82 Carter, Exploration of NortJi-West Cape. listOct- 



head silently. This looked promising, but on swinging myself to 

 the nest it was without eggs, though apparently ready,being neatly 

 lined with fresh gum leaves. It was a large structure, fully 6 feet 

 in diameter and 4 feet in depth, and was only 10 feet from the 

 ground. On previous instances I have noted both this bird and 

 the Wedge-tailed Eagle sitting on empty nests. Crossing a 

 stony creek, near where I lost the strange bird in the morning, 

 my attention was called by a strange loud song, somewhat 

 resembling that of the Red-capped Robin in its grating sound. 

 I was lucky enough to secure the bird, and it was a Golden- 

 backed Honey-eater {MelitJirepttis Icetior) — so far, 1 believe, a 

 farthest south and west record. The naked skin over the eye 

 was gamboge-yellow in front, emerald green posteriorly, but 

 this faded to a dull purple soon after death. The following day 

 saw us again at the same spot, when another specimen was pro- 

 cured, a male, apparently breeding, as was the first. The 

 yellow of the rump on both birds was almost as bright as on the 

 nape of the neck. About six of these birds were seen, but they 

 were very shy. 



Next day we decided to spell the horses, and had a long walk 

 through more open timbered country, with large spinifex growth. 

 The native was sure we should find Emu nests there, but we saw 

 no birds or tracks. Pallid Cuckoos {C. paliidtis) were numerous, 

 and Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrikes {Graucalus melanops) in some 

 numbers. Returning a fine kangaroo fell to the rifle, to 

 replenish the larder, which was getting low again. The after- 

 noon we spent in exploring the dense thicket round the water. 

 Another Osprey's nest was found, in the topmost twigs of a white 

 gum. They were so thin and looked so brittle we decided the 

 nest was, like the others, empty. It is the first Osprey's nest 

 I have found that was not easy of access. The thicket yielded 

 nothing new. A beautiful Malnriis assiniilis was secured, and 

 Wedge-bills, Spiny-cheeked Honey-eaters, and Western Fan- 

 tails noted. We paid another visit to the Eagle's nest the 

 following day, but it still contained no eggs. On watering at 

 the pool the native said he saw a Duck behind a mangrove 

 bush. Thinking there might be more, I crawled cautiously up 

 and could see a bird in the water through the leaves, but it 

 looked very small. However, I fired, and picked up an un- 

 unfortunate Black-throated Grebe. 



Next day we packed up for our return journey. Apparently 

 the same flock of Cockatoos was basking about the same spot 

 on the beach again, and we found two Pied Oyster-catchers' 

 nests (hollows in sand), close together, empty. The question 

 arises, do these birds make several nests, as does the English 

 Lapwing, whose antics are described by Mr. Selous in an article 

 in The Zoologist for last April .'' Soon after we were on the west 

 side of Vlaming Head three big dingoes came galloping 

 straight for the buggy. I hastily got out with the rifle, but the 



