Vol. II. 1 j^^ Q Campbell, Birds of North-Eastern Victoria, I I 



1902 _j 1 ^ 



and will audaciously come into trees alongside a dwelling in 

 search of prey. One day a Black Falcon {F. subniger) was 

 observed to make a tremendous swoop, from some distance in 

 the air, and neatly pick up a Sparrow about to enter a hedge. 



The Brown Hawk {Hieracidea orientalis) and the Kestrel 

 {Cerchnets cencJiroides) are common. It is very remarkable 

 sometimes how quickly small birds become aware of the 

 presence of a bird of prey, even before it is in sight. Very 

 often this is the result of hearing the alarm notes of other 

 birds from some distance, when immediately the signal is carried 

 on, and well understood by all feathered creatures around. 



The Raven {Cor^one australis) is, as elsewhere, a prying and 

 cunning customer, picking up all offal and refuse, but never on 

 any account being led into an ambush. The Grey Crow-Shrike 

 {Strepera auicicaiidata) and the smaller Pied Crow-Shrike 

 {S. oraciilind) are both winter visitors, coming from the ranges 

 in the south, where they nest. The Pied sometimes appears in 

 great numbers. A flock of several scores arrived about May ( 1900). 

 and stayed for some time before moving on to another portion of 

 the district. They are exceedingly noisy birds, and always attract 

 attention by their curious manner of following one another in a 

 long line when flying. Being insectivorous, such a company must 

 do an immense amount of good in the district where they sojourn. 

 The White-winged Chough {Corcorax melaJiorJiainphus), as well as 

 the Grey Jumper {Struthidea cinered), are only met with in pine 

 ridges across the river. Their habits are very similar in that they 

 always go in companies and jump about the trees in a lively 

 manner. In the nesting season they build "co-operative" mud 

 nests. The Magpie Lark [Grallina picatd) and the Shrike- 

 Thrush {Collyriocincla Jiarinonicd) need barely a mention, for 

 they are cosmopolitan. The Oriole {Orioliis viridus) and the 

 Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike {Graucalus ineianops) are also present. 

 The smaller Graiicalus luentalis is only seen near the river. 

 Two nests were found, both in trees growing within a few feet ot 

 the water's edge. The White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater 

 {Lalage tricolor) is the rowdy songster found among the pines 

 and on the box tree flats. 



The Flame-breasted Robin (Petrara phocniced) comes thus far 

 inland during its winter visit from Tasmania or the uplands, 

 arriving about end of March and leaving again early in Septem- 

 ber. The Scarlet-breasted Robin {P. leggii) is not often seen, 

 its place being taken by the pretty little Red-capped species 

 {P. goodenovi). A pair of these Robins built continually in 

 certain fruit trees, one nest in 1899 having eggs as late as 13th 

 January, and at the end of the following winter the little birds 

 recommenced nesting operations in a prickly acacia hedge close 

 by, because there were yet no leaves on the fruit trees ; two eggs 

 were laid by 31st July. 



