Vol 

 190 



^^'l MiLLIGAN, Field Observatio?is on W. Australia7i Birds. 75 



aborigines, " the resort of the Cowara," " Cowara " meaning the " Purple- 

 crowned Lorikeet." 



Calyptorhynchus baudini (White-tailed Cockatoo). — Great flocks ot 

 these birds were observed on each visit. 



Calyptorhynchus stellatus (Red-tailed Cockatoo). — These birds 

 were not present on my first visit. From local sources I learned that they 

 bred in the forests farther inland and came towards the coast country about 

 Christmas time. On the occasion of my second visit, at that period of the 

 year, I saw two or three pairs. 



Platycercus ICTEROTIS (Yellow-cheeked Parrakeet). — This bird is 

 called the " Rosella " in Western Australia. I saw many of them on my 

 first visit, principally in the karri forests. I was fortunate one day in seeing 

 a veritable battle royal between two pairs of birds. One pair had selected a 

 spout in a high karri tree as a suitable place for nesting. Another pair in 

 search of such a place sought to occupy the selected home, which naturally 

 was highly resented by the lawful owners. At a given signal, or apparently 

 so, the male and female bird of each pair flew straight at the other, and, 

 meeting in mid-air, fought with great fury, using beaks, wings, and feet, 

 and clamouring greatly. When exhausted each pair returned to its tree. 

 After a short respite the engagement was renewed with equal fury and noise, 

 but temporary exhaustion resulted in another rest. After a series of these 

 engagements and restful intervals the intending dispossessors drew off, or 

 more correctly speaking, flew off, vanquished, which gave occasion for much 

 more clamour and psittacine thanksgiving by the victors. 



PorphyrOCEPHALUS SPURIUS (Rep-capped Parrakeet). — I observed 

 several pairs of these birds, but only in the red gum trees. Whilst sitting at 

 lunch one day during my first visit, under the grateful shade of a red gum tree, 

 I was struck on the head by one of its cup-shaped seed capsules. Attributing 

 the falling to natural causes I paid no further attention to the circumstance 

 until I was struck with a second and third capsule. Examining them I 

 found they had been freshly gnawed close to the stem. After closely 

 scanning the thick foliage at the top of the tree I could just see through the 

 very thick leaves the form of a bird. A well-directed shot secured for me a 

 very handsome male bird of this species. 



Barnardius SEMiTORQUATUS (Yellow-collared Parrakeet). — These birds 

 were very abundant everywhere. They and the Leaden Crow-Shrikes were 

 more in evidence in the coastal hills and scrubs than any other birds. 

 Within an oblong area of, say, three miles by one, there must have been 

 hundreds of thousands of them. Some early birds were just beginning to 

 nest. A lipped hole in a karri tree is usually chosen for the purpose. On 

 the occasion of my second visit the birds had evidently retired into the 

 forests, for they were not nearly so numerous on the coast. 



Phaps ELEGANS (Brush Bronze-wing). — I flushed many of these birds in 

 the sage scrubs during each visit. I regret to say that on many occasions 

 my sporting instincts asserted themselves, and I could not restrain myself 

 from wing shots. I learned locally that the birds nest about Christmas 

 time. 



TURNix VARIA (Painted Quail). — On my first visit my dog flushed a 

 bevy of four on a limestone hill overlooking the sea. Not having my 

 " HoUis " with me I used the specimen gun on the last bird. The shot 

 charge being only No. 10 shot the bird got away, but my dog subsequently 

 secured and retrieved it. It proved to be that year's bird. I find these so- 

 called Quail very early breeders, having obtained young ones as early as 

 August. 



BURHINUS GRALLARIUS (Stone Plover). — These creatures frequently 

 visited the homestead paddocks at night, as evidenced by their weird call. 

 I did not, however, see any. 



