Vol. II. 

 1902 



] A. G. Campbell, Birds of Nor-th-Eastcrn Victoria. I 7 



hollatidice) was noted. Visitors of the parrot tribe are the 

 Lorikeets {Glossopsittacus concinnns, G. porphyrocephahis, and 

 G. pusillus), as well as the Black Cockatoo {CaLyptorhynchus 

 funereus) and the little " Betcherrygah " {Melopsittacus undulatiis). 

 The Cacatua galerita, C roseicapilla, Calopsittacus novce-liollandice, 

 Polytclis barrabmidi, and occasionally P. luelanura, Platycercus 

 flaveolus and P. exiuiius are all found breeding among the red 

 gum trees on the river flats. The Red-backed Parrakeet 

 [Pseplwtus hcsmatonotus) and the Neophema elegans both prefer 

 the more open grass country, while the King Lory {Aprosviictiis 

 cyanopygius) and the Red Lory {Platycercus elegans) are only 

 found visitingthe hills to the south during the winter months. 

 The Ground Dove [Geopelia tranquilla) would hardly be ex- 

 pected in this list, but several pairs were found by the creek at 

 Chiltern. Their loud calls in the early morning conjure up one's 

 visions of the belts of timber bordering a plain in Riverina or the 

 Mallee. The Bronzewing [Phaps chalcoptera) is occasionally 

 flushed in the thicker scrubs. 



In all open grass lands and crop lands three species of Quails, 

 Coturnix pectoralis, Syncecus aiistralis, and TjLniix velox, are in 

 numbers ; here also the stately Bustard {Eupodotis australis) still 

 stalks, not in peace and plenty as in former years, but in fear 

 and trembling, for he knows that the existing game laws are of 

 little protection to him. 



In the ironbark scrub about Chiltern the Painted Quail {Turnix 

 varia) has curiously enough taken up its abode, and its melancholy 

 cooing call might in such a place easily be mistaken for that of 

 a Bronze-winged Pigeon. 



Away back from the Murray, in the undulating country — the 

 fourth group under reference — where sand ridges, clothed with 

 pine and bull-oak, are interspersed with excellent sheep-rearing 

 areas, there are here and there large plains where storm waters 

 collect during wet seasons ; or perhaps at one side there may 

 be a natural depression, with a permanent lagoon of no great 

 depth but of sufficient attraction to induce colonies of the 

 beautiful Marsh Tern {Hydrochelidon hybrida) to take up their 

 quarters thereon. Their nests, built of masses of water weed, 

 are found floating on the surface, but on iith October, 1900, 

 when a visit was paid to a rookery, full clutches of eggs had not 

 yet been laid. The birds, in silvery plumage, are continually 

 circling about after the manner of Swallows. Along the 

 margins of these lagoons, or in patches where the water on sub- 

 siding leaves tiny mud islets, there are found the eggs of the 

 White-headed Stilt {Hiinantopus leucocephalus), the owners of 

 which fly round excitedly, uttering their peculiar puppy-like 

 cries, and finally alight a little way off, standing in water as 

 deep as their long legs will allow. These islets provide a suit- 

 able resting-place also for the Spur-winged Plover {Lobivanellus 

 lobatiis), and are also the feeding-grounds of hundreds of " Flock 



