^°i9-^^] \\'HITLOCK, Notes from Nullarbor Plain. 179 



Captain White does not record this species from the South 

 AustraHan side of the plain. Apparently its range does not ex- 

 tend so far east in these latitudes. 



The Crested Bell-Bird (Orcoica </iitturalis) was found through- 

 out the country examined, but on the plains it was naturally con- 

 fined to the dongas. At Naretha I observed a number of nests. 

 Some contained eggs of a decided bluish tinge. I saw ho hairy 

 caterpillars in any nest, but moths and butterliies (Lepidoptera), 

 as regards species, are poorly represented on the plain. 



The W'edgebill {Sphenostoma cristatum) was far less common 

 than the Bell-bird, and seldom found away from the dongas. I 

 observed a nest at Xaretha in a small acacia, the sitting bird 

 being visible some distance away. A family party in a donga at 

 Haig were inquisitively watching me eat an orange, as I sat dur- 

 ing a heavy squall under the lee of a large blue bush. A strong 

 gale was blowing at the time. When on the ground under a 

 bush, the W'edgebill is not unlike a Grass-Wren (DiaphoriUas), 

 a species I did not meet with during the trip. 



Two species of Robin were met with, vis , the Hooded {Mel- 

 anodryas cucullata) and Red-capped {Petroica goodenovii). 

 The latter was comparatively rare, but the Hooded Robin was 

 especially common around Xaretha. It was also very frequent 

 on the plain wherever tree or bush was growing. I saw a few^ 

 nests from which the young had flown. 



Captain White records the Buff-bellied Shrike-Thrush (Col- 

 luricincla riifiventris) from the eastern side of the plain. I did 

 not meet with this species anywhere on the plain proper, so, if 

 its range is continuous, it must be found along the coast line of* 

 the Great Bight. It was breeding at Naretha. I found nests in 

 the clumps of Casuarinas. One containing three pretty eggs was 

 about twelve feet from the ground, and instead of being built of 

 strips of soft bark, was constrvicted of dried grasses. The cup 

 was very deep, only the tail of the sitting bird being visible from 

 below. 



In the interior the female of this species has no buff eyebrow, 

 and the loral spot of the male is not so distinct as in our south 

 coastal birds. I have often wondered if it is generally known 

 that both sexes sing. I am not able to distinguish the song of 

 the male from that of the female. 



Whistlers (Pachycephala) w-ere very rare throughout the 

 country examined. Mr. Gibson records the W'estern Whistler 

 (P. occidentalis), but I did not meet with the latter. At Naretha 

 a bird was singing in a donga with a voice like that of a' Shrike- 

 Thrush, but there was sufficient difference in the song to attract 

 my attention. 



I followed the songster from bush to bush, without being able 

 to identify it. There was a strong wind blowing at the time, 

 and eventually I fired at a bird resembling the songster. I picked 

 up a bird new to me, but it did not look mature. I heard the 

 bird I had followed singing again; this time behind me. I re- 



