Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 73 



the enormous distances to be traversed by the trappers along 

 these pads, the traps are visited about twice a week, and 

 when a trap is found missing it has to be tracked over the 

 country until found, and so expert are the hunters that one is 

 rarely lost. One has to be careful in traversing the pads, 

 because the traps are very strong, and it is very difficult to 

 release one's leg if caught in the jaws. It is, therefore, 

 customary to fix a branch up in a bush overhanging the trap as 

 a warning to passers-by. 



In the open country, before we reached the pad, the excited 

 actions of some Black-breasted Plovers informed us that their 

 young were not far away, and as we approached two large young 

 birds scampered off. After running a little distance they 

 crouched on the ground, when their black plumage harmonized 

 so closely with the surrounding objects that it was most difficult 

 to detect them. In the top of a box-tree a Wedge-tailed Eagle 

 had built its nest, and on climbing up a solitary eaglet was found ; 

 it was covered all over with a coat of pure white down, and 

 formed a pretty object. Contrary to the usual idea, these eagles 

 are great cowards, and will desert a nest if anybody approaches 

 within a quarter of a mile of it. 



.Several nests of the Graceful Honey-eater, Ptilotis ornata, were 

 also found, while many Spiny-checked Honey-eaters were seen 

 feeding in the tree-tops. Restlesss Flycatchers, Sisiira iiiquieta, 

 and Red-capped Robins, Peiroica yoodenovii, were also seen, 

 busily engaged building their nests. Evidence of the presence of 

 Emus, indicated by tufts of feathers, were seen in many places. 

 Unharnessing our horses, we fastened them up, and then went for 

 a long tramp over sand dunes covered with pines and scrub. The 

 pad led us to a beautifully green oval space of about ten acres, 

 named by Mr. M'Lennan " the Dingoes' recreation reserve." 

 Here we espied a fox, and presently a Dingo. Probably both 

 of these have by this time yielded their scalps to our guide, 

 who claims to have accounted for the deaths of close on 3,000 

 Dingoes. Several Mallee-Fovvls' nests were inspected, and 

 additional notes on the habits of other birds were made. Many 

 Chestnut-rumped Ground-Wrens were seen in this part. 



On returning to the buggy we found the horses had broken 

 away and returned home, so there was nothing else to be done 

 but tramp home. Fortunately the saddle-horse had not disap- 

 peared, so, as I had done most of the hard work in climbing and 

 had carried a heavy camera all day, my companions decided that 

 I should ride home. So off I started, with my impedimenta 

 slung around me, and, though it was now dark, reached the slip- 

 rails of the home paddock without mishap, and found the two 

 buggy horses waiting to be let in. 



The following morning there was a muster of drovers and 



