— Turniiic: Westward Again.— 



The party returned to the first ridge overlooking the plain, where 

 the scene liad changed, for, instead of the sun being high ovei-- 

 head, It was fast dipping into the Southern Ocean, and causing- 

 those bold peaks of Marble Range and North Rock to cast deep 

 shadows across the mallee-tops almost to the foot of the range on 

 Mhich we stood. Birds on this side were still active in the sun- 

 light, as they flew from tree to tree or among the flower-laden 

 bushes in quest of food. Lower doAvn, however, the deepening 

 shadows gave tlieir Avarning that the daylight was near an end; 

 parrots, pigeons, and many other birds were assembling at the 

 roekholes in the beds of Avatei'course.s (which Avere being dried 

 up fast by the approaching summer heat) to take their evening 

 drink ere tliey found their respective roosting places for the night. 



The hum of the Avild bf e had ceased now that the sunlight was 

 gone, and he had hurried home to his associates in some hollow 

 tree, or if belated far out in the scrub, had taken refuge under a 

 piece of loose bark or large leaf from the heavy night dew to await 

 the morning sun. Birds of many kinds made much noise as they 

 called to one another that it AA'as time to go to roost. The scrub 

 Avrens and robins were pouring forth their evening song with theii' 

 lovely melodious voices. Our dear old magpies and laughing jacks, 

 both late birds, were still on the lookout for some dainty morsel 

 such as frogs, crickets, or night moths for their supper. Often 

 Avhen tlie night has AA^ell set in one hears the former bird cleaA^ing 

 the air on rapid wing and Avith startling cry making for his night 

 perch in some lofty tree. The quaint old .lack flaps along with 

 heavy flight, bumps against his mates on some gum branch, and 

 then gives forth that well-knoAvn chorus which floats away over 

 the tree-tops on tlie still niglit air. With such sounds as these we 

 reached camp, tired and hungry, but rejoicing that we had the 

 chance of seeing so much that day. 



— An Enigma Among Birds. — 



On the folloAving day Avord came in that a mallee hen's nest 

 (Lipoa ocellata) had been located. A party Avas formed to visit 

 the spot, and a long Avalk OA^er rough country brought us in view 

 of one of Nature's incubators, about 18 ft. in diameter, and 2 ft. 

 G in. high. The mound Avas composed of sand, quartz, earth, and 

 debris scratched from all quarters in the scrub up to 20 or 30 yards 

 away. These birds have strongly deA^eloped legs and feet, and 

 AA'ith the aid of their Avings they scrape the material up into a heap 

 in a crater-like depression. In the centre decayed vegetation is 

 placed, open to the rains, and when well saturated is covered in 

 Avith sand and earth. When the bird lays her eggs she opens out 

 the nest, deposits the eggs on end, and closes it up again. Thi& 



