Vol. III. 

 1904 



Carter, Birds Occurring in the Region of N.W. Cape. 177 



sparingly on the beach in summer. Specimens were shot as late as 27th 

 May, 1898. 22nd October was the earliest noted date of arrival. There 

 appeared to be two varieites — one of large, solitary birds, and a second of 

 smaller birds that went in flocks (probably L. limosd). 



(132.) HECTERACTITIS BREVIPES (Grey-rumped Sandpiper). — Fairly 

 numerous on the coast in summer from November to May, sometimes seen 

 in considerable flocks, as eight were once secured at one discharge of the 

 gun. One specimen was shot 6th June, 1899, out of a small flock feeding 

 in mangroves. 



(133.) TRINGOIDES HYPOLEUCUS (Common Sandpiper). — Only one speci- 

 men was seen, and shot, on beach, 30th October, 1901. 



(1 34.) Glottis glottoides (Greenshank). — A scarce bird. One specimen 

 was shot at the Yardie Creek, 24th January, 1898, and odd birds seen in 

 mangroves near North-West Cape. They are very shy and difficult to 

 approach. 



(135.) CALIDRIS ARENARIA (Sanderling). — A quite common bird on the 

 beach, where they may be seen almost any time of the year, feeding generally 

 with Turn-stones and Little Stints. I have seen and shot many specimens 

 in June and July, so it is evident they do not all leave to breed. Probably 

 immature birds often remain. 



(136.) LlMONITES RUFICOLLIS (Little Stint). — A very common beach bird, 

 and may be seen any month of the year, but most numerously in the 

 summer. 



(137.) Heteropygia acuminata (Sharp-tailed Stint). — Mostly seen in 

 mangroves about the North-West Cape in the summer months, but a few 

 birds were seen at the flooded salt-marsh south of Point Cloates in June, 

 1900. 



Observations on the Western Gymnorhinae. 



(With Plate.) 



By Alex. Wm. Milligan 



{Hon. Ornithologist, Perth Museum, W.A.) 



THERE are two questions affecting our Magpies which I should 

 like to ask and shall endeavour to answer. The first is, " Why 

 are the bills of the Western species longer and more narrow than 

 those of the Eastern ones ? " The second is, " Why should there 

 be (as there undoubtedly is) an absence of ' hilarity of song ' as 

 compared with their Eastern congeners ? " The first question I 

 will endeavour to answer by advancing two theories, namely — 

 (a) the depth of food supplies, and (6) attrition. In support of 

 the first theory let me say that the heat of the Western Australian 

 summer season, and the length, in point of time, of it, are notorious, 

 as also are the open sandy nature, generally, of the soil and the 

 almost entire absence of tracts or swards of indigenous grasses. 

 By reason of the heat beating upon the open soil for a continuous 

 and lengthened period, and without the natural protection of the 

 latter by such swards, grubs, worms, and the lower forms of life, 

 upon which the birds principally subsist, naturally seek lower 

 levels in the soil. To follow these forms, the birds would of 



