1^2 MiLLiGAN, Notes OH Trip to Ya}i'lanooka District, W.A. [,si^April 



of Hakea having leaves up to 3 inches long, shaped and pointed 

 like porcupine quills, and growing at all angles) and also high- 

 growing, weeping prickly mimosa bushes. The formation of the 

 country is a depressed area of very rich red clay soil cut out of 

 the high, extensive sand plains. Bird-life was plentiful everywhere, 

 particularly the smaller Passerines, owing, undoubtedly, to the 

 excellent protection and security afforded by the " prickly 

 reminder " and mimosa scrubs. In them the birds, nests, and 

 young were at all times absolutely safe from their natural enemies, 

 Hawks, Crows, and Butcher-Birds, for they could not possibly 

 follow their quarry there. These bushes, however, are not 

 regarded favourably by sheep-farmers, as they destroy the fibre 

 of the wool of the sheep as they pass by and under them. Obviously, 

 an accompaniment to the progress of settlement will inevitably be 

 the decimation of smaller birds. The object of our trip was 

 successfully accomplished, but the results can only be generalized. 

 Many species were found to be common in all three places — that 

 is to say, the Wongan Hills proper, Yandanooka-Ebano, and 

 Pindar-Day Dawn. Others, again, were present at the first and 

 second, the first and third, and, again, the second and third. 

 Some were peculiar only to one or other of such districts. Even 

 to tabulate the results would occupy more space in this journal 

 that I could reasonably expect to have allowed. They, therefore, 

 must be reserved for a special work on distribution. 



Briefly stated, we were able to fix (tentatively, of course) the 

 southern limit of Ptilotis carteri, Xerophila castaneiventris, Mahinis 

 assiniilis, Sphenostoma cristatum, Tceniopygia castanotis, and 

 Calopsittaciis novce-hollandicB, and the northern limit of Ptilotis 

 ornata. Such forms as Ephthianura tricolor and E. aurifrons, 

 Acanthiza robitstirostris, A. temiirostris, Aiiiylis gigantura, Cala- 

 manthus campestris, Manorhina {Myzantha) liiiea, Climacteris 

 superciliosa, and Cinclosoma cinnamomeum, which were found at 

 Pindar-Day Dawn (80 miles north), were not present at Yanda- 

 nooka or at the Wongan Hills. On the other hand, such forms as 

 Licmetis pastinator, Calyptorhynchiis stellatus, Calopsiitacus novcB- 

 hollandice, and Ptilotis carteri, found at Yandanooka-Ebano, were 

 not found at either Pindar-Day Dawn (northward) or at the Wongan 

 Hills (southward). Again, Malurus pulcherrimus, Cinclosoma 

 castanonotnm, Drymaa^diis pallidits, Hylacola cauta, and Calamanthits 

 montanclliis, found at the Wongan Hills proper, were not found at 

 eithei Yandanooka-Ebano or at Pindar-Day Dawn. Acanthiza 

 iiropygialis, A. pallida, Malurus leucopterus, Glycyphila albifrons, 

 and many other species, were common at all three places. Ptilotis 

 plumula was found at Wurarga, near Day Dawn, and at Cadgee 

 Cadgee, but that may be accounted for by the fact that each place 

 is in the " mulga " belt. Mesocalius palliolatus was found at Day 

 Dawn and also at the Wongan Hills proper, but, strange to say, 

 not in the intermediate Yandanooka district. At Yandanooka- 

 Ebano Malurus assiniilis, M. splendens, and M. leucopterus were 

 found, the first-mentioned two occuj^ying the same feeding-grounds. 



