Vol. XXVIII. 



igi2 



] Thomas, Bird-Life on the Upper Mitchell. 199 



BIRD-LIFE ON THE UPPER MITCHELL. 



Bv F. J. Thomas. 



{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, i^th Jan., 191 2.) 



The River Mitchell, which is formed by the union of several 

 fair-sized streams rising in the southern slopes of the Australian 

 Alps, passes through some rugged country as it approaches the 

 lowlands in the neighbourhood of Lindenow and Bairnsdale. 



I had often heard of the beauty of the gorges of several of 

 the creeks entering the stream in the rugged portion of its 

 course — notably two with the somewhat unpoetical names of 

 Deadcock and Bull, so, when the opportunity occurred in 

 November last of visiting them in company with Mr. S. 

 Porteous, who was well acquainted with the locality, I gladly 

 accepted it. 



A ride of about twelve miles from Lindenow brought us to 

 the junctions of the creeks with the Mitcheh, which are not 

 more than two hundred yards apart. We found them both 

 to issue from wonderful gorges, somewhat similar in character 

 to that of the Iguana Creek, some miles further south. 



Both creeks are shut in by almost vertical sandstone cliffs 

 about two hundred feet in height, while along the creek-beds 

 are to be seen many small limestone caves. The gorges, being 

 so well sheltered, are full of the most luxuriant vegetation, and 

 looked at from above appear to be one dense mass of pittos- 

 porums, lillypillies, and supplejack. On entering them, how- 

 ever, one finds fairly easy walking over the stony creek-beds, 

 and the beauties of the spot can be enjoyed with comparative 

 comfort. 



Our attention being mainly given to the birds, and our time 

 being short, we had not much opportunity of searching closely for 

 plants. Just at the mouth of the gorge there is a very numerous 

 colony of Bell Miners. The birds were very noisy, and loudly 

 assured us that they have many notes not nearly so beautiful 

 as the one that has made them famous. Many of the old birds 

 were busily engaged feeding young almost full grown. The 

 limited range of each colony of these birds is very noticeable. 

 The one I mention seems confined to a space of a few acres, 

 and Mr. Porteous, who has known the district intimately for 

 years, tells me that it is the only spot at which he has seen 

 them. Just here we were fortunate enough to see a fine Wonga 

 Pigeon. It flew from the ground into a large tree close by, and 

 might have been difficult to locate only that two Bell-birds 

 soon showed that they resented its intrusion. Good fortune 

 followed us, and the best was to come. Turning up the Dead- 

 cock, we had gone a very little way when one of the rare and 

 beautiful Sanguineous Honey-eaters flew down almost at our 



