v°lc,fi^' ] S. A. WlirPE, Central Australian Expedition. 91 



5. Ocyphaps lophotes. Crested Pigeon. — Very numerous over all 

 the country traversed. We often flushed these birds, and they flew 

 to the first branch. Raising their tails, they looked as if they would 

 over-balance. They depressed their tails to X'egain their balance, and 

 raised their crests. 



6. Microtribonyx ventralLs. Black-tailed Native-Hen. — A small 

 party or two of these birds was seen. No doubt, owing to the good 

 season they are widely distributed. 



7. Gallinula tenebrosa. Black Moor-Hen.— These birds were seen 

 at Dalhousie Springs, and when disturbed took to the water to escape 

 to the other side, and disappear in the reeds and rushes. Not common. 



8. Fulica australis. Australian Coot. — Observed on the springs at 

 Dalhousie. 



9. Podicep.s ruficollis. Black-throated Grebe. Seen on many of the 

 waterholes both, in South Australia and Northern Territory. 



10. Lobibyx novae-hoUandiie. Spur-winged Plover. Not a plentiful 

 bird. A few pairs seen out on the plains. 



11. Zonifer tricolor. Black-breasted Plover. — More numerous than 

 the preceding species; still not plentiful. A pair was seen here and 

 there on the trip, and by their actions in chasing crows and other 

 birds, one could safely say that they were breeding. 



12. Charadrius melanops. Black-fronted Dotterels. — A plentiful 

 bird throughout the country. It is found along the margins of all 

 waterholes and clay pans, and its sharp and distinctive call was heard 

 throughout the night. This bird should not be placed in the same 

 genus as the Red-capped Dotterel (C. ruficapillus), for it is a dis- 

 tinctive bird in every way. 



13. Recurvirostra novae-hoUandiiP. Red-necked Avocet. — These bii'ds 

 were in numbers on the Tableland claypans, where they had rested 

 this year; nearly every pair had three young ones with them. The 

 young were feathered, and all the upper surface was of a light mottled 

 grey, and the under surface was white. At first glance one would 

 think that many Sharp-tailed Stints were dodging about amongst 

 the Avocets. The young birds kept up a low but continuous call as 

 they followed the parent birds about in the shallow water; they 

 seemed to be calling all the time except when a parent bird was 

 placing food in their mouths, and then smothered calls would be 

 heard. 



14. Burhinus grallarius. Southern Stone Plover. — These birds were 

 widely distributed through the central regions, and there was hardly 

 a night that they were not heard. 



15. Eupodotis australis. Australian Bustard. — Not plentiful by any 

 means; only an odd bird was seen here and there. A party of five 

 was seen from the railway train just before we reached William 

 Creek. A fine old male bird kept up his strange, harsh, grinding cry 

 for the greater part of two nights during our outward camp and re- 

 turn journey at Boggy Flat — an indication that they were brce-jLng. 



16. Notophoyx novse-hollandise. White-fronted Heron. — A common 

 bird all through the country wherever there was water. It seemed 

 to be getting much food from the rapidly drying claypans. 



17. Notophoyx pacifica. White-necked Heron. — This bird was found 

 all over the country visited, in ones and twos along the creeks; 

 often it perched on the trees overhanging the waterholes. 



18. Nycticorax caledonicus. Australian Night-Heron. — Often met 

 with roosting in the big gum trees near the river banks, and heard 

 at night when in search of food. 



19. Chenonetta jubata. Tennant's Maned Goose.^Very plentiful. 

 There was not a single waterhole of any size that did not have these 



