Vol. III. 



1903 



Carter, Birds Occurring in the Region of N. W . Cape. 



only sparingly seen, generally in June or July. The only noise I have 

 heard it utter is a snoring sound while flying. 



(18.) Strix delicatula (Lesser Masked Owl). — This is not an uncommon 

 resident in the hollow gums of the inland creeks and recesses of the coast 

 ranges. Three eggs, incubated, were taken on 10th September, 1900. 

 From personal observation this bird utters a screeching noise like that 

 of the European Barn-Owl, of which it is the Australian representative. 

 On two occasions, when travelling stock in the vicinity of the N.W. Cape, 

 I have been startled at night by an extremely harsh, loud, screaming note, 

 which probably emanated from one of the larger Owls. The first time 

 I heard it was in the drought of 1891. While my nerves were still tingling 

 with the unaccustomed sound they were still more startled by the whole 

 of the natives with me rushing up in great excitement, some of them 

 seizing hold of me in their alarm and begging me to shoot the " devil." 

 Subsequent inquiries elicited the information that a very large bird — 

 " sulky fellow " — as big as a Wedge-tailed Eagle, was sometimes seen in 

 the caves of the range, and that it would steal small babies. I leave some 

 future naturalist to decide what species it is. 



(19.) CORVUS CORONOIDES (Crow, Kawk). — The Crow is found every- 

 where, and is very mischievous and bold at dwellings and camps, but wary 

 and difficult to shoot in the open. During droughts they are very de- 

 structive to weakly ewes and lambs, attacking their eyes first. I have 

 seen a Crow standing in front of a lamb temporarily left by its mother, 

 and every time the lamb opened its mouth to bleat the Crow plucked at 

 its tongue. The nest is usually built in the upper twigs of a tree, or on 

 ledges of cliff on the coast. One year a pair built' four nests, one after the 

 other, on the crosspiece of timber mortised on the top of the wool press 

 uprights. The piece was about 3 ft. x 10 in., and 25 feet from ground, 

 but, being quite smooth, afforded no hold for the nests, which were blown 

 down in turn until the birds abandoned the ill-chosen site. Nests were 

 occasionally built in the forked timbers supporting the levers at unused 

 wells. Eggs were taken as early as 28th June, 1900, when a clutch of 

 seven was found in a nest. The latest eggs seen were 9th September, 1898. 



There are undoubtedly two resident .species of Crows — one a large, 

 powerfully made bird with heavy bill ; the other smaller in every way, 

 and is, I think, C. bennetti. I hope to add a note on this later. 



(20.) GRALLINA PICATA (Magpie-Lark, Chillin-birrin). — A pair or more 

 of these birds may be seen at all pools on rivers and creeks. The nest is 

 generally high, and difficult of access. Clutch three to five, usually laid 

 in August or early September, but they have been taken in February 

 after rain. 



(21.) COLLYRIOCINCLA RUFIVENTRIS (Buff-bellied Shrike-Thrush). — This 

 bird was only noted in the rocky ranges, where every gorge or ravine 

 was tenanted by a pair or more, which enlivened the solitude with their 

 beautiful song. Curiously, I never found a nest, but shot recently-fledged 

 young on 27th July. On one occasion a bird was observed hopping in 

 the branches of a tree holding a lizard in its beak and singing lustily at 

 the same time. 



(22.) GRAUCALUS MELANOPS (Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike). — Common on 

 the inland country, where any timber occurred, also to the south and 

 east of N.W. Cape. The eggs are generally laid about the middle of July, 

 two to a clutch. On 14th July, 1901, when climbing to a Whistling 

 Eagle's nest in a white gum tree, my attention was attracted by a pair 

 of Cuckoo-Shrikes seeming much disturbed. Looking down, one of the 



