42 KILGOUR, A Trip to the Orel River {N.-W.A.) [,sf"oct. 



{Malurus coroiiatiis) is to be seen. It is indeed a beautiful little 

 creature, and has an exquisite little collection of notes. 



During a trip along the Negri River, within the Northern 

 Territory, I noticed particularly that the White-bellied Plumed- 

 Pigeon {Lophophaps leucogaster) was breeding everywhere 

 amongst the spinifex, and a nest that, judging by the tracks 

 was within an inch of being crushed by the buggy wheels of 

 the musterer's cook, contained four creamy-coloured eggs. 

 This, however, is exceptional, as the general number is two. 

 These are indeed lovable little birds, and great favourites with 

 bushmen. They are so tame that the black boys often kill them 

 with a stockwhip from the saddle. 



On my trip down the road to Wyndham there were one or 

 two interesting experiences. At Nick's Creek I camped in the 

 middle of the flock of Great-billed Cockatoos mentioned pre- 

 viously. The noise was indescribable. The birds were feeding 

 on the fruit of the " pear " tree and also on some plant growing 

 between the sugar grass, but what it was I was unable to find 

 out. The ground under the trees was strewn with branchlets 

 that had been nipped off with their immense bills. 



At Golden Gate during a wet night I was awakened by some- 

 thing pulling at my mosquito net, and looked up to find a dingo 

 amusing himself by tearing it in ribbons. Passing again 

 through the sand, and being this time alone, I had an opportunity 

 of seeing the rare Rock-Pigeon {Pctrophassa albi pcnnis) in 

 numbers. They were to be seen every 20 yards along the road 

 feeding in company with the Brush Bronze-wing {Phaps clegans). 

 On being disturbed they would fiy away with a distinct peculiar 

 metallic sound, and are easily recognized by the white patch 

 on the primaries. I am told by bushmen that immense numbers 

 are to be seen in a certain sandstone range to the west of the 

 Ord River, and that at the end of the season, when the water 

 is drying up, they live in holes in the rocks. I am also confident 

 that the Rufous-quilled species will be found in the same locality. 



For a week or so before I was compelled to return home I 

 camped on the Goose Hill Swamps, where I had an opportunity 

 of studying the various water birds that are to be found there. 

 A friend of mine had a pair of young Jabirus {Xcnorhynchus 

 asiaticus) that were almost full grown. The bright plumage 

 and colouring of the legs had not been assumed, the colour being 

 a uniform brown. I afterwards saw the nest, which was built 

 on the edge of a swamp in a pear-tree about 20 feet from the 

 ground and of large proportions. On the swamps the pretty 

 little Green Goose-Teal {Nettopus pulchellus) was common, and 

 I found its flesh excellent eating. Pied Geese {Anscranas scmi- 

 palmatd) were also found in good numbers, both old and young. 

 The young have not that peculiar development of the trachea 

 Mr. A. J. Campbell mentions,* and I have noticed that single 

 individuals will often perch on a tree-top. 



* " Nests and Eggs of Aiistinliaii Birds," p. 1,018. 



