Vol. XXII 

 1923 



WHITLOCK, Trip to Fortcsciic River 267 



threptns Icct'wr) was tlittin^^ about amongst the huge Cajuputs, 

 and in a gorge in the ranges I met with another ])art}-. 



The Crested Bell-Bird (Orcoica (/uttitnilis) was very rare^ 

 and the onl)- i)airs noted were found in Spinifex country dotted 

 o\er with larger bushes or small trees. At intervals between 

 the ri\er and ranges were tracts of Snake-wood, with a rough 

 growth, something between a large bush and a tree. This 

 Snake- wood closely resembled the W'anyeo tree around Shark 

 Bay, and also the Mulga of the East Murchison. A hand- 

 book of the trees and large bushes of this State would he in- 

 valuable to the field naturalist. Much confusion exists as to 

 their \emacular names. In the same country inhabited l)y the 

 Crested Bell-P)ird I found scattered pairs of the Rufous- 

 crowned Emu-Wren (Stipitiints nificcps). They had much 

 the same habits as the south-western species, and were difficult 

 to entice from the large clumps of Spinifex {Triodia). Some 

 birds were in moult and lacked their consi)icuous tail-feathers. 

 I spent much time in a \ain search for nests. In climbing up 

 to the summit of a big hill in the ranges in search of the play- 

 ground of the local ]^)0wer-P)ird, T saw a pair of Emu- Wrens 

 at a height of quite 2000 feet. 1'here was little cover on the 

 sun-baked summit. .Another bird found in comj)any with the 

 Emu- Wrens, was my old friend the Spinif ex-Bird (Hreinioniis 

 cartcri). It was, however, distinctly rare, and only occurred 

 where the friodia was growing in very large clumps. The 

 males were not calling. The slopes of the rocky gorges in the 

 ranges were clothed with innumerable clumps of Trif)dia, and in 

 one gorge I came across a pair of Grass-Wrens ( Diaf^lioriUas). 

 I watched them at intervals for about a week. They were 

 evidently not breeding, as they shifted about so much. I there- 

 fore secured the male. Wnting from memorw I think it is 

 the Rufous Grass- Wren (/). i^'hitci). I had a glimpse of a 

 second pair in another locality, but could not find them again. A 

 third pair were reported in some hilly country on the northern 

 side of the river. The male called a little in the evening, but 

 his voice appeared to be feeble in comparison with that of 

 East Murchison birds ; or perhaps its volume was dwarfed by 

 the desolate surroundings. 



Both at the river and in the ranges, the cheerful song of 

 the Rufous-breasted Whistler ( Pachycephala ritfiz-entris) was 

 heard, and pairs of Shrike-Thrushes (Collitricincla sp. ? ) 

 also added their music. A rare bird amongst the Snake-wood 

 and dwarf Eucalyi)ts was Climacteric wellsi, the Allied Tree- 

 Creeper. I obtained a single example near Tambrey Station, 

 some forty miles to the east of Mill Stream. I'robably it had 

 a mate, but a strong wind was blowing, and the ranges were 

 almost invisible owing to clouds of dust. This will give some 

 idea of the droughty conditions prevailing. Near the river, 

 parties of Red-breasted I^abblers (Powatostomns rubeculiis) 



