191 7-] British Association in Australia. 47 



Gymnorhina or Crow-Slirike, it is only seen at Camden on 

 migration, and appears to withdraw to the nearer hill-ranges 

 to breed. It is a fine bird, and we seem to have been 

 lucky to find it '\\\ numbers and hear it to snch advantage ; 

 the other species we met Avith subsequently, and were never 

 weary of their musical cries. Butcher-Birds were rare in 

 the Park, but we were taken to listen to the song of 

 one which always performed at the same place. It was 

 probably Cracticus destructor, but we could not identify it 

 and had to be content with admiring the full liquid notes. 

 We ought to have heard " Thickheads, '' which, however, 

 failed us. We had here our first glimpse of a Parrot — the 

 Rosella [Platycercus e.vimius), — but not sufficiently close to 

 distinguish the fine colours. In addition, we noted the 

 Native Thrush (Culluricincla harmonica), whose splendid 

 song gains it the name of "Harmonious"; while it may 

 be remarked that in various parts of Australia, al)0ut the 

 towns and their environs, we not uncommonly met with 

 the introduced Sparrow, Starling, Blackbird, Thrush, 

 Greenfinch, as well as the Indian Turtle-Dove and Myna. 



The same morning Mr. Foote Onslow was good enough 

 to escort us over the nearer parts of the property. Circling 

 over the distant paddocks was a fine large Buzzard or 

 Harrier — perhaps Circus assimilis — which we never saw at 

 close quarters; a Heron {Notophoyx nova-hollandice) winged 

 its way across the neighbouring creek; and some half-a- 

 dozen Peevvees or Magpie-Larks {Grallina picata) kept 

 rising from the grass. These birds are near relatives of 

 the Shrikes, and build in the trees a very peculiar mud 

 liest, whence they are also called " Mud-Larks " ; but with 

 their heavy flapping flight and shrill cries they take the 

 place in Australia of the European Lapwing. A visit to 

 a small lagoon some mile distant introduced us to several 

 more species. By a stroke of uncommonly good luck, a fine 

 Sea-Eagle [Halia'etus leucogaster^ hap])ened to be floating in 

 the air over the water, and was hardly disposed to move 

 off on our appearance; INIoorhens [Gallinida tenebrosa) and 

 Black Ducks {Anas superciliosu) were disporting themselves 



