Vol 

 1902 



1^1 MiLLiGAN, FtWd Observations o?i IV. Australian Birds. 73 



showed less shyness — due, I think, to the immediate presence of its nest or 

 young. Subsequently we found near the locality a vacated grass nest close 

 to the ground, and on examining the lining feathers we found several 

 feathers resembling in colour and shape those of the bird we had shot. 



Ephthianura ALBIFRONS (White-fronted Chat). — On my first arrival at 

 Ellensbrook homestead these birds, which had been absent for some time, 

 were described to me. Before leaving there, and whilst lying awake one 

 morning at daylight, I heard what I thought their call. I at once got up 

 and went to the oozy black springs near the homestead and saw a pair of 

 birds. On my second visit, at Christmas time, they were there in great 

 numbers. 



Gymnorhina dorsalis (Long-billed Magpie). — I only saw a pair of 

 these birds in the locality on the first trip, and four (apparently that year's 

 offspring added) on my second trip. I learned that a pair was seen for the 

 first time in the neighbourhood the year previous. The birds were not 

 familiar with their surroundings, and very shy, and would not permit of close 

 observation. Thirty miles northwards hundreds may be seen in the open 

 country. 



Eopsaltria georgiana (Grey-breasted Shrike-Robin). — Many of these 

 were observed. It is more than probable that they had finished nesting, as 

 I had seen fully fledged young at Perth in the late winter. 



Eopsaltria gularis (White-breasted Shrike-Robin). — Mr. Campbell, 

 in the account of his trip to Western Australia, speaks of these birds as if 

 they were easy of observation. My experience is the reverse. In my first 

 trip I only saw two birds, only one of which I secured, and that only with 

 the greatest difficulty, owing, firstly, to their inhabiting the dense thickets 

 on the coastal brooks, and, secondly, their very shy disposition. The one 

 I secured cost me hours of travail. When the bird was pressed hard in 

 pursuit it uttered a series of most cat-like calls, and at first I was not certain 

 that the author of them was a bird. The notes, which were uttered with 

 great distinctness and much vigour, resembled " kawhow kawhow whowah 

 whow." Near the gape of the specimen I secured a large tick was attached, 

 and which, even with a fairly strong pressure of the blade of my pocket- 

 knife, I could not detach. 



Pachycephala OCCIDENTALIS (Western Thickhead). — These were, 

 comparatively speaking, numerous in the karri and red gum belts. They 

 had not begun to nest at the time of my first visit. 



Climacteris rufa (Rufous Tree-Creeper). — I secured one specimen and 

 saw several others on my first visit. The colour of the plumage harmonizes 

 not only with the rufous-coloured bark of the jarrah trees but also with the 

 ironstone gravel country upon which the same trees grow. These birds are 

 only found in the jarrah forests. 



SiTTELLA PILEATA (Black-capped Tree-Runner). — I sawseveral companies 

 of these birds on the first trip, and as they were in companies I assumed 

 they had not begun to nest. 



ACANTHORHYNCHUS SUPERCILIOSUS (White-browed Spine-bill).— These 

 birds were numerous in the banksia and tea-tree country. I did not 

 discover any nests in October ; probably they had nested, for I had already 

 observed nests and young near Perth in early September. 



ZOSTEROPS GOULDli (Green-backed White-eye). — These birds were 

 numerous everywhere. I observed several young ones fully fledged. 



Melithreptus chloropsis (Western White-naped Honey-eater.) — 

 These birds, in common with the Spotted Pardalotes, occupied the karri 

 forests, which they never appear to leave. 



Ptilotis SONORA (Singing Honey-eater).— Although this is one of the 

 most common birds about Perth, they were very rare in the country 



