Vol. II, 

 1902 



J A. G. Campbell, Birds of No7-ih-Eastern Victoria. 1 3 



scrub and sapling growth, in which particular place, however, all 

 small fry delight to congregate. A nest of the Chestnut- 

 rumped Tit was found in a cleft of a tree-trunk — a customary 

 site. Several instances were known of the Yellow-rumped Tit 

 {Acaiithiza chrysorrJiod) nesting very early in the season, one 

 being seen with eggs during last week in July, from which the 

 young had flown by the ist of September. Another nest con- 

 tained small young on ist August, 1899. The time elapsing 

 between the completion of the clutch and the young leaving is 

 approximately five weeks. 



The Babbler {^Poniatorhinus temporalis) and the White-browed 

 Babbler {P. superciliosus) are both found in the district, but the 

 latter and smaller species is the commoner. In the winter of 

 1899 it was found nesting during the coldest weather, young 

 ones being seen in July. The Brown Song-Lark {CinclorJiauiphus 

 cruralis) and the Rufous species (C rufescens) are inhabitants of 

 open grass and crop lands. The former put in its appearance 

 on 29th August, 1899, ^"^^ about five or six pairs took up their 

 abode in a paddock of no more than 30 acres. One nest was 

 discovered built into a cattle hoof-mark in the ground. The 

 birds left early in November, and did not return the following 

 season. In fact, only one or two pairs of both species were noticed 

 in the district in that year ( 1900). There must have been a 

 good food supply inland, and the birds, taking advantage of it, 

 were probably remaining behind. 



Besides the common species of Bush-Chat {EpJithianiira albi- 

 jT'ons), the beautiful red-breasted E. tricolor showed itself on 

 nth September, 1899, but only stayed a few hours in the 

 locality of Rutherglen. The flock, passing on, was not 

 seen again. In the spring of 1896 — it is stated by a local 

 person — these little birds arrived in the district in great 

 numbers, and nested among the vines in the open vineyard. 

 The chubby little White-face {Xerophila leiicopsis) is a common 

 bird, and stays the whole year round, appearing to be even 

 more homely than the familiar " Tomtit." It nests under the 

 eaves of buildings and in hollow posts. Two nests were built 

 in the woodheap, and a third among some garden refuse. Nest- 

 ing operations are commenced very early, for on the ist of 

 August one year and on 20th July the next (1900) completed 

 clutches were seen. Two sets taken contained five eggs each. 



The Black-backed Magpie {Gyimior/ujia tibiceri) is the repre- 

 sentative of the genus in the northern part of the colony, and in 

 Rutherglen district it is exceptionally plentiful. The whole 

 year round the birds feed in flocks on the open grass land. 

 This, together with the fact that only two nests were seen in 

 the district during two seasons, leads to the belief that many of 

 them do not nest. One particular flock which came under 

 observation appeared to possess a domain of its own, and any 



