284 McGILP, Birds of Lake Frame District. [Tst^Apri" 



of effpfs, all the birds that have incomplete nests or nests ready for 

 eggs will desert and seek new nesting site, only those with eggs or 

 young remaining. 



Acrocephalus australis. Australian Reed-Warbler. — Rare visitors in 

 years of good rainfall, during April to July; no record of breeding. 



Acanthiza pu.silla. Brown Thornbill. — Numerous; breeds during 

 July to September; typical nest attached to twiggy branches; clutch, 

 3 eggs. Both birds feed young, which have adult plumage from nest. 

 Bird sits closely to eggs, and when flushed remains close at hand, 

 and soon returns to enter nest. 



Geoba.sileus uropygiali.s. Chestnut-tailed Thornbill. — Fairly com- 

 mon, residents; breed freely; a small hollow with knot-hole entrance 

 is usually chosen in which to build its nest; outwardly it is composed 

 of fine twigs and pieces of bark, entrance up against knot-hole of 

 hollow. The inside of the nest is snugly lined with feathers, usually 

 cf delicate colouring; clutch, 2 to 3 eggs. 



Geobasileus chrysorrhoa. Yellow-tailed Thornbill. — Common 

 throughout year; breeds freely, according to season; typical nest; 

 clutch, 3 to 4 eggs. 



Pyrrholaemus brunncus. Red-throat. — Rare; found in saltbush flats 

 in hilly country; probably breeds, but no record of nesting. 



Malurus leuconotus. White-winged Wren. — Very numerous; breed 

 according to season. The usual nest; clutch, 3 or 4 eggs. I have not 

 seen a White-backed Wren, but have handled specimens with white 

 feathers on the back. These, in writer's opinion, appear in the male 

 before the plumage changes to blue. 



Malurus assimilis. Purple-backed Wren. — Numerous, confined to 

 watercourses; breed freely from July to November; odd nests 

 throughout year. Nest is more neatly made than the typical Malurus 

 nest with perhaps the exception of the nest of the White-winged 

 Wren. It is made of vei-y fine strips of shredded bark woven to- 

 gether very strongly, snugly lined at bottom of egg-cavity with fur 

 or camel hair. Measurements, overall 4', inches in height by 2i 

 inches in width, enti'ance 1 inch; placed low down in brushwood, but 

 sometimes up as high as 10 feet in a mistletoe or suspended in droop- 

 ing foliage cf tea-tree; clutch, 3 or 4 eggs. Birds desert nest if it 

 is handled. Female does most, if not all, of incubating and feedmg 

 till young leave nest. 



Diaphorillas (sp. ?). — An undoubted example seen a few times, 

 but net identified; no record of breeding. 



Artamus leucorhynchus. White-breasted Wood-Swallow. — Fre- 

 quently seen along bore streams in good years. Two nests noted 

 both built in nests of Magpie-Lark in trees surrounded by water; 

 the Magpie-Lark's nest was simply re-lined with rootlets; clutch, 

 3 to 4 eggs; both found in September. The bird is not found any- 

 where but in sandhill country adjoining the New South Wales border. 



Artamus superciliosus. White-browed Wood-Swallow. — Occasional 

 visitors about the begiiming of summer. One was noted nesting in 

 December, 1920, when nests in incomplete stage were being con- 

 structed by the birds, probably they reared their young. They prefer 

 creeks and timber to open plains. 



Artamus personatu.s. Masked Wood-Swallow. — Visits district al- 

 most yearly about October; found nesting freely in December, 1920; 

 typical cup rootlet nest; like the foregoing species, it leaves the dis- 

 trict about February or March. 



Artamus cinereus. Black-faced Wood-Swallow. — Sub-species (A. c. 

 wr/r/Ho/>.v).- residents, numerous; breed according to season, but prefer 

 springtime. Usual Artamus nest of grass and roots lined with root- 



