Ramsay, Birds in Upper Clarence River District. \ 



July 



Notes on Birds Observed in the Upper Clarence 

 River District, N.S.W., Sept.^Dec, 1918. 



By J. Ramsay, R.A.O.U., Sydney. 



The old-time gold-mining township of Lionsville is about 70 miles 

 from Grafton and about 40 miles from Tenterfield. It is separated 

 from the latter place by a range of hills attaining a height of, 

 roughly, 2,500 feet above sea-level. Though the bulk of the timber 

 consists of magnificent specimens of ironbark, box, blue and red 

 gums, tallow-woods, and other trees, the steep gulUes provide 

 the necessary shelter for numerous pockets of fairly rich brush, 

 which are still a refuge for many species of " scrub-birds." 



With the intention of studying the habits of some of these, we 

 arrived at Lionsville on the 19th September, 1918, and spent 

 the following day in search of a position suitable for that pur- 

 pose. The season being exceptionally dry, the choice of camping 

 sites was restricted, owing to the absence of water, and our first 

 camp was at " Storm Gully," high up and well among the hills 

 about 8 miles along the old Tenterfield- LionsviUe mail track. 

 Here some interesting species were noted, but the site proved too 

 much in keeping with its name, and the position too elevated. 

 Only one Rifle-Bird was seen, and the continuous cold winds so 

 interfered with bird-life generally that after a stay of three weeks 

 it was decided to move to a lower level. A return was made to 

 Lionsville on the 14th October, and Camp 2 was made on 

 " Slaughter-yard " Creek, about 2\ miles south-west of Lions- 

 ville, adjacent to several small areas of scrub, and amongst 

 magnificent forest timber, in more accessible country than the 

 steep gullies around Camp i. 



All species met with at Storm Gully were present except Atri- 

 chornis and Menura. A fact worth recording was the extra- 

 ordinary height at which many species were building. Nests of 

 Rhipidura alhiscapa and Eopsaltria chrysorrhoa were many times 

 found at considerably over 50 feet, while a .pair of Colluricinda 

 harmonica built at not less than 80 feet from the ground. One 

 Satin-Bird's nest was measured at 115 feet, while, most remark- 

 able of all, two Rifle-Birds' nests were respectively 114 feet 6 inches 

 and 128 feet 9 inches from the ground. In all probabihty 

 experience of bush fires in previous seasons (of which there was 

 plenty of evidence) was the reason for this, and the birds' wisdom 

 was shown when, in November, destructive fires passed over the 

 country for man^■ miles around, burning not only the small forest 

 timber, l)ut, in many cases, eating right through the patches of 

 scrub also. 



Tlu' following are notes on some of the specie's oliser\'e(l : — 



Catheturus lathami. Brusli-Tiukcy. — These birds were 'iairly 

 plentiiul in the more secluded parts of tlie scrub. In tlie steep gullies, 

 if disturbed from lower down the hillsides, their legs quickly take them 

 to safety ; but if frightened from above they ahnost in\ariably run 



