76 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI. 



to this species, told us that he had never seen two birds at the 

 same time, or ever heard a note uttered by them. On the road 

 home we noticed a Many-coloured Parrakeet quietly leaving its 

 nest. Inspection showed that its family was just arriving, for 

 the nest contained three young birds covered with white down, 

 as well as four eggs on the point of incubation. Further on we 

 found a parrot's egg on the ground and in good condition. 

 Mr. M'Lennan said that this promiscuous laying of eggs is quite 

 a common occurrence, owing to there not being sufficient hollows 

 for all the birds desiring to occupy them to nest in. 



The following afternoon we set out in another direction, and 

 were shown what might be termed a parrot " rookery." Where 

 a swamp had once been, but which was now dry, was a forest of 

 dead gum-trees, each with one or more hollow spouts. These 

 were nearly all occupied by members of the parrot family, the 

 Red-rumped Parrakeet, Psephotus hcematonotus, and the Maliee 

 Parrakeet, Barnardius barnardi, being the most numerous. An 

 Orange-tipped Pardalote, Pardalotus a/finis, was also noted 

 utilizing a hollow, and they were also found in hollows in the 

 green eucalypts. 



Next day (22nd September) we started off on our homeward 

 journey, sad at heart because we were leaving such a splendid 

 ornithological country, in which our studies of the avifauna were 

 but half completed, but at the same time glad at having had the 

 opportunity to add so much so much to our knowledge of some 

 of the species frequenting this favoured district. Being supplied 

 with a good stock-horse, I indulged in a little cattle-droving on 

 the way, and greatly enjoyed galloping through the scrub after 

 the cattle. I was greatly surprised to see the animals feeding 

 on the foliage of the pines as they travelled along the track. 



As a parting gift Mr. M'Lennan conducted us to a small patch 

 of Porcupine Grass, which was growing in huge, rotund, pincushion- 

 shaped clumps, to see some emu-wrens which he believed to be 

 new to science. We saw a few of the quaint little birds as they 

 hopped hurriedly from clump to clump seeking hiding places ; 

 in these plants they are thoroughly protected by the sharp spines 

 bristling in every direction and forming a rampart against attack. 

 This bird has since been described as new to science, under the 

 name of Stipiturus maliee, Campbell (Emu, vol. viii., p. 34). As 

 we had a long journey before us we had reluctantly to leave this 

 interesting spot, and after a hearty farewell to our guide " Mallee- 

 Bird," who had made our stay so pleasant and instructive, pro- 

 ceeded on our way to Camba-Canya station, which we reached 

 late in the evening. We spent the night here, and next morning 

 Mr. Poulton drove us to Hopetoun, whence we took train to 

 Melbourne. 



I cannot conclude my account of our holiday without referring 



