146 



[Soon after reaching the Fitzroy River in November I secure«l 

 a youn^ bird of this species, and on mentioning the matter to 

 several gentlemen at camp, was informed that a pair had been 

 taken from the nest by a black boy a few weeks previously. 

 Subsequently specimens were obtained at the horse-trough near 

 the well, wliere they came frequently to drink and bathe. Their 

 chief food seems to be a small black native fig, and wherever 

 that fruit existed on the Fitzroy River the peculiar note of the 

 Bower-bird was frequently heard. Several of their bowers 

 which were discovered contained the usual collection of bleached 

 bones, shells, bits of glass, and parrot feathers.] 



No. 37. PoMATOSTOMUS RUBECULUS (Red-breastcd Pomatostomus). 



Pomatorhinus ruheculus, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1839), p. 144; 

 id., Bds. Austr., fol., vol. IV., pi. 21 (1848) ; Sharpe, Cat. Bds, 

 Brit. Mus., vol. YIL, p. 421 (1883). 



Pomatostomus ruheculus, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 

 vol. I., 2nd series, p. 1,088 (1886); North, Nests and Eggs 

 Austr. Bds., p. 155 (1889); North and Keartl., Rep. Horn Sci, 

 Exp. Centr. Austr., part II., Zool, p. 91 (1896). 



One adult female. Camp about five miles from the junction of 

 the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers. Similar to specimens from 

 Northern and Central Australia. 



[These remarkable birds were frequently noted between 

 Mullawa and Lake Augusta. Owing to their sociable habits they 

 have acquired the name of " Family birds," as they are generally 

 found in flocks of six or seven. They seem equally at home on 

 tree or ground, but are seen to the best advantage when disturbed. 

 They then fly off one after another, alighting near the base of the 

 nearest tree, which they ascend by a series of hops or jumps, 

 keeping up an incessant chatter or mewing like a cat. During 

 their antics their bills are generally elevated, and their tails erect 

 or spread like a fan. Their huge stick nests, containing fresh 

 eggs, were found on the Cue-road in June. At Fitzroy River 

 they were found breeding in February.] 



No, 38. Stigmatops ocularis (Brown Honey-eater). 



Glyciphila (?) ocularis, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1837), p. 154. 



Glyciphila ocularis, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., vol. IV., pi 31 

 (1848); Gadow, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. IX., p. 213 (1884); 

 North and Keartl, Rep. Horn Sci. Exp. Centr. Austr., part II., 

 Zool, p. 93 (1896). 



Stigmatops ocularis, North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 

 198 (1889). 



Glyciphila (?) suhocularis, Gould, Proc. Zool, Soc. (1837), p. 

 154. 



