Vol. II. 

 1902 



1 MiLLiGAN, Field Observations on W. Australian Birds. J J 



descended, after which the sun shone strongly. After waiting some twenty- 

 hve minutes one of the birds put in an appearance at the top of the mound, 

 from which he keenly surveyed the immediate surroundings. Evidently 

 satisfied that there was no lurking danger, he began his work. His energies 

 appeared to be first directed towards filling the centre of the crater. This he 

 did by standing on the outer rim of the crater, with his tail turned towards 

 it, and throwing the soil therefrom into the centre, the earth being seized by 

 one claw and thrown backwards into the middle of the crater. The seizing 

 and throwing were performed very rapidly, and one foot or leg only made 

 use of at a time. When this became tired the other one was used, the bird 

 in the meantime performing a circuit round the rim of the nest. The soil 

 composing the rim having been thus used for building up the centre into an 

 apex naturally left a circular cavity. This the bird filled by walking a little 

 lower down and throwing up the soil in a similar manner. This displace- 

 ment again caused unevenness in the place from which the last soil had 

 been cast up. This was remedied by soil being thrown up from the base. 

 After the structure had been thus built up the bird walked around the 

 inclined slope of the mound, adjusting here and levelling there small portions 

 which were out of plumb, so to speak. Having completed this to its satis- 

 faction, and given a final scan, the bird walked leisurely away down the 

 opposed incline of the mound into the scrub. The operation of rebuilding 

 occupied about 20 minutes. The bird, at intervals, would lift its neck and 

 head to its full height and listen and watch. During my observations I 

 became so cramped that I could only with difficulty and pain arise. I had 

 been 45 minutes in the one position, resting upon my right arm, but I dared 

 not move lest I alarmed the bird. To accentuate matters the persistent 

 bush flies sought the corners of my eyes, and the small ants, which abounded, 

 crept up iny shirtsleeves in scores ; and, to further increase my torments, if such 

 were necessary, the grasshoppers alighted on niy supporting hand and nipped 

 the skin. These I had to suffer, for one single movement of mine would have 

 alarmed the wary bird. At times, too, the continual focussing of the sight 

 upon the one object produced in me a mild form of mesmerism, and bird 

 and mound would momentarily vanish. 



From the rapid and persevering manner in which the bird seized and cast 

 up the soil I am of opinion that the wings are not used in the process of 

 mound-building. 



Exploration of the Norths West Cape. 



By Thomas Carter. 



We left Point Cloates station on loth June in buckboard 

 buggy, with provisions (meat excepted) for three weeks, and 

 bucket, rope, and shovel for procuring water. The morning was 

 clear and bright, with a stiff north-east gale blowing, but when 

 we had dinner at the N. paddock fence, 15 miles on the road, 

 clouds began to rise from seawards. The road is level, but 

 heavy at times, the coast sandhills lying on our left and the 

 rocky range on our right, getting higher as we go north. Not 

 many birds are to be seen on this part of the journey, as the 

 country is open grass or soft spinifex. An occasional Little 

 Quail or Ground-Lark is flushed, and now and again a Spotted 

 Harrier sails past, out of gunshot, beating the ground for lizards. 

 We called in at a sand well at 4 p.m. to get water, and arrived 

 at the mouth of the Yardie Creek at sundown, where we had 



