek, a most i)icturesc[ue spot. 



A ramble enabled us to list 31 species of birds here, many of 

 them with nests or with yoimg Hying. A few feet from our fire 

 was a nest of the \\'attle-P>ird about three feet from the ground. 

 It contained two eggs, and the bird had used jiieces of rag and 

 twine for nesting material. The birds seen were the commoner 

 varieties found in \'ictoria and Xew v'^oulh Wales, and need not 

 be enumerated. 



From here we journeyed on. up hill and down, till we reached 

 the banks of the Macleav River, and followed its winding course 



