©fficial ©rgan of the ^iistralasiatt ©niithologiets' itnion. 



" Bir^s of a feMbcr.' 



Vol. IV.] isr OCTOBER, 1904. [Part 2. 



A Trip to the Ord River (N.^W.A) 



By James F. Kilgour, Williamstown. 



■The Ord River takes its rise in the rough country in the north- 

 west of the Kimberley goldfield, and, after a circuitous route, 

 passes through the Hardman Range and flows thence in a more 

 or less northerly direction until it empties its waters into the 

 Cambridge Gulf about 1 5 miles to the north of Wyndham. 

 During its course it absorbs the flood waters of the Nicholson, 

 Osmand, Negri, Ban, Behn, and Denham Rivers, besides 

 numerous smaller streams. It abounds throughout the whole 

 of its course with bird-life, and no matter where an ornithologist 

 strikes it he will be sure to find forms that will greatly interest 

 him. 



It was, then, with real pleasure that I stepped ashore at 

 Wyndham, on the 3rd of April last, from the s.s. Moira, intent 

 upon spending two years collecting in the Ord valley. 



The next morning I was pleasantly awakened by the carol 

 of a Pied Butcher-Bird {Cracticus nigrigularis picatd) on the 

 hill that overlooks the little township, and during the subsequent 

 drive to the Six-Mile Hotel I was enabled to notice that the 

 wet season, against expectations, was not ended. Egrets, Jabirus, 

 Ibises, and other waders were to be noticed here and there along 

 the fringes of the marsh. 



A few days were spent at the Six-Mile, and during that time 

 I had several rambles in search of birds. The Finches, Tcsnio- 

 ■pygia castanotis, Poephila acuticatula, P. personata, and P. 

 mirabilis {gouldia;), were common. A nest of the Chestnut- 

 eared variety was situated in a small gum-tree in front of the 

 hotel, and contained five fresh eggs. The Great Bower-Bird 

 {Chlamydera nuchalis) was to be seen close to the hotel, and 

 also several bowers. One, newly made, was beautifully con- 

 structed. The actual bower was about 2 feet through, of small 

 twigs, closely woven ; height, 16 inches. Stones, shells, and glass 

 were laid to a distance of 2 feet from each end of the bower, 

 and some were also placed in a depression in the centre. This 

 model is always followed. I have never seen any brilliant objects, 

 such as feathers, used, and the stones are always waterworn, 



