OHfJNtJRY cS- MORGAN— Birds of liivers Murnnj ^- Darling. 75 



rows, which know them as natural enemies, give the warn- 

 ing cry at once, and dart from cover. One was seen holding a 

 sparrow by the leg on the ground, unable to ,get enough purchase 

 to knock it on the ground, and afraid to let go for a fresh grip. 

 The sparrow was released, and "hopped promptly under the wood 

 pile. 



Bulestes torquatus (Collared Butcher-bird). — A fairly 

 common bird, both in the river frontages and in the outback 

 scrub. They are most destructive to small b rds, and are robbers 

 of the worst character, 



Oreoica cristata (Crested Bell-bird). — A common bird in 

 the acacia shrub, and occasionally met with on the box-flats. 

 They decorate their nests here, as elsewhere, with live caterpil- 

 lars; nesting begins in August. 



Aphclocephala leucopsis (White-face). — A common and 

 universally distributed species. They are very early breeders. 



Neosiita pileata (Black-capped Treerunners). — Rare birds 

 in the district. They are met with occasionally in small flocks 

 in the casuarina country. They do not come into the rivers. 



Climacteris erythrops superciliosiis {White-hrowed Tree- 

 creeper). — Found almost exclusively in casuarina country. 

 They are shy and very silent, and are easily overlooked. The 

 nest is difiicult to locate. 



Neoclima picumna (Brown Tree-creeper). — A common bird 

 in the box flats and in the river gums. Sometimes, but more 

 rarely, met with in the mallee scrub. 



Zosterops lateralis (Silver-eye). — A visitor only in the 

 autumn and late winter. They do not breed in the district. 



Austrodiceaum hirundinaceum (Mistletoe Bird). — Plenti- 

 ful in the spring months, and odd pairs to be met with all the 

 year round. 



Pardalotus punctatus xanthopjjgius (Yellow-rumped Dia- 

 mond Bird). — Fairly common in the mallee scrub about Ren 

 mark and Paringa. They were not met with roar Wentworth. 



Pardalotus striatus (Striped Diamond Bird). — Common 

 both along the rivers and in the mallee scrub country. 



Melithreptus gularis (Black-throated Honey-eater). — Un- 

 common. Pairs are met with occasionally in the box flats 

 jear after year. 



Melithreptus atricapillus (Brown-headed Honey-eater). — 

 Fairly common bird in the ftox country ; also met with in the 

 back scrub countrv; thev move about in small flocks. 



