38 CARTER, Birds Occurring in Ike Region of N.W. Cape. I is f "V^, 



common species both on the coast and inland, being most numerous in 

 winter, when their loud, cheerful song could be heard everywhere. Breeding 

 season, June-September. 



(39.) ClNCLORHAMPHUS RUFESCENS (Rufous Song-Lark). — Not quite so 

 numerous as the preceding species, and not noted on the coast. Four 

 eggs is the clutch; eggs were found from 1st June to 2nd August. 



(40.) CALAMANTHUS CAMPESTRIS (Field-Wren, Nee-an-tee). — A common 

 resident on the coast, but not noted any distance inland. It has a cheerful 

 song, uttered from the topmost twig of low scrub, but the birds are shy, 

 and disappear on the least alarm. They lay at any season after rain, the 

 eggs (four to clutch) having been taken in various months. 



Some South- Western Notes (Oct., 1902— Jan., 1903). 



By Thomas Carter. 



On that portion of the Vasse River (W.A.) which is navigable 

 for rowing boats above the town (a distance of about \\ miles), 

 six nests of Rhipidura tricolor (Black and White Fantail) were 

 observed on 31st October, containing eggs or young birds. The 

 nests were either on snags projecting out of the water, or in 

 bushes overhanging the river. 



Anas superciliosus (Black Duck) were abundant and tame, 

 with broods of various-sized young. They would often allow 

 a boat to row past without taking flight. These birds have 

 increased very much since the reserve for native game was 

 declared. 



14th November. — A pair of Casarca tadornoides (Shieldrake) 

 were on the river close to the town, with a brood of eight young 

 in down. 



There were a few pairs of Sisura inquieta (Restless Fly-catcher) 

 about the river banks, which had evidently reared their young. 



Anthus australis (Ground-Lark) had eggs, 10th November. 



Zosterops gouldi (Green-backed White-eye), 22nd November, 

 three fresh eggs. 



Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (Yellow-rumped Tit). — Fresh eggs up 

 to 4th December, and Rhipidura tricolor 9th December. 



Ptilotis sonora (Singing Honey-eater), 11th December; Par- 

 dalotus striatus (Red-tipped Pardalote) was noted feeding young 

 in nest same day 



1 6th December. — A pair of Mclithreptus chloropsis (Western 

 White-naped Honey-eater) was feeding a fledged Pallid Cuckoo, 

 and a short distance away a pair of Ptilotis sonora was similarly 

 engaged. Mr. A. J. Campbell's list of birds* acting as hosts for 

 the Pallid Cuckoo does not include the former bird. 



A gentleman who takes an interest in bird life having asked 

 me to identify a bird that occurred in the open flats to the east 

 of Vasse, near the Darling Range, we rode out one day, and 



* " Nests and Eggs," p. 565. 



