84 Qi\WX^^, Exploratioji of Norlh-Wesi Cape. [,sfoct. 



it a second time were unavailing. There is no mistaking the 

 flight of this bird. It flutters along with rapid wing-strokes, the 

 short, rounded wings being very evident, and the tail drooping 

 and expanded. During the four days of our return strong east 

 and north-east winds blew, and for the greater part of the day 

 constant flocks of Pied Honey-eaters, Black Honey-eaters 

 {Myzojnela nigra), Tri-coloured Chats {EpJithicDiura tricolor), 

 Grey-breasted and Masked Wood-Swallows {Artaiims ciuereus 

 and A. personatus), and another small bird, whose species I 

 could not determine, were flying against the wind. The Pied 

 Honey-eaters were in flocks at times of fifty or more. The 

 Chats were all female or immature birds, no full-plumaged ones 

 being seen. Two Orange-fronted Chats were noticed. In The 

 Emu for April last Mr. Hall (or Mr. Rogers) remarks it singular 

 that the Black Honey-eater has not been been recorded for 

 North-Western Australia. It is mentioned in The Zoologist for 

 March, 1899. Arrived at the Yardie we made one more attempt 

 for a nest of Ercmiornis. Ascending a high part of the range, 

 we systematically beat down a gully filled with huge bunches of 

 "buck" spinifex — most unpleasant "wading." This spot had 

 often held these birds before, and as we neared the end of it one 

 of them darted out before the native. I thought my snap-shot 

 missed it, but we found it lying dead, in perfect plumage, the first 

 I have seen with upper and under tail coverts complete. A long 

 search for the nest found nothing, and indeed a nest would be 

 difficult to discover in such growth. On skinning the bird it 

 proved to be a male, apparently near breeding. It had the 

 usual remains of black beetles and small grasshoppers in its 

 gizzard. A White-fronted Honey-eater {Glycypiiila albifrons) 

 was secured after much trouble on returning to camp. They 

 are excessively shy birds. We should have liked to search 

 on the table-land country lying behind the ranges here, where 

 Striated Grass-Wrens {Aniytis), Rufous-crowned Emu Wrens 

 {Stipzt7irus ruficeps), and Desert-Birds have been noted, but 

 my boots were worn out on the sharp rocks, and our flour, 

 sugar, and tobacco almost exhausted ; so we returned to the 

 station, feeling somewhat disappointed in the matter of eggs, 

 but well satisfied with adding two new species to the list of birds 

 for the locality. 



Wood Ducks Breeding in Captivity. — A pair of Wood 

 Ducks or Maned Geese {Chenonetta jubata), which have been in 

 the possession of Mr. Alex. Dennis, of " Eeyeuk," Kolora (Vic.) 

 for 14 years, bred last season for the first time, rearing two 

 young (females). Wood Ducks rarely breed in captivity. There 

 is only one instance recorded at the Zoological Gardens, Mel- 

 bourne, where the Duck laid in an old cement barrel. 



