Vol. III. 

 1903 



HlLL, Some Notes from Brook/on, W.A. I OS 



The country in this district consists largely of granite, great 

 boulders of which occur everywhere, the largest of these being 

 known as the " Nine-acre Rock." This name is, however, mis- 

 leading, as the block must measure about a quarter of a mile each 

 way, and so would cover nearer forty acres than nine. I was 

 struck by the great size of the crystals of spar in some of these 

 blocks. The granite country, as elsewhere, is fairly open, with 

 tall trees, and here are found the larger birds, such as Hawks, 

 Magpies, Squeakers {Strepera), &c. Running from north-west to 

 south-east across the granite is a curious succession of low ridges 

 of gravel (ironstone), with a steep cliff face towards the south, 

 and the long slope on the northerly side. The steep faces are 

 generally bare of vegetation, while the long slope is covered with 

 a densely-growing scrub of hakeas and honey-bearing bushes. 

 This scrub is the home of numerous tamma, kangaroo-rats, and 

 kangaroos, and it contains an immense variety of small birds, 

 chiefly Honey-eaters and Wrens. The gullies between the gravel 

 ridges have a scrub of their own, not so dense as that on the slopes, 

 and consisting mostly of box poison, which is also found in the 

 granite country. 



My list of birds is not very long, but the weather was very bad 

 for bird- work during half of my stay, otherwise I believe I could 

 have doubled the number observed in the time. 



EAGLE {Uroa'etus audax). — Saw three individuals myself, and one other 

 was reported. Probably a single pair. On two other occasions I saw 

 fair-sized Hawks in the distance. 



RAVEN {Corone australis). — Was far from common. Heard the cry 

 several times, but only saw one bird. 



CROW-SHRIKE, " Squeaker " {Strepera plumbed). — Was fairly plentiful on 

 the granite, but did not occur near the gravel ridges. A wary bird (see 

 note under " Restless Flycatcher "). The cry somewhat resembles that of 

 the " Twenty-eight " Parrakeet. 



SHRIKE-THRUSH {Collyriocincla rufiventris). — Very abundant everywhere. 

 Some individuals were very shy and difficult to approach, while others were 

 the reverse. Have several distinct songs, one of which is loud and musical 

 but hardly so melodious as that of C. harmonica of eastern fame. 



BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE, " Blue Pigeon " {Graucalus melanops). — 

 Saw only an occasional bird, and always in the granite. 



Lesser Brown Flycatcher {Microeca assimilis). — Not uncommon. 



RED-CAPPED ROBIN {Petrceca goodenovi). — Frequent in the granite country 

 and generally away from the denser scrub. 



HOODED ROBIN {Petrceca bicolor). — Only saw a single specimen. 



SOUTHERN Fly-EATER {Pseudogerygone culicivora). — Heard this bird calling 

 once or twice, but did not see it. 



WREN {M alurus , sp.). — Very plentiful in the thickest scrub on the gravel 

 ridges, but, though they were always to be heard, it was difficult to get a 

 sight of one. Only saw one or two specimens after long waiting, and did 

 not succeed in procuring a skin. As those I saw were all hens, I cannot 



