THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 169 



Henty bank, which was the scene of one of the most recent 

 attempts at robbery under arms, was indicated, and the places 

 where the would-be robbers camped, burnt their clothes, and hid 

 their weapons, within view from the train, all tended to prove the 

 very crude plans of the perpetrators. However, the train was 

 now approaching more interesting country to us as naturalists, 

 and many nests of the Pomatostomus were noticed in the trees 

 beside the railway line. Rabbits, hares, and a fox scampered 

 through the timber, and many well-known birds were disturbed 

 in passing. We gradually passed from the haunts of the White- 

 backed Crow-Shrike, Gymnorhina leuconota, to that of the Black- 

 backed species, G. tibicen, and at one point of the route noticed 

 the two species in the same paddock. Nearing the Murray River 

 flocks of Cockatoo Parrots rose from the ground, but Albury was 

 passed before the " Green-Leek," or Barraband's Parrakeet, was 

 seen. The first flock, consisting of five males and one female, 

 were perched on a fence. 



On arrival at Wagga we found Mr. Bert Williams waiting for 

 us with a large waggonette, but our party and luggage taxed 

 its carrying capacity to the utmost. In due course we reached 

 the home of our future pilot's mother (Mrs. Williams), who, with 

 her family, gave us a very hearty welcome, and each of her sons 

 vied with the others in assisting us in various ways. After tea 

 we completed arrangements for a 20-mile prospecting trip next 

 day, and paid several visits to residents who possessed objects of 

 interest to us. One gentleman exhibited some eggs, which were 

 broken, in spirits, revealing young birds almost hatched. The 

 owner regarded them as the product of the Australian Snipe, 

 Gallinago auatralis, but they looked more like young rails, with 

 the difference that they were striped instead of black. Whatever 

 they are, the gentleman declares the snipe, which he shot, rose 

 from the nest near his feet. However, we intend to investigate 

 the matter further. 



Next morning horses were harnessed, and a start made for 

 localities in which our friends anticipated finding several species 

 of parrots breeding. Along the road flocks of from 20 to 30 

 Red-rumped Parrakeets were disturbed, but as they were all males 

 we concluded that their mates were busy with family matters. 

 When females were noticed they were in company with their 

 consorts, examining hollow spouts with a view to nesting. We 

 frequently passed pairs of the Crey Strulhidea, S. cinerea, stalking 

 sedately by the roadside, almost within reach of the whip. Why 

 the term " Grey Jumper " should be tacked on to these birds is a 

 mystery, as those seen on the ground were the most staid birds I 

 ever saw, and those amongst the box timber and pine scrubs 

 displayed but little activity, certainly nothing like that of the 

 Pomatostomus in the same neighbourhood. Their pretty mud 

 nests in the pines were occupied by young birds or eggs in an 



