208 White, Bird-Life in the Riverina. [isf^jan 



marks and cattle-tracks, then hard and baked, showed how soft 

 the ground must be in a wet season. The country did not change 

 until we approached the river, when we passed through a thick 

 belt of red-gum trees. Not a bird had been seen before, but now 

 the Noisy Miner {Myzantha garrula) made itself heard, the clear 

 note of a Parrot {Platycercus flaveolus) was heard in the timber ; 

 a graceful Pied Grallina was busy feeding two fluffy young ones 

 on a bough overhead. Driving on to the punt at the ferry, we 

 were hauled slowly over the Murrumbidgee. The gate of the 

 punt was opened, and we were soon dashing through the gums 

 on the other side, and on to the plain beyond, passing through 

 clumps of box, and, later on, native pine on the sandy ridges. 

 We passed by large depressions, which in the wet season are lakes 

 hundreds of acres in extent, with a grand fringe of stately gums. 

 We reached a well-kept, comfortable homestead on the bank of 

 the river, and were heartily welcomed. 



In the early morn many bird-notes floated through the open 

 window of our room. Above all others could be heard the 

 melodious note of the Shrike-Thrush {Collyriocichla harmonica). 

 Thanks to the great kindness of the manager, who placed his 

 traps, horses, &c., at our disposal, we were enabled to work the 

 country for miles around. The first things to attract our attention 

 were the large flocks of Rose-breasted Cockatoos which we flushed 

 from the ground. They flapped off with noisy screeching, to 

 again alight in search of their breakfast. Although these birds 

 were flocking, odd pairs were found nesting in hollow limbs. 

 Grass-Parrots {Psephotiis hcematonotiis) were numerous, but still 

 in pairs, showing that they had not yet congregated after nesting. 

 Cockatoo-Parrots {Calopsittacus novce-hollandice) were met with in 

 companies of 6 or 8, and they were also found nesting. Choughs 

 {Corcorax melanorhamphus) were to be found in small colonies in 

 nearly every clump of pine or box, but only stray nests were 

 observed, where birds had laid for the second time that season. 

 In close association with the last-named species we found the 

 Grey Struthidea (Strut hid ea cinerea). These birds had nearly all 

 begun to nest for the second time, although they had the first 

 brood with them. The Struthidea uses the same nest in successive 

 seasons, only replacing the lining, which consists of dry grass, and 

 seems to prefer the pine clumps in which to nest — in fact, each of 

 the many nests which came under our notice was placed in a 

 pine-tree. Immense flocks of Artamus super ciliosiis were seen, 

 and A. tenebrosus were in numbers. Among the more thickly 

 timbered country a pair of Lalage humeralis was seen occasionally. 

 The fine Crested-Pigeons (Ocyphaps lophotes) were found in pairs 

 feeding on the ground. The Brown Song- Lark (C. cantillans) was 

 found breeding, as also was C. rufescens. All the nests of the 

 latter species contained young. The Australian Pipit was also 

 breeding. 



All along the river, where the timber was thick, we found the 

 Yellow-rumped Parrakeet [Platycercus flaveolus), which seemed to 



