138 RUSSELL, nirds of Bariinah Plaiuy ["^mOcT 



I'edionomus torquatus. Plain Wanderer. — Although never plen- 

 tiful, odd birds are flushed right through the year. These birds seem 

 to be very poor fliers, and I think depend mostly on their ability to 

 hide rather than take to the wing. After heavy rain, 1 have, on 

 sevei'al occasions, caught the birds with a hat. I have never observed 

 a nest, but have no doubt that they do nest on these plains. 



Phaps chalcoptera. Bronze- winged Pigeon. — This year, for the 

 first time, I came across a pair of these fine birds in a fine planta- 

 tion, and again a single bird flushed right out on the plains near 

 a swamp. 



Podiceps ruficollis. Black-throated Grebe. — Nearly all through 

 the year there is a fair number of these little birds about. More 

 often at the water holes than on the creek. I have never noticed 

 them breeding here, but possibly they do so. 



Lobiby.\ novae-hollandiae. Spur-winged Plover. — Very plentiful 

 all through the year. Pairing off early in August to nest, and as- 

 sembling into large flocks towards the end of April. I counted one 

 flock of over fifty. These birds, I fancy, rear two. or even three 

 broods in a season, and very often nest in the same situation year 

 after year. 



Zonifer tricolor. Black-breasted Plover. — Also very plentiful, 

 and resembling very much the habits of Spur-winged Plover, except 

 that they are more often found out in the "stoney rises" and hard 

 plains. This little bird becomes an easy prey of the well-known 

 sport who chances to lay in wait at a water hole on any hot sum- 

 mer day. Last season I noticed a number of nests, mostly contain- 

 ing four eggs. 



Charadrius ruficapilla. Red-capped Dotterel.— Seen at odd times 

 right through the year, but more plentiful in the summer months. 

 These pretty little birds are very Quick runners, and are always seen 

 beside the water holes. My brother noticed two eggs of this bird 

 here last September placed close to the water's edge between some 

 small stones. He also found a nest at Lake Coi-angamite during 

 February. 



Pisobia acuminata. Sharp-tailed Stint. — Although it is some 

 years since I have handled a species, I am almost certain it is 

 acuminata, which at times appears in large flocks, mostly on the 

 sandy and lighter country. 



Eupodotis australi.s. Australian Bustard. — Full notes on the 

 local habits of this bird appeared in "The Emu," vol xx., part 4. 

 Owing probably to the exceptionally dry autumn just past, these 

 birds are at present very few and far between. But now rain has 

 fallen, I expect a fair number will commence to show up again. 



Antigone rubicunda. Australian Crane. — These fine birds rarely 

 make an appearance now, although a few years ago they were fairly 

 numerous, and nested regularly in some of the swamps. I once had 

 one for a pet. All day long he wandered round the horse paddock 

 with one of the hacks \vhich he made a friend of, returning to the 

 yard with the mob at night to feed. It was queer how a bird and 

 a horse should become such mates, but they were never apart. Even- 

 tually ".lacko" came to grief, being kicked by a young horse in the 

 yard. 



Notophoy.\ novie-hollandiae. White-fronted Heron.— Although 

 never plentiful, odd birds can be seen all through the year, usually 

 along the creek, or perched on a post near one of the water holes. 

 I have on several occasions noticed nests of this bird, usually placed 

 on a forked horizontal bough of a blue gum tree, nearly always a 

 very roughly built platform without any lining. 



Chenopi.s atrata. Black Swan. — Fairly numerous at certain 

 times of the year, and more especially after a wet winter when the 



