76 MiLLIGAN, Field Observatiotrs on IV. Australiati Birds. L J 



Emu 

 Oct. 



^GIALITIS RUFICAPILLA (Red-capped Dottrel). — I secured several of 

 these on the sea beach. 



^GIALITIS CUCULLATA (Hooded Dottrel). —On my first trip I shot 

 several of these birds, which, comparatively speaking, were numerous. 

 Whilst searching for the small " cowries " in the line of shells above high- 

 water mark, my companion discovered three eggs placed in a depression on 

 the beach. On my second trip I discovered, on the beach at Ellensbrook, 

 two young ones concealed in a depression in the sand impressed by a cow's 

 foot. The parent had previously adopted the characteristic ruse of feigning 

 to be grievously wounded. I subsequently found what probably was the 

 nest, if it can be so called, with an addled egg. The &%% was placed in a 

 similar depression, but surrounded with numbers of broken sea-shells, which 

 evidently had been collected. 



Larus NOV^-HOLi.ANDlyE (Silver Gull). — In the ledges of rock at the 

 the base of the Pandion's nest at Cape Mentelle these birds were nesting. 

 Some of the nesting-places contained fully feathered young, others young 

 in a less advanced stage, and others again eggs. This was in the first week 

 of October. 



NOTOPHOYX NOV^-HOLLANDI/E (White-fronted Heron). — Single birds 

 were observed on one or two occasions on the seaboard. 



Phalacroc'orax CARBO (Black Cormorant). — Occasionally a bird could 

 be observed perched on the granite boulders near the surf 



Phalacrocorax melanoleucus (Little Cormorant). — These birds were 

 seen occasionally on the coast. Colonies of them, some six weeks ago, were 

 laying eggs on some rocky islets a short distance south from Fremantle. I 

 have seen scores of nests containing young in the inland bulrush swamps 

 during Christmas time, and on one occasion a Darter's nest containing 

 young was in the breeding colony. 



Casarca tadernoides (Shieldrake).— I observed several of these on a 

 sand spit near Cape Mentelle. These were the only ducks I saw on either 

 visit. 



LiPOA OCELLATA (Mallee Fowl). — Although I had the assistance of both 

 " whites " and " blacks " on my first trip I was unsuccessful in discovering a 

 mound in use. Several disused or wholly abandoned ones were seen in the 

 " stinkwoods." On my second trip, at Christmas time, I was more successful, 

 one being found by the manager of the farm in the Ngoocardup "stink- 

 woods." It was situated on the skirt of the scrub, just where the base of 

 the hill touched the lower ground upon which the scrubs grew. The mound 

 was clear of any runnel or watercourse. All around the base of the mound 

 the soft sand had been excavated by the birds, leaving the roots of the 

 adjacent shrubs bare. The morning (about 10 a.m.) being hot, the top of 

 the mound had been " saucered." We dug away the top soil and debris 

 without meeting with any eggs, but as after events proved they were there, 

 and we had not dug deep enough into the fermenting debris. The measure- 

 ments taken at the time were, approximately, 1 5 feet over all and 54 feet in 

 circumference at its lower but irregular base. 



I determined to make the next visit alone, in the hopes of making obser- 

 vations of the bird at work. I concluded that the mound contained eggs, or 

 that eggs were about to be deposited, otherwise the nest would not have 

 been " saucered." I thei'efore chose a morning some two days later, which 

 had the appearance of rain, as I surmised the birds would probably be 

 putting an apex on the central depression at the top. My surmise proved 

 to be correct. I reached the mound shortly after 8 o'clock, and after 

 carefully examining it I found that I had disturbed the bird in its 

 labours. I determined to wait, and having ascertained the direction from 

 which a slight breeze was blowing I concealed myself in the adjacent under- 

 growth higher up the hill and awaited events. A light, warm shower of rain 



