Q4 Carter, Birds Occurring in the Region of A. II'. Cape. 



Emu 

 st Oct. 



68.) PETROCHELIDON NIGRICANS (Tree Martin).— This was by far the 

 commonest of the Swallow family, both on the coast and inland, and usually 

 confounded by casual observers with the Fairy Martin (P. ariel). Some- 

 times for days together great numbers would be seen, evidently migrating. 

 The nests were built in hollow spouts of white gums, and were formed of 

 considerable quantities of gum and other flat leaves. Eggs are laid early 

 in August. 



(69.) PETROCHELIDON ARIEL (Fairy Martin). — Not nearly so numerous as 

 the preceding species. A small colony built their nests every year on the 

 face of a shaly cliff on an inland creek, and on several occasions when 

 examining them carpet snakes were found coiled up inside the nests, having 

 swallowed three or four birds as a rule. Eggs are laid about the last week 

 in July. On one occasion several nests were seen built on the trunk of a 

 large white gum tree overhanging a pool. 



(70.) ANTHUS AUSTRALIS (Ground-Lark). — This familiar friend was to be 

 seen everywhere," and might be called a " hardy perennial " as in dry 

 seasons and droughts, when other birds were almost totally absent, it was 

 always in evidence. They appear to lay after rain. Clutch, two or three 

 eggs. 



(7 1 .) ARTAMUS PERSONATUS (Masked Wood-Swallow). — Only two specimens 

 of this species were seen, and they were shot off the wire stay of the flagstaff 

 at the house, 17th February, 1900, after a heavy N.E. gale and dust storm. 



(72.) ARTAMUS CINEREUS (Grey-breasted Wood-Swallow). — A very common 

 winter visitor, occasionally seen in great flocks, soaring and twittering at 

 considerable elevation. The eggs (two or three) are laid about the middle 

 of September. 



(73.) ARTAMUS MINOR (Little Wood-Swallow).— These neat little birds 

 were fairly common about the cliffs and gorges of the ranges, where they 

 bred, but they were seldom noted away from such localities. 



(74.) EMBLEMA PICTA (Painted Finch). — The first bird of this species was 

 seen and shot off a precipitous cliff in the Yardie Creek gorge on 5th April, 

 1898. Subsequently they were observed rather frequently, and are appar- 

 ently extending their range. In October, 1900, several were noted at an 

 inland creek, and in 1901-02 they were fairly common, especially about the 

 ranges, where they were undoubtedly breeding. On 10th December, 1902, 

 numbers were watering at the Yardie pool, and once more than thirty 

 of these beautiful birds perched at the same time on a great boulder, making 

 a charming picture. The crops of all specimens invariably contained small 

 grass seeds. 



(75.) 'Leniopygia CASTANOTIS (Chestnut-eared Finch, Neamoora). — These 

 little Finches were to be seen in numbers everywhere, but generally in the 

 vicinity of water. When the smaller pools dry up, they congregate in great 

 flocks at the larger waterholes, drinking apparently all day long, but con- 

 stantly disturbed by the Hawks dashing through them. They were a great 

 nuisance at the wells, falling into the water in hundreds, and fouling it with 

 their decaying bodies. They breed any time after rain, and rear brood after 

 brood, as long as the good time with grass seeds lasts. The nests may be 

 found in almost any site — in bushes, holes in trees, dead logs, and quite com- 

 monly in the under part of larger birds' nests, such as Eagles, Hawks, and 

 Crows. Mr. G. A. Keartland expresses the opinion that these birds can smell 

 water, and the following note may confirm it. At the shearing shed were two 

 400-gallon tanks with tightly fitting lids. The spouts conducting the rain- 

 water entered the tops of the tanks by circular holes cut out to fit them. One 



