53- Mr. A. H. Evans: with the [Ibis, 



Yellow-rumped Thonibill {Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) and its 

 unoccupied nest. Finally, we examined some tall old 

 scrub near the station in search of the rare Swift Parrot 

 {Euphema discolor), the presence of which had been 

 reported to Mr. Ashby. It occurs comparatively seldom 

 in the neighbourhood, and "we considered ourselves most 

 lucky to be able to observe two examples at close quarters, 

 feeding in company Avith Musk Lorikeets (^Glossopsittacus 

 concinnus) on the early-flowering Eucalypts. Rosellas als» 

 were rather plentiful : eleven out of every twelve of the 

 Parrots we saw in Australia were Rosellas. 



A still further stroke of luck awaited me. Mr. Ashby's 

 son had come across the glorious Regent Honey-eater 

 {MeUphaga phrygia) in some primeval scrub about a mile 

 from the house, and his father was vex'y anxious to find the 

 nest and eggs, which even he had never seen. We therefore 

 made for the spot across newly-ploughed land, where a 

 couple of White-fronted Chats (Ephthianura albifrons) were 

 feeding among the clods, and before long heard the fine 

 ringing cry proceeding from a thicket of sapling gums. 

 Before long we located a pair of birds, and after a short 

 search discovered the nest. It was about half completed 

 and hardly lined, the material used consisting, as in so 

 many other cases, of dry leaves. Mr. Ashby subsequently 

 obtained the eggs for his collection ; while another pair 

 bred near the stables. Probably this species may not 

 nest at Blackwood again for many years. As we returned 

 through the taller scrub, the musical notes of the Yellow- 

 breasted Shrike-Tit [Falcunculus frontatus) fell upon our 

 ears, and we had an exciting and successful chase after one 

 of the prettiest of the rai'er birds of Australia, which finally 

 made up its mind to exhibit in full sunlight its brilliant 

 yellow, black, white, and green colours. Our host hoped 

 to have introduced us to the Friar-Bird, and we did just 

 catch glimpses of the Red Wattle-Bird and White-backed 

 Magpie (^Gymnorl>ina leuconuta), whose fine song is one 

 of the characteristic sounds of the countryside. I was 

 very unwilling to leave my kind entertainer, and had 



