40 KiLGOUR, A Tr/f to the Orel River {NAV.A.) [isf'oci. 



the eggs were two in number, cream-coloured, pointed at both 

 ends, and about half as big again as those of the Lophophaps. 

 As will be noticed, I subsequently saw the Rock-Pigeons in 

 great numbers in this same place. 



The next camping place was Golden Gate. Here we were 

 drenched early in the evening, and had to sleep in wet blankets. 

 All through the night I could hear a " toot " coming from the 

 hillsides, which the black boy said was made by a Quail. This 

 was afterwards verified by several observant bushmen. The 

 next stage was to Nick's Creek, where all night we could hear 

 the sound of an immense flock of Great-billed Cockatoos {Calypto- 

 rhynchus macrorynchus). On the road to Argyle station the 

 Finches were becoming numerous as we were getting into good 

 grassed country. Tceniopygia castanotis, Munia pcctoralis, 

 Bathilda r24flcaudn, Pocphila acuticauda, P. per sonata, P. 

 mirabilis (^gouldia;), and Ncochmia phaeton were to be seen in 

 numbers feeding on the grass-seeds. Amongst insectivorous 

 birds were the ever-common Black and White Fantail {Rhipi- 

 diira tricolor'), Little Flycatcher {Sisura nana), Red-backed Wren 

 or " Brigham Young " {Malar us dorsalis), and the Honey-eater 

 — Golden-backed {Mclithreptus la;tior) and Red-throated {Ento- 

 mophila rufigularis). 



From the Argyle station we ran the Behn River up for 25 

 miles to what is known as the Top Crossing. Along its course 

 we saw many interesting sights. I here saw for the first time 

 a White Hawk. No doubt I had seen many before, but at a 

 first glance one is so apt to take them for White Cockatoos, as 

 they frequent the trees along the rivers. A few weeks later 

 I saw two of the Goshawks (Astur novcc-hollandia') in company 

 with Kites {MiLvus affints) and Whistling-Eagles {Haliastur 

 sphcnurus), wheeling in the air on the Negri River in the 

 Northern Territory. The blacks say that they lay a single ii^^ 

 and nest near a stream, and that their food consists of fish and 

 birds, and that they often eat the fresh-water turtle. In a quiet 

 pool of the river a stately Jabiru {X cnor hync hus asiaticus) lent a 

 charm to the landscape as it stalked through the water. From 

 the Top Crossing to the Wild Dog Police Camp (16 miles) we 

 entered on a remarkable tract of country — volcanic soil covered 

 with pieces of basalt from an inch to a foot in diameter, and 

 stretching on either side as far as the eye can reach. With 

 the exception of the Finches and one or two small birds these 

 downs are rather bare of bird-life. 



From Wild Dog on to the Negri River the most interesting 

 birds are the Finches, and in what numbers ! Pocphila mirabilis 

 (the Gouldian Finch) could be seen in companies of from six to 

 about twenty, and what a pretty picture they formed when 

 sometimes four or five perched on and bent a stalk of sugar- 

 grass. 



The next stage from the Negri to the Ord River station, 30 

 miles, was travelled for the most part through heavy rain, and 



