^192¥'] WHITLOCK, Notes from Xiillarhor Plain. 177 



the While-winged {M. leuconotus), and no member of the genus 

 was found around Zanthus, despite the closest search. This 

 agrees with my previous experience at my old Boorara camp. It 

 is somewhat puzzling to account for this, as a Red-winged species 

 occurs to the east of Southern Cross (probably the Blue-breasted, 

 M. piilcherriuius) and I procured specimens of M. pulcherrimus 

 at Norseman (Lake Dundas), which is in the longitude of 

 Coolgardie. It is not likely that Lake Dundas marks the eastern 

 limit of this species. Captain White procured the Turquoise 

 Wren-Warbler (A/, callainus) at Ooldea. It w^ill be interesting 

 in the future to learn how far east and west the ranges of these 

 two species extend. 



M. leuconotus was nesting at Naretha, and I met with empty 

 nests at Haig. The males in nuptial plumage of this species are 

 pretty wary, but during the heavy gales on the plains they pre- 

 ferred to risk my presence within a few feet of their shelter 

 rather than to face the heavy wind. 



The only Diamond-Bird or Pardalote I saw was Pardalotus 

 striatus. I watched a female carrying strips of bark into a hole 

 in a salmon gum at Zanthus. It was a very small hole at the 

 entrance, and there was much manoeuvring to get extra large 

 strips of bark into the hole, when held crosswise in the bill. I 

 was surprised to see individuals amongst the mistletoe right out 

 on the plains at Haig. 



The Short-billed Tree-Tit (Smicrornis hrevirostris) was very 

 common in the mallee at Zanthus. Nesting operations were just 

 commencing when I left. I watched two pairs building. Com- 

 mencement seems to be made at what is to be the back part of 

 the nest; this is added to, on all sides, the final material being 

 u.sed to finish ofif the entrance. One of these nests was in a 

 drooping branch of a small eucalypt at a height of barely five 

 feet. 



Tw^o species of Wood-Swallows were met with, viz., Masked 

 (Artamiis personatus), and Black-faced (Artamiis cinereus). The 

 latter was far from common. I found a nest with young at Nar- 

 etha in a small tree, at a height of about 12 feet from the ground. 

 Artamns personatus was breeding at Naretha, but more com- 

 monly in the belts of timber near Haig. Some nests were in the 

 stunted trees, others on large salt or blue bushes. 



The Allied Flycatcher {Microeca assimilis) was fairly, com- 

 mon around Zanthus, but not seen on the plain. A favourite 

 perching place was the telegraph wires. The White- face I saw 

 was Aphclocephala leiicopsis, and that not till I got to Naretha. 

 It was nesting in a variety of situations, and showed its usual 

 fearlessness of man. At Haig it was nesting in thick blue-bushes 

 for the most part. Four eggs seems to be a full clutch. The 

 nests, though very bulky, are far from neat, and have a spout- 

 like entrance. At Naretha some were placed in the low^est forks 

 of dead bushes and without the slightest concealment. The eggs 

 were often imbedded in rabbit fur. 



