224 WHITE, Most Extensive Ornithological Tour [^^tf^"" 



range, and found in this locality, is the White-fronted Honeyeater 

 {Glyciphila alhijrons). The Cloncurry Honeyeater was very 

 common along all the gum creeks. The Dusky Honeyeater 

 {Myzoinela ohscnra) was observed in the low scrub at the foot 

 of the ranges. I take this to be Mr. Mathews' sub-species M . o. 

 grisescetis. The Red-chested Quail (Tnrnix pyrrhothorax) was 

 quite plentiful. Grass- Wrens ( Diaphorillas textilis) were found 

 r.midst the boulders of the ranges. Crows (Con-us ceeilae) 

 v.ere fairly i)lentiful. T.lack-faced Cuckoo Shrikes were seen; 

 Chestnut-eared Finches and I'udgerygahs were in hundreds. The 

 time here was too short to complete work amongst the birds. 



The night sj^ent at Harrow Creek was a mild one 

 (56 deg. F.). The country was covered in grass, which had 

 reached the flowering stage, and threw a puri)le sheen over every- 

 thing. We crossed Barrow Creek at 3i miles from the station, 

 and came in touch with large numbers of natives. Bustards were 

 numerous amidst the high dry grass. .\. strange blue-leafed 

 Malice or Gum grew in clumps, with Mulga, Hakea and Ere- 

 mophilas. We overtook a camel team with oun stores, which 

 should have been a hundred or more miles further on ; took on 

 twelve large cases of petrol, and stores, which meant much addi- 

 tional weight to the already over-loaded cars. Grass seeds be- 

 came very bad in the long grass, and we had to abandf)n one 

 car and push on for water, which we struck at 4 p.m., and then 

 returned for the third car. Crows were numerous at this water. 

 Ne.<t morning, the 26th, we were in trouble amidst the big .sand- 

 hills, which were covered with many bright flowering plants, one 

 of the mosts con.spicuous being a pink Grevillea. Hakeas, Cassias 

 and Eremophilas were all in blossom, .\mongst the birds fre- 

 quenting the flowering shrubs were the small form of the Singing 

 Honeyeater and the White- fronted Honeyeater. .\t 70 miles 

 from Barrow Creek the Keartland or Grey-headed Honeyeater, 

 Brown Hawk — the ty]iical ruddy brown interior form — the small 

 form of the Singing Honeyeater, were met with. Great numbers 

 of Chestnut-eared Finches were breeding, and had many nests, 

 with eggs. At 74 miles we crossed Sutherland's Creek, and 

 reached the great granite boulders called the Oevil's Marbles. 



At 3.20 p.m. we came to McLaren's Creek, a deep water- 

 course with steep banks. We had to hunt along its banks 

 for miles to find a crossing. Crossing the Gilbert Creek at dark, 

 we went into camp. Birds were not plentiful. The temperature 

 at night was mild (56 deg. F.) Next morning, the 27th, we 

 had the Murchison Range to the east, and soc^i got in amongst 

 the outlying ridges; anthills or termite mounds gave us nuich 

 trouble here. Black-faced Wood-Swallows and Budgerygahs 

 were both numerous. Crimson Chats were seen. We now 

 j>lunged into grass 12 feet in height, and flushed Bustards from 

 this many times. .\t 120 miles from Barrow Creek we found 

 water, and we were glad to get a good wash. Wc were in the 



