Vol. XXII 

 192-.' 



] ir()MI5RAlX, ./ 7'r/> to the Rlvcr-Scruhs. 123 



only early in October. The writer is of the oi)inion that follow- 

 ing the break-up of the long drought, the birds at once started 

 breeding, and threw the nesting season out of ste]). In no other 

 way could we account for the finding of so many recently-used 

 nests. 



From an oological point of view our excursion was a i)artial 

 failure, but when we considered all the birds we had .seen and 

 heard, and whose habits we had observed, we felt the outing was 

 not in vain. For instance, one could never forget seeing the 

 Log-runners a few feet away from us rooting u]) the ground like 

 a domestic fowl scratching on a manure heap, all the while emit- 

 ting most musical notes. One can see the fightmg and chasing 

 of enemy species and hear the exultant notes of the victors : 

 cheeky Honey-eaters and rival bush whistlers bursting into de- 

 fiant song before the eyes of a demure female ; the piercing calls 

 of the Tree-Creepers, and the early morning call of the VVonga- 

 \\'ongas, and at night the eerie screech of the unknown Owl. 



Rain, the best gift to the man on the land, was responsible for 

 a change in our plans, and for some interference with our out- 

 ings, but the lack of this same gift has been also the means of 

 somewhat spoiling the result of the R.A.O.U. Camp in Queens- 

 land the previous year, and we consoled ourselves with the fact 

 that the rain was better for the preservation of our birds than 

 lack of it. 



All the same, (juite reluctantl\- we struck camp, and made our 

 long run to Armidale, which we reached in a perfect torrent of 

 rain, and here our party broke uj), with expressions of regret 

 and a decision to meet again, if spared, for another outing in 

 the future. 



The following birds were listed during the expedition : — 



Brush-Turkey {Aleditra lathami); Purple-crowned Pigeon (Ptilinopits 

 superbits) ; Topknot-Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus) ; Pheasant-Pigeon 

 ( Macropygia phasianella) ; Peaceful Dove {Geopelia placida] : Green Winged 

 Pigeon {ChalcopJwps chrysochlora) ; Wonga {Leucosarcio melanolctica): Man- 

 grove Bittern (Butorides sfagnatilis) ; Grey Goshawk (Asturnovce-hollandia-): 

 Australian Goshawk (Astitr fasciatus) : Black-breasted Buzzard ( Gypoictinia 

 nielaiiosferna \ ; Crested Hawk {Baza subcristata) ; Brown Hawk {leracidea 

 berigora); Nankeen Kestrel (Cerchneis cenchroides) ; Boobook Owl {Ninox 

 boobnok): Owl (Sp. ); Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua); Blue Mountain 

 Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccannus) ; Red-tailed Black Cockatoo 

 (Calyptorhynchiis banksi); King Parrot (Aprosmictus scapularis): Crimson 

 Rosella (Platyccrcus elegans): Rosella (P. eximiits); Tawny Frogmouth 

 (Podargiis strigoides); Australian Roller (Eiirystonins orientalis) ; Azure 

 Kingfisher (Alcyone azurea); Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas); Fantailed Cuckoo 

 (Caco))iantisflabdliformis): Square-tailed Cuckoo (C. pyrrhophanus); Narrow- 

 billed Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites basalis) ; Broad-billed Bronze-Cuckoo 

 (Lamprococcyx lucidus); Koel (Eudynarnys orientalis): Lyre-Bird (Menura 

 novce-hoUandice); Noisy Vxtta (Pitta versicolor): Welcome Swallow (Hirnndo 

 neoxcna) : Fairy Martin (Hylochelidon ariel); Jacky Winter (Microcca 

 fascinans : YXame-hreasled Rohm (Petroica pboenica): Rose-breasted Robin 

 (Erythrodryas rosea): Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata): Southern 

 "Bush-V^l arhXer ( Gerygone fiisca) : Large-headed Shrike-Robin (Poecilodryas 

 capito): Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin (Eopsaltria australis): Shrike-Tit 

 (Falruncidus frontattts) : Rufous-breasted Whistler (Pachycephala rufivoitris); 

 Golden-breasted Whistler (P. pectoralis): Fantail (Rliipidura flabellifera); 



