Vol. III. 



'9°3 



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



The same species was afterwards found to be plentiful in the dense scrubs 

 about the bed of the Gascoyne River, but I now suspect that it may be 

 the Yellow Miner (M . luted). Unfortunately, to the time of writing this 

 (on board C.P.R. steamer Empress of China, en route for Vancouver) I 

 have had no opportunity of comparing skins of the two species. 



(63.) ACANTHOCBLERA RUFIGULARIS (Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater). — This 

 handsome bird was a fairly common winter visitor, both on the coast and 

 inland, and I was somewhat surprised to find many of them in dense man- 

 groves near the North-West Cape, where several old nests, apparently 

 belonging to this species, were seen. I may here mention that mangroves, 

 though most unpleasant ground to work, furnish food supply and shelter 

 to many birds one would not expect to find there, and arc always worth 

 inspecting. 



(64.) DlC^UM HIRUNDINACEUM (Mistletoe-Bird). — This beautiful little 

 creature was occasionally seen, but was not by any means plentiful, no 

 doubt owing to the scarcity of timber. It was most frequently seen on the 

 scrubby bushes about the ranges, and table-land behind, and was also 

 noted on several occasions in mangroves. 



(65.) PARDALOTUS RUBRICATUS (Red-browed Pardalote). — The upper 

 branches of the white gum trees along the creeks were the only situations 

 in which these birds were noted. Their subdued, but sweet little song 

 could be heard wherever these trees grew. But for hearing their song, 

 the presence of these birds would easily be overlooked. 



(66.) HlRUNDO NEOXENA (Swallow). — Fairly common, but never abun- 

 dant. There is no doubt that some of these birds remain all the year. 

 They chose most remarkable building sites. In September, 1894, a pair 

 built their nest on the inside of the ridge board of the shearing shed, a few 

 feet above the sheep in the sweating-pens. Here they sat and reared their 

 young, heedless of the noise and bustle around. Another pair built a nest 

 on the top of three pannikins hung from a nail inside the store. A still 

 more extraordinary site for a nest was behind the broken skirting board 

 of a cabin on the wreck of the A.S.S. Co.'s Perth, which was situated two 

 miles from the mainland on a reef. Whenever the 6-ton cutter used for 

 station work lay at her moorings any length of time, one or two pairs of 

 Swallows would build a nest under the hatches on top of the bulkhead, 

 entering the hold through the slits cut in the hatch covers for insertion of 

 the hand. If the boat sailed when a nest contained eggs or young the old 

 birds would accompany it, in one instance following her a distance of 35 

 miles and back. Nests containing eggs on the boat were noted 4th April, 

 1 90 1, and 17 th September, 1900. Other favourite situations were on 

 ledges of the timber lining the wells used for watering sheep, even when 

 water was being regularly drawn by natives with bucket. 



(67.) CHERAMCECA LEUCOSTERNUM '(Black and White Swallow). — Fairly 

 common at certain times ; possibly migrating. A few pairs bred on high 

 sandstone cliffs on the coast, and it was surprising through what hard 

 material the nesting holes were drilled, as it usually meant a considerable 

 amount of labour with a strong sheath-knife to enlarge the hole sufficiently 

 to admit one's arm. The nesting cavity is large and about 3 feet from 

 the aperture. Nesting material bulky, formed of flat leaves from a species 

 of mulga (" wee-arra," aboriginal) and small twigs. Eggs were laid about 

 the middle of August. On 10th September, 1901, I found two nests built 

 about 2 feet from the ground in the face of a small hummock by the road- 

 side. Apparently both nests contained young birds. 



