184 Royal Aitstralasuin Ovjiithologists' Union. [isf''jan. 



On crossinji; over to Peron Peninsula, in Scplembcr, 1920, T at once 

 commenced a search for the Grass-Wren near the haunt I discovered 

 two .years pre\iouslv. At the second attempt I was successiul. I sat 

 down under the lee of a large shady bush growing in a small neigh- 

 bouring valley to eat my lunch. I had hardly commenced when my 

 attention was arrested by the sound of three peculiar high-pitched 

 notes littered in a descending scale, very difficult to express on paper. 

 1 " chirped " in reply, when out hopped a fine male Grass-Wren at 

 a distance of '10 yards. We watched one another in sileiice for 

 several minutes. T quickly finished my lunch and commenced a 

 systematic search amongst all the neighbouring salt-bushes or other 

 likely-looking shrubs for a nest. About 50 yards from where I com- 

 menced I found a very neat and substantial nest, empty save for a 

 few dried leaves, but it was in excellent preservation. I was at once 

 struck with its resemblance to a nest of the Western Grass-Wren 

 {A. gigantura) which I found in 1908 on the East Murchison. Like 

 the latter, it was quite open, no dome of any description being noted. 

 I think this nest belonged to the previous season. Further research 

 revealed a new nest from which the young had not long departed. 

 1 pulled this to pieces in the hopes of finding fragments of egg-shell, 

 but without success. A third and older nest contained pieces large 

 enough and sufficiently well preserved to enable me to determine that 

 the eggs are very similar to those found in the East Murchison nest 

 twelve years ago. 



In a large valley nearer the township of Denham I found a family 

 of Grass-Wrens, but failed to find further nests except a deserted one. 

 I was able, however, to secure an adult female bird and also one well- 

 grown nestling. 



The female of the Grass-Wren {A. iextilis is distinguished from the 

 male by her slightly smaller size, distinctly shorter tail, and by 

 chestnut leathers on the flanks. In the nestling procured ,'a male) 

 the tail was very well developed, and the chestnut flank markings 

 were replaced by light fawn colour. I found the Grass-Wrens on 

 Peron just as wary and difficult to observe as those at Lake Austin 

 and Lake Way. The reason they are still present on Peron appears 

 to be the abundance of rabbits, on which the bush cats prey iji 

 preference to birds. 



Artamus cinereus : melanops ? Grey-breasted Wood-Swallow. — 

 This Wood-Swallow, though not rare, was rather local on Dirk 

 Hartog. On 19th August I saw a small flock land near the Quoin 

 Bluff. A pair or two lingered near the Ten-mile well, and I saw one 

 bird carrying grass ; but found no nests up to tb.e time oi leaving. 



Artamus minor. Little Wood-Swallow. —On 9th September I was 

 returning from the Ten-mile well. Late in the evening I observed 

 a small party of this species hawking about. My gun was packed 

 away and 1 was cold and stiff with riding on the top of a cartload 

 of cam}) gear, drawn by five camels. The circumstances were not 

 favourable for securing a specimen. .Mr. Carter also records the 

 species Ironi Dirk Hartog Island. 



Grallina picata. Magpie-Lark. — \ stray bird was recorded by Mr. 

 Carter. 



Oreoica cristata lloydi. Dirk Hartog Bell-Bird. — Rather local in 

 its haiuits. favouring tlie \ery largest bushes, especially wanyu 

 tliickcts, where il nested. I observed no difference in its well-known 



