l68 Royal Austyalasian Ornitliologists' Union. [isf"jan 



sub-sp. ?;. — Resident. Not nearly so plentiful as the preceding, but 

 lound in various localities about Perth and Fremantle. 



186. Dusky Miner. Myzantha obscura (M. flauigula obsciira). — 

 Resident. Fairly common. In small parties in wooded parts. 



187. Red Wattle-Bird. Anthochcsra cariinculala (Coleia c. ivood- 

 wardi'j. — Resident. During the winter these birds assemble in great 

 numbers in those parts of the district where flowering banksias are. 



1 88. Little Wattle-Bird. Anellohia lunulata {Anthochara chrysopiera 

 lunnlata). — Resident. Common, especially 'in the coastal districts. 



189. Australian Pipit. AiUhus ausiralis {A. a. hilbali). — Resident. 

 Not verv common, as there is little arable or grass land in the district. 

 The coastal limestone hills, where they are covered with grass, are 

 perhaps the only natural habitat of the species, which is found in 

 such places on the mainland and on Rottnest Island. 



190. Australian Crow. Corvus coronoides (C. c. perplexus). — Resident. 

 Common in the district, and on Rottnest and Garden Islands. 



191. Leaden Crow-Shrilte. Strepera plumbea (Neoslrepera versicolor 

 phtmbea). — Resident. Rather scarce in the district, and decidedly 

 local in its habits, almost confined to places in the tuart forest. 



NOTES ON DIRK HARTOG ISLAND AND PERON PENIN- 

 SULA, SHARK BAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 

 By F. Lawson Whitlock, R.A.O.U., Chiltern, Tudor, via 

 Albany, W.A. 



ixtroduction. 

 Dirk Hartog Island is separated from the mainland of Australia 

 by a channel less than two miles wide. Steep Point, on the south 

 side of the channel, forming the most westerly portion of the main- 

 land. Peron Peninsula is separated from the island by Denham 

 Sound, and hes to the east about 21 miles. Both the island and 

 the peninsula run in a north by north-westerly direction. The 

 26th parallel S. latitude runs through both, and the 113th degree 

 E. longitude passes through the northern half of Dirk Hartog. 

 Denham Sound forms part of Shark Bay. 



The climate is somewhat remarkable, the temperature being about 

 10 degrees cooler than the mainland in the vicinity of Hamelin 

 Port, which Ues at the most southern portion of the bay. This is 

 due to the general prevalence, during the warm weather, of strong 

 southerly wands, locally termed " southerly busters." These 

 winds begin early in the day, increasing in strength till midnight, 

 then slowly subside towards daybreak, by which time practically 

 a calm prevails. The rainfall on Dirk Hartog averages about 12 

 inches, on Peron rather less. This is probably due to the absence of 

 any elevated land on the peninsula, in contrast to the high ridges 

 running almost the whole length of the western side of Dirk Hartog, 

 an elevation of 600 feet being attained at Herald Heights. This 

 high ridge appears to intercept and condense showers travelling 

 in an easterly direction from the Inchan Ocean. The greater part 



