McGlLF — Bird Notes from Lake Frovie. 11 



A severe drought had raged over this district for almost 

 two years, aud many of our birds had sought new feeding 

 grounds, but after fairly good rains in June, quite a number of 

 our friends were linding "home the best place.'' Upon my 

 arrival, I found that several of the migratory species had al 

 read.y arrived. Of course, a stray bird or two of the species, is 

 often seen throughout the year, but about June and July they 

 coniQ along in numbers to pass southwards, after a short stay 

 with us. Tlu' Pallid Cuckoo, Narrow-billed Cuckoo, Hlack-faced 

 Graucalus, and White-shouldered Caterpillar Eater (in full 

 l)lumag('), seemed quite at home in the large gum creek in front 

 of our homestead — the first time I "worked" the creek. 



On the 28th July, I noticed a small flock of Masked Wood 

 Swallows, but jilthnugh these increased in numbers daily, it was 

 not until the 14 th August that I saw some White-I?rowed Wood 

 Swallows in coiiuij'ny with newly arrived Masked s])ecies. This 

 year these splendid creatures came along from due north, where 

 as last year, they came from the North-east direction. Not a 

 single representative of the Sordid Wood Swallow was noted. 

 The Black Faced, and White Bumped species are with us all the 

 year, the latter being in very small numbers along the bore 

 streams. 



On the 7th August, the first Red-backed Kingfisher was 

 noted, and several more had arrived by the 21th August — 'the 

 date of my departure from the district. 



1 am sui-()i'ispd that the I>ee-eater had not i>u( in an ap 

 j;earance, for it is generally with us by the first week in July. 

 often remaining to breed in tunnels in the gently rising ground 

 alonu banks of the creek. 



The Accii»iter family, is much later than usual in attending 

 to nesting, the only exception being the little Nankeen Kestrel. 

 This family is not nearly as well represented as in most years. 



T found a beautifully constructed nest of the Lef/fjeor)ns 

 hniihrrti assiiiiilis ( Purple-backerl ^^'renl. It was made solely 

 of thf inner bark of the Titree. which lia.d been worked down 

 into soft long strirts, and woven together very strongly. This 

 was snuggly lined with rabbit fur. camel hair, and fine soft 

 feathers. The nest was unusually small, but compactly made, 

 measuring just less than 4J inches in height, and 2| inches in 

 width, the entrance measuring exactly one inch. It was placed 

 amid fallen brushwood (dry) only 9 inches clear of the ground, 

 and roni|;let('ly hidden from view. The mousp-like njovsMUfMits 

 of the female as she left the i»ile of brushwood, and the alarmed 

 actions and notes of the beautiful male bird, caused me to hunt 

 carefully for the nest. Tt contained four fresh eggs. 



