1 6 A. G. Campbell, Birds of North-Eastcm ]^ictoria. [istjuly 



left just about the New Year. The Spine-tailed Swift 

 {ChcEtura Lcmdacuta) pays its usual visit in February and 

 March, probably on returning northward.- A flock was more 

 than once observed towards evening going through curious 

 circular evolutions high up in the air; at the same time a 

 continuous chirping was plainly heard. In dull weather they 

 fly very close to the ground. 



The Ground-Lark {Anthus australis) and the Bush-Lark 

 {Mh-afra horsfieldi) zxt. readily noted; so also are the' Wood- 

 Swallows {ArtaiHjts sordidus, A. siipeiciliosus, A. tersoiiatus, and 

 A. Iciicogaster), the last-named being found exclusively along the 

 watercourses. The Finches are represented by Staganopleura 

 guttata and jEgintlia temporalis. l"he Dollar-Bird {Eurystojiius 

 australis), on the Murray, is found at almost its southernmost 

 limit. In some hole in the large red gum trees it lays its eggs, 

 but the mate goes straight away on the approach of danger, and 

 the nesting hollow is difficult to locate. The Bee-eater (Merops 

 ornatus) is another beautiful bird ; it is found nesting about most 

 of the sand ridges, drilling a long tunnel into the side of a ditch 

 or road cutting, or even into a mere mound a few inches in 

 height. After following the passage for 3 or even 6 feet, the four 

 white eggs are reached lying on the bare sand in the chamber. 

 Strewn about are nearly always found the wing-cases, legs, 

 and other hard parts of beetles, particularly cockchafers, the 

 remains probably of food brought to the sitting bird. The Bee- 

 eaters arrived in the district on 8th October and on 2nd October 

 in the years 1899 ^"^ 1900 respectively, and the latest date on 

 which they were seen was 22nd April. The Laughing Jackass 

 {Dacelo oigas) is a useful member of the community, for, with the 

 Magpie, it is often found about stackyards catching mice. 

 Particularly during threshing and chaffcutting the birds congre- 

 gate, and, showing little fear of man, pounce down on the mice 

 disturbed from cover. One Jackass met with an unfortunate 

 reward, for it was found one day hanging from the top of a post, 

 where its leg had been caught by loose wire, and some Magpies, 

 following the strange but common plan in nature, were 

 endeavouring to end the poor bird's life. The Sacred King- 

 fisher {Halcyon sanctus) is a summer visitor, while the Blue 

 Kingfisher {Alcyone astirea) is found along the river and its 

 backwaters. 



Whether the Pallid Cuckoo {Cucuhis pallidus) remains during 

 the winter is doubtful. However, a bird was seen during the 

 second week in June, 1899, ^^^ ^^'^^ ^^^^ whistle heard on ist 

 July. The Fan-tailed Cuckoo {Caconianiis flabelliformis), the 

 Bronze {CJialcococcyx plagosns), and the Narrow-billed Bronze 

 {C. basalis) all arrive by September. The Square-tailed Cuckoo 

 {C. variolostcs) was found in one particular spot at Chiltern, and 

 one solitary specimen of the Channel-bill {Scyt/uops novcB- 



