70 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI. 



were eager to see all that they possibly could, I had to forego the 

 opportunity of obtaining photographs of the parrot family in their 

 homes, and offer my services for climbing. 



Galahs, Cacatua roseicapilla, were frequently met with, and in 

 all cases the hollows in which they nested were lined with a thick 

 pad of eucalyptus leaves. Our guide led us to a bower of the 

 Spotted Bower-bird, Chlamydodera maculata, and a photograph 

 of it was taken. The bower was a small one ; at either end was 

 a collection of bleached bones, whilst pieces of old china and 

 broken glass were the brightest objects these birds had gathered 

 to decorate their play-ground. The Bower-birds are becoming 

 rare in the Mallee now. 



Next day we set out over the plains and across the pine-clad 

 ridges to the edge of the scrub, my companions driving, with Mr. 

 M'Lennan as guide, while I rode a good-tempered stock horse, 

 which remained quite still while I stood up in the saddle to 

 examine the hollow spouts of the trees deserted by the num.erous 

 parrots as we passed along. We went some miles along what is 

 locally known as the Dingo Pad, and found the scrub inhabited 

 by many varieties of birds. A nest of the White-throated Thick- 

 head, Pachycephala pectoralis, was found containing two eggs, 

 also a nest of the Red-throated species, P. gilberti, containing 

 the same number ; both were built in dwarf pines, and were just 

 such structures as built by the thickheads around Melbourne. A 

 pair of Chestnut-rumped Ground-Wrens, Ilijlacola jyiP'^hopygia, 

 were seen rounding up their newly hatched family of three in 

 order to get it out of harm's way. The tinkling, bell-like notes 

 with which the Crested Oreoica or Bell-bird, Oreoica cristata, 

 finishes its call were frequently heard. Next, the excited actions 

 of a pair of Scrub-Robins, Drymacedus hrunneopygius, evidenced 

 our proximity to their offspring, and after some trouble we found 

 it concealed in some debris. After waiting some time in 

 concealment a snap-shot was secured of the old birds succouring 

 their single young one. 



The nest of another Scrub-Robin was found by Mr. M'Lennan, 

 who knows the habits of these birds thoroughly. It was a simple 

 cup-shaped structure of sticks and small twigs let into the ground, 

 and contained a solitary egg, the usual clutch of this bird. Our 

 guide has nicknamed this bird " the trapper's companion " on 

 account of its inquisitiveness, sociability, and fearlessness when 

 he has been out quietly setting tra|)s for Dingoes and other 

 vermin. They are fairly tame so long as no noise is made, but 

 directly they hear a sound they disappear at once, only to 

 reappear when all is still again. Sometimes the nest is built 

 amongst the bark or debris at the base of a mallee bush, and at 

 times is situated (juite 18 inches from the ground. When return- 

 ing to the nest after having been frightened these birds adopt a 



