154 AIiLLiGAN, Notes on Trip to Y aiuianooka District, \V .A. [,^^'^'^11 



of scores of the hairs of the caterpillars, together with the segments 

 of their bodies and softer inner parts. 



The rich and varied notes of the species are well known to every 

 Australian bushman, as also are its extraordinary ventriloquial 

 powers. The several combinations of notes I fix as seven. Some 

 combinations are inimitable, or at least have not an equivalent 

 in the English language. Some, however, have an equivalent, 

 perhaps fanciful. Three of these I translate as follows : — One, 

 " Billy Pope," thrice repeated ; another, " Honour the Pope," oft 

 repeated; and a third, " Where's Subiaco ? " These birds, together 

 with their compeers in song, Sphenostoma cristatiini, Cracticus 

 nigngularis, Collyriocincla rufiveiitris, and Pachycephala falcata 

 (which were invariably found in association), made the scrub-lands 

 ring again with their melody. The aborigines call the bird " Baacka 

 Baacka," evidently in imitation of one of their combinations of 

 notes. 



Sphenostoma cristatiiiii (Gould). — These singular birds were also 

 very numerous in the " prickly reminder" scrubs, probably owing 

 to the security afforded by them. Many writers have spoken of 

 the species as being extremely shy and difficult of approach, but 

 that was not my experience. Their marvellously developed ventri- 

 loquial powers certainly make the birds difhcult to locate, but 

 when once located they are easy to approach. I could have shot 

 a score without any trouble. Ihey are able to throw their voices 

 at least three hundred yards in any direction. Their notes are 

 four, given with a clear, ringing, bell-like sound. When two or 

 three sing in concert all other bird-notes are overpowered. Locally 

 they are called (onomatopoeically) " Jimmy Linthorne " (the name 

 of a local celebrity), and by others the " Bell-Bird." I much 

 prefer, as a vernacular name, the one suggested by Dr. Morrison, 

 of our party — namely, the "Chimes-Bird" — as it is particularly 

 appropriate. I examined the contents of the stomach of one bird ; 

 they included the remains of a grasshopper and the seeds of 

 various plants, which I have not yet had identified. The native 

 name is " Geetardo." 



Xerophila castaneiventris (Milligan). — I was, indeed, pleased to 

 meet with this new species. The birds were in great numbers. 

 They associate in small companies, and for the most part keep to 

 the prickly bushes before mentioned. They appear to feed on the 

 ground under these bushes, and when alarmed rise into them. 

 They are very sprightly in their movements, and their song is com- 

 posed of two or three plaintive but musical notes. Their loosely 

 constructed nests are built in the prickly bushes. The plumage 

 of one bird that I shot was wholly tinged with warm chestnut. 



Cracticus nigrigidans (Gould). — This handsome Butcher-Bird 

 was numerous in the " red" lands, but principally in the beautiful 

 white-limbed " flooded gums " {Eucalyptus rostrata). His notes 

 suggest the vastness of the Australian bush and continent. At 

 dawn his clear cornet-like notes ring out far above the great chorus 

 of bird-song. They are various, and some impossible of transla- 



