THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 77 



and fighting of innumerable rats, seeing the whole roof ridge, tops 

 of posts, and, indeed, every point of vantage occupied by Delicate 

 Owls. 



Strix CANDIDA. — The Grass Owl is occasionally met with on 

 the downs, in the long grass, where they nest. 



NiNOX, sp. — A Boobook Owl is sometimes seen, but has not 

 been identified. 



MiCROTRiBONYX VENTRALis. — This is the commonest of the 

 Water-hens. Flocks may often be disturbed when feeding along 

 the edge of a waterhole or amongst the polygonum on the dry 

 bed of a billabong. The Blacks' name for this bird is " Partha." 



EupoDOTis AUSTRALis. — Duiing the breeding season the male 

 Bustards are in the habit of displaying themselves to the greatest 

 advantage before the hens, drooping the feathers of the neck, 

 which is puffed out, and with win^s and tail spread out, they strut 

 about, much after the fashion of a peacock. Nesting takes place 

 during or shortly after the summer rains. 



My brother mentions, as illustrating the early development 

 of the instinct of protection, once finding a nest which contained a 

 chipped egg and a young bird which had just emerged from the 

 shell ; the latter, on hearing his approach, crawled out of the nest 

 into the grass and hid itself. 



Stiltia ISABELLA and Glareola ORiENTALis. — Of the Pratin- 

 coles the former is tolerably common, and earns its living on the 

 wing, like a swallow, and may often be seen flying up and down 

 the plain, close to the ground, uttering its peculiar whistling cry 

 the while. I well remember finding a pair of eggs on a dry, 

 gravelly ridge, far from any water. No attempt is made at a 

 nest, and the bird practises the same tricks to lure one from the 

 vicinity of the eggs common to the order. My nest was taken 

 in November ; others have been taken by my brother in January. 

 The Oriental Pratincole arrives during the wet season, and only 

 stays about a month, but is usually in goodly numbers. 



^GRiLiTis MELANOPS and Erythrogonys. cinctus are the 

 commonest of the dottrels. 



LoBiVANELLUS MILES. — The Masked Plover, a more slender 

 bird than our Spur-wing, resembles it very closely in all its habits. 

 They are numerous, it being no uncommon sight to see 40 or 50 

 in a flock. They breed in January and February. My brother 

 mentions finding one clutch of five eggs. 



HiMANToPUS LEUCOCEPHALA. — Stilts are always present during 

 the wet season, and the Avocet an occasional visitant. 



RoSTRATULA AUSTRALIS. — The Painted Snipe is sometimes 

 disturbed when seeking a living on the muddy margin of a 

 waterhole or billabong. 



The three species of Ibis have been noted, the Glossy being 

 rare. 



