94 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 



in other words, on the edge of the dense eucalyptus scrub which 

 covers the north-western portion of ^'ictoria, which ten years ago 

 was llie cliosen retreat of the Dingo, Emu, Rabbit, Kangaroo, and 

 Lowan. The progress of settlement, however, and the rigorous 

 use of dog-traps and poison, has either exterminated the four first- 

 mentioned or driven them back into the wilder sections, while the 

 Lowan, Leipoa octUata, is rapidly sharing the same fate. The 

 dense acacia thickets which abound in some parts of the mallee 

 afford an ideal habitat for such rare birds as the Scrub Robin, Dry- 

 modes hrtinneo2)ygia, the Chestnut-backed Ground Thrush, Cin- 

 closoma cadaneoiiohun, and Lambert's Superb Warbler, Malurus 

 Lamherti. The two former birds are seldom seen out of the 

 acacia scrub, where they pass nearly the whole of their time on 

 the ground, where also the nests of both birds are placed. It 

 will be observed that the Honey-eaters are sparingly represented 

 — that is, as regards number of specits. This scarcity of species 

 may perhapo be accounted for by the great monotony in the 

 character of the vegetation, which does not afford that continuity 

 of bloom consequent upon the existence of a more diversified 

 flora, so that often for two years at a time the Honey-eaters of 

 this district have to subsist almost exclusively upon an insect- 

 ivorous diet. I have been informed on good authority that the 

 Spotted Bower Bird, Chlmnydodera macidata, has been taken at 

 Horsham, on the Wimmera, about 60 miles to the south-west of 

 ])irchip. Travelling north-east, the bird is again met with in the 

 vicinity of the Murray. Birchip lies about midway between the 

 two places, and yet, strange to say, the Chlamydodera is never 

 seen here. Has the absence of rivers in the vicinity anything to 

 do with the non-occurrence of the bird ? 'I'hat remarkable parra- 

 keet, Pezoporus formouvs, has, I believe, been taken at Hope- 

 toun, 25 miles to the westward, but has not been seen in this 

 locality. Possibly from its shy and retiring habits it has so far 

 been overlooked. The rarest birds are indicated in the list by an 

 asterisk, and of these the Black-shouldered Kite, Elatms axillaris, 

 takes the palm for rarity, only one specimen having been seen in 

 several years. 



Aquila audax Hirundo neoxena 



Haliaslur splienurus H)drocheli(1on nigricans 



Hitracidt-a berigora Cypselus pacificus 



*Falco huiulaius Merops ornatus 



Tinnunculus cenchroides Halcyon sanctus 



Astur api)roxin:ans Artamus sordidus 



*Elanus axillaris A. superciliosus 



Ninox boobook A. leucopygialis 



Podargus strigoides A. personatus 



^L^gotheles Novre-Hollandire Pardalotus punctatus 



