Vol. II. 

 1902 



] Carter, Exploration of North- West Cape. 8'3 



native said — " Wait a little, they will come close." This they 

 did, getting within 80 yards, when, getting our scent, they 

 turned and bounded off through the spinifex, apparently 

 escaping the two bullets sent after them. However, we camped 

 not far away, and left some kangaroo for them. Several wild 

 cats (domestic variety) were seen about here, and no doubt they 

 account for the destruction of many small birds. Next day a 

 small bird fluttered out of a tuft of samphire close to the wheel. 

 The native was sure it was a " brown one " — as I have taught 

 him to distinguish the Desert-Bird from other small varieties. 

 Getting out I found a nest built in a hollow in the ground, but 

 it was domed, and the three eggs seemed to me to be those of 

 the Field-Wren. However, there is nothing like being sure, so 

 the buggy was sent on a little and I lay down. It was an 

 hour before the bird showed itself on a low bush some 50 

 yards distant, but it carried its tail erect. A minute later it 

 appeared at the nest, having crept unobserved through the 

 surrounding vegetation. A charge of dust shot proved it to be 

 a Field-Wren. The nest was thickly lined with feathers of the 

 Desert-Bird, so they must be about there, though so far we had 

 failed to see one. 



We went on to the next water, dropping matches as we went 

 to improve the road of spinifex for the next comer. When on 

 the range in the afternoon the wind veered, and looking towards 

 the camp we saw a furious fire apparently burning all the 

 thicket where the buggy was left. We hurried back, and as 

 things looked pretty bad, the fire burning fiercely within 100 

 yards of the camp, we harnessed up and went on to the man- 

 groves. Nothing much of interest was found the following day. 

 The supposed White-headed Eagle's nest was apparently in 

 possession of two Crows. There , was a small flock of Red- 

 necked Avocets, and an extremely shy Wader, which was there 

 before. All efforts to get within gunshot were futile. It flew 

 away every time, uttering a cry of " pe-pe-pe," almost exactly 

 like a Redshank. It possibly was a Greenshank. There was the 

 flock of Teal in the same place, and, thinking a few ducks would 

 be a treat after so much kangaroo diet, the native was sent 

 round to drive them towards me concealed. After a long 

 interval, in which the ducks came no nearer, I heard the native 

 shouting, but, taking no notice, walked in opposite direction till 

 I heard there was a note of emergency in his cries, so hurried 

 round to his side, to find my dog in fits, having evidently picked 

 up a bait. We gave it tobacco, and it recovered after two 

 hours. In the meantime an Osprey was fishing close to us. 

 Once we distinctly saw it emerge from the water, only about 20 

 yards from us, with a fish in each talon. 



We concluded we had had enough of mangroves, and made 

 our way south again in afternoon to the Yardie Creek, only 

 once seeing a Desert-Bird. Our efforts to find its nest or flush 



