Vol. XXII. 



1923 



] WHITE, Most Exfcusirc On,itlw}o;/lcaI Tour 223 



or lUidgerygahs (Mclopsitiaciis uiidiilaliis) , Crimson Chats 

 {Epthianiira tricolor) were all seen at this interesting place. 

 At noon that day we had reached Central Mount Stuart, where 

 we halted tf) take some photographs. Birds were fairly numerous. 

 Here we noted the Brown Hawk (leracidea bcriijora), the typical 

 inland form (/. h. herigora), which takes on a ruddy coloration. 

 Black- faced Wood-Swallow, Pipits, Red-backed Kingfishers, 

 Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters {Acanthagenys rufogularis), and 

 numbers of Shell-Parrots were seen. A beautiful pink Hibiscus 

 was seen during the day. The shrubs were several feet in height, 

 and were covered in bright pink blossoms. At Central Mount 

 Stuart, 133 miles from Alice Springs, a dwarf yellow Hibiscus 

 put in an api)earance. We had been travelling along the Wood- 

 forde Creek, and now we were on the Hanson Creek, crossing 

 it at 148 miles at 4.15 p.m. At 5 p.m. we started over No. 1 

 Stirling Sandhill, and soon left No. 2 behind us. These sand- 

 hills were very high, and were composed of loose blown sand. 



Birds were now numerous. There were Brown Havvks, Black- 

 faced Wood Swallows, Bustards, Crows, Magpie-Larks, Pipits, 

 Chestnut-eared Finches, Cloncurry Honeyeaters, and others. 

 Next morning, ^lay 23rd, we were away early, but in an hour 

 got off our bearings, and found we wei"e too far to the east 

 of a rugged range. We altered our course, stood to the west, 

 and found a gap through the range. TJie country was very good 

 and beautiful. We had been following a creek down, with beauti- 

 ful white-barked gums ; the country was well grassed. Where 

 we altered our course a very fine Bustard stood up and strode 

 past us within a few feet, and a Black-breasted Buzzard soared 

 over us for ([uite a time. Crested Pigeons (Ocyphaps lophotes) 

 were plentiful. ^'ellow-throated miners (Mycaiitha flavigula), 

 Black- faced Cuckoo-Shrikes {Graucalus novcc-lioUaudice) , Black- 

 faced Wood-Swallows, Little Quail (Tuniix relo^), and Shell 

 Parrots were all numerous. The vegetation was also very in- 

 teresting; a fine pink-flowering Grexillea lit up the landscape. 



\\'hite-barked gums, and on the stony edges, a small- 

 fruited Mallee. There were also tall Kangaroo Grass and bushes 

 of Deadfinish {Acacia rigens). At 180 miles from Alice Springs 

 we made Barrow Creek Telegraph Station, and received a warm 

 welcome. This was a good bird locality, and amidst the broken 

 ranges were many rock holes containing water. Southern Stone- 

 Plover {Burhiniis magnirostris) , were both seen and heard. 

 Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictiiiia isura) was quite plentiful. 

 Black-backed Magpie, Pied (Black-throated) Butcher Bird 

 (Cracticns nigrogularis), Pipit, Ground Cuckoo-Shrike (Ptero- 

 podocys maxima) were all seen. Keartland Iloneyeater {Meli- 

 pliaga kcartlandi) was quite numerf)us in the rocky gorges. The 

 writer has now traced the bird from the Everard and Musgrave 

 Ranges in the south to Barrow Creek in the north, and no doubt 

 i: has a big range to the west. Another Honeveater with a wide 



