126 LE S(A'P:F, nirds at Ehor ami Xullarbor. K^cT" 



two (lays at Fisher, a siding well out on the plain, and seven 

 days at Ooldea, a station in the sandhill country at the eastern 

 edge of the plain. As the trij) was undertaken specially to in- 

 vestigate the mammalian life, little time was given to bird ob- 

 servation, and the notes ai)j)en(le(l referring ])rincipally to the 

 birds of the plain are not as full as they might be. 



The ])lain at Fisher was found to be covered with the pre- 

 vailing Salt-bush and I'lue-bush, and several species of dwarf 

 herbaceous plants. These were covered with millions of cater- 

 pillars, which provided food for the bird population. Birds were 

 not very numerous, nor were many species obser\ed. Indeed, 

 with the .spar.se cover available, few birds could escape the 

 hawks, which along the railway line, at any rate, were fairly 

 numerous. Although it was mid-winter, many species were 

 found breeding. 



Two birds which I took to be yVustralian Pratincoles (Stiltia 

 Isabella ) were noted. Mr. Harry Taylor, the foreman ganger 

 for this section, stated that they were always present. They 

 were rather shy, were not easily tlushed, and then did not fly 

 more than a few feet above the ground. 



When the last of the bushes had been left behind, and the 

 train was well out on the plain, the Wedge-tailed Eagle {Ui^oactiis 

 audax) was observed. One bird was seen flying slowly over 

 the surface, when it suddenly seemed to sjjring upwards and 

 •dive to the earth, evidently alighting on some animal. Mr. Harry 

 Taylor states that the Eagles are numerous when rabbits are 

 abundant, and scarce when there are few rabbits. 



Brown Hawks (leraddca hcrigora) were numenjus, and were 

 often seen hunting over the plain while uttering their shrill cry. 

 They were \'ery tame. 



A large llock of Pink Cockatoos (Cacatua Icadbeatcri ) lived 

 near the Soak at Ooldea. and left every morning for the j^lain, 

 where they seemed to be feeding on the Casuarinas. They flew 

 in a very com])act flock, and kept well together when feeding. 

 It was a beautiful sight to see dozens of birds clustering on to 

 a large Casuarina like so many i)ink flowers. 



The well-known scale note of the Pallid Cuckoo ( Ciiculiis pal- 

 lidns) was heard very often at Ooldea. I was surjirised to find 

 it so far south in July. 



Last October White-backed Swallows {Chcraiiiocca Icucos- 

 ternum) were noted flying in flocks over the sandhills. This 

 July they had parted, and were out on the edge of the plain, 

 but still not beyond the tree line. From their actions I think 

 that they were nesting. 



Red-capped R(;bin (Petroica c]Oodcnovu). — When I first ar- 

 rived at Ooldea, only uncoloured birds of this robin were seen, 

 but soon afterwards the scarlet, black and white males were in 

 evidence. Uncoloured birds ventured into the open scrub 

 countn' on the edge of the plain. 



One IToodcd Robin- (Mclaiiodryas cncuUata) was noted near 

 Ihc Soak. 



