1917-] BriHsh Association in Australia, 59 



any species that was new to us, oui* chief wish being 

 to discover a bower of the Satin- Bird {Ftilouorhynclms 

 violaceus). We did not succeed in this, but hud no doubt 

 that the playground was not far off, as a hen-bird passed 

 fairly close to us while we were resting. We should have 

 much preferred a sight of the lovely blue-black male, but 

 even the green female was hailed with delight. 



Our greatest success, however, was yet to come. Before 

 we returned to the boat Mr. Le Souef suggested that we 

 should examine the little caves along the neighbouring bank, 

 where he had in former years observed the Rock- Warbler 

 [Oriyina rabricata), a species entirely confined to New South 

 AVales. Hardly had we begun our search when he stopped 

 and pointed out a nest. To an Englishman this little bird at 

 once recalls the Dipper, for it frequents stony water-courses, 

 hops about the boulders, and builds ari oval nest in rocky 

 places, where it lays pure white eggs. But it is less 

 aquatic, and breeds in a cave or under some overhanging 

 ledge. Our nest was situated, as is most usual, in a small 

 cave of no great depth, and consisted of a ball of roots and 

 moss, within which three eggs, resembling those of the 

 Wryneck, reposed on a warm lining of feathers. The 

 structure was suspended from the roof of the cave by a 

 string of fibre, which seemed hardly strong enough to 

 support the lusty young birds, and this string was fixed 

 or stuck in some extraordinary wa}' into the smallest of 

 crevices in the roof. Evening was now at hand, so that 

 we were reluctantly obliged to make for the boat and think 

 of our homeward journey, after one of the most enjoyable 

 expeditions in which we had ever taken part. 



The following two days weie more or less wet and misty, but 

 the next morning I spent in the Sydney Botanical Gardens, 

 chiefly occupied in watching several very tame birds, and in 

 particular a Grass-Parrot (Fsepholus hcemutonotus) feeding 

 on the lawn. I had not yet seen one at such close quarters. 

 In the afternoon we started for Brisbane, but, as I returned 

 abnost at once to Sydney, I need only say that I added to 

 my list the Topknot-Pigeon [Lophola'inus antarcticus) and 



