CHE X KEY — X<des on llirds of ^ouUi-Wcst (IneKusland. 39 



luimber.s of tioweviiifi; shrubs of the Cassia aud oilier botauical 

 sjxnies with the uaines of which I am uot familiar. A species 

 of Kncaly])t. known locally as the Bloodwood, was conspicuous 

 in iho hills with its large clusters of creamy blossoms. ~ There 

 was a wait of two more days for us here while we wired for 

 another car, and aAvaited the arrival of Messrs. Clive and 

 Joseph Conrick, ^\\\o were returning to Nappa Merrie and were 

 to act as our guides over the less frequented roads on to the 

 Cooper. We therefore worked the hills and creeks in tlie 

 vicinity thoroughly aud were rewarded by identifying a few 

 rarer species. Amongst these were the cinnamon-backed 

 ground thrush, red lored pardalote, ground cuckoo shrike, a 

 nest of which containing four heavily incubated eggs was taken 

 from the horizontal bough of a gum in the creek. The nest 

 was very similar to the ordinary black-faced variety, but of 

 more elaborate structure with a deeper egg cavity. T-he 



markings and colouring of the eggs were also close in their 

 resemblance. A \yA\Y of spotted harriers was commencing a 

 nest. Kestrels were found with eggs, also a brown hawk. The 

 red-browecl babbler, brown song lark, tricoloured chat, black- 

 faced wood swallow, and many red-backed kingiishers Avere met 

 with. The scarcity of the falcons was marked, as in former 

 years. T)r. Macgillivray had taken many species on similar 

 creeks north of the Hill. Here again bare-eyed cockatoos, 

 galahs, and Avarbling grass parrakeets were nesting in numbers, 

 and the, owlet night jars were not uncomnmn. Many burrows 

 of the red-backed kingfisher were examined but we were just 

 a lirtle early for them. Honey-eaters, with the excei)tion of 

 minahs. ancl white-]»lu!iied and an odd jtair of black honey- 

 eaters, were conspicuous by their absence. Crested bronze- 

 wing pigeons were seen in fair numbers and their nests found. 

 The nest of the ground thrush was searched for most carefully 

 but without success. The protective colouring of these .birds 

 on the Gibber tablelands, covered as they are AVith reddish 

 coloured stones, is most effective. We ex]>ected to meet with the 

 bustard in our wanderings, as the conditions were ideal for 

 them, but we did not meet with one during the tri]). f^ollard 

 rabbit baits plus foxes have, I believe, had a great deal to do 

 Avith practically exterminating this fine bird. Bennett's croAV 

 Avas found nesting, but the young AA'ere ahvays ])resent in any 

 nests examined. Once one gets to knoAv their habits and their 

 cry it is not difficult to pick them out. They i>refer mulga 

 ridges in hilly countrv for breeding and nests may he taken in 

 (|uite loAV trees in such situations. 



