Ijj.0 Royal Anstralnsian Oynitholooists' Union. [is-'^Tan 



NOTES ON BIRDS SEEN ON THE PORONGORUP MOUN- 

 TAINS (NEAR Albany), GERALDTON, AND OOLDEA 



(Transcontinental Line). 



By a. S. Le Souef, Taronga Park, Sydney, State Secretary 



New South Wales. 

 As I was able to visit parts of Western Australia not visited by 

 other members of the Union, some notes on the birds of these 

 districts may be of interest. 



I stayed at Ooldea, near the eastern edge of the NuUarbor Plain, 

 on the return journey, mainly to find out what the numerous 

 Eagles and Hawks noted on the Nullarbor Plain were feeding on. 

 As far as I could learn, their food was rabbit-eared and fasciated 

 bandicoots, rat-kangaroos, rats of three species, and some smaller 

 marsupials, and, to a lesser extent, rabbits. Animals on this 

 waterless plain were numerous ; they apparently get their 

 moisture from the succulent plants and the blood of their victims. 

 Bird-life at Ooldea was abundant and of great interest, and the 

 birds themselves, being quite undisturbed, were very tame. The 

 list given is not by any means complete, for many of the smaller 

 species were not identified. 



Emu {Dromaius novce-hollandice). — Emus were reported to be 

 numerous near Yuna, in the middle North-West, and the local 

 farmers had some difficulty in keeping them off the wheat crops. 

 A female with five half-grown young and several odd birds were 

 seen about 30 miles out from Geraldton. Mr. Crawford, the Chief 

 Rabbit Inspector of Western Austraha, stated that he had drivtni 

 an Emu for 10 miles in a car, and that its speed was 31 miles per 

 hour, beyond which it could not go. 



Mallee-Fowl {Leipoa ocellata). — A nest was found at Ooldea, or, 

 rather, the excavation ready for the leaves, &c. ; this was perfectly 

 circular,' 5 feet 6 inches in diameter, and the slope from the middle 

 to the circumference accurately graded on oil sides. The depth 

 in the centre was about 18 inches. There was no sign of the birds. 



Austrahan Snipe {Gallinago australis). — One of these birds was 

 noted at Ooldea, on the edge of the Nullarbor Plain ; it was 

 resting on the grass, and was probably over a hundred miles from 

 the nearest surface water. 



Bustard [Choriotis australis). — I was pleased to find the Bustard 

 numerous on the open grass country near Geraldton. A large 

 flock of ^)2 birds made an interesting sight as they stalked slowly 

 along, eating up grasshoppers ; curiously enough, they were all 

 males. 



Straw-necked Ibis {Carphibis spinicollis) . — The Ibis was fairly 

 numerous on the salt-pans between Perth and Geraldton. 



White-fronted Heron {Notophoyx novce-hollandi(e). — Odd pairs 

 of the White-fronted Heron were seen out from Geraldton. 



Black Duck {Anas siiperciliosa).'— The Black Duck was found 

 with young birds about 40 miles out from Geraldton. The celerity 

 with which the young birds could disappear, and the extreme 



