224 MlLLIGAN, Notes on a Trip to the Wongan Hills, W.A. [ 2n f April 



mens for the spirit tank, I approached them, under cover of a 

 shrub which was distant some 50 yards from them, with the 

 intention of giving them the first barrel whilst they stood and 

 the second when they arose. Imagine my astonishment, when, 

 after raking them with the first barrel, they stood stock still. 

 Acting on impulse, I fired the second barrel into them, and still 

 they stood, notwithstanding that numbers of their companions 

 lay dead and dying beside them. Eventually I had to enlist the 

 services of Mr. Conigrave's dog to chase them around the lake 

 so as to get a shot on the wing. We afterwards waded out into 

 the lake, the water in which did not reach above our ankles, 

 and picked up 17 birds, the result of four barrels. Without the 

 slightest difficulty I could have shot the whole company, as they 

 were so tame and stupid. I regret that the instincts of sport 

 should have so dominated the higher ones of humanity as to 

 cause me to shoot more birds than were necessary for scientific 

 purposes, but as the birds were a welcome addition to our 

 larder, in which tinned meats, local kangaroo, and damper 

 played the most prominent part, the cruelty was to a great 

 extent justifiable. The whole plumage of each of the 17 birds 

 was white, excepting the wings, which were brownish-grey. 

 Not one bird of the 17 shot possessed the chestnut breast-band, 

 or even the faintest indication of it, and none of those who 

 escaped had it, so far as I could see, and I had an excellent 

 opportunity of observing them when stalking them, and 

 subsequently on their passing me. The three birds which we 

 selected for skins were found on examination to be young 

 birds, and I regret now that I did not examine every one 

 that was shot. From what has been said it may be deduced 

 that each bird of the company was a young one, and the 

 neck plumage of those shot, evidenced by bunches of feathers 

 in course of development, supported the deduction. One of 

 our party, who claimed to have an intimate knowledge of the 

 Old World Charadriidce, asserted that it was not unusual for 

 the young broods of the European Stilts to unite themselves 

 into large companies and remain together. If so, it is the 

 first time that such a habit has come under my observation. 

 Singular to say, the bills of many of the birds shot were 

 straight, but others again were slightly upcurved. 



Mr. Conigrave was fortunate enough to obtain, on the second 

 day's exploration at the Hills, an ornithological " godchild " of 

 mine in the form of Calamanthus montanellus. This was shot 

 in one of the dwarf scrubs on the hillside. Owing to the running, 

 secretive habits of the species, specimens were hard to get, 

 although the birds were numerous in every part. Their beautiful, 

 clear, warbling notes, uttered usually whilst perched on the top 

 of a low bush or running along the ground, were always charming. 

 We secured altogether some half a dozen specimens, included in 

 which were two young ones in very much advanced plumage. 



When returning one afternoon to camp, I flushed a pair of 



