160 



Schceniclus australis, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., vol. VI., pi. 30 

 (1848) ; Sturt, Exped. Centr. Austr., vol. II., App., p. 50 

 (1849). 



Liimiocincla acuminata, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W,^ 

 vol. II., 2nd series, p. 171 (1887). " 



Heferovygia acuminata, Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. 

 XXIY., p. 566 (1896). 



An adult male and female in winter plumage, obtained at a 

 small swamp immediately at the rear of the telegraph office, near 

 the junction of the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers. Examples are 

 more frequently procured in Eastern Australia during October, 

 November, and December. 



[The first pair of these birds was obtained near camp on 

 Creek. The two birds were obtained on different 

 dnys in August, and were the only ones seen until after the 

 tropical rains fell in January and February at the Fitzroy River^ 

 when they were seen wading in the shallow margins of the 

 swamps. They display a peculiar habit of jerking up their tails 

 whilst feeding or when about to fly. On disturbing small flocks 

 of the Red-Kneed Dotterel {Erythrogonys cinctus), a bird of 

 this species was after observed to rise in company with them, as 

 though one of the flock.] 



No. 56. Glareola orientalis (Eastern Pratincole). 



Glareola orientalis. Leach, Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. XIII., p. 

 132, pi. XIII (1820) ; Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., vol. VI., pi. 23. 

 (1848) ; Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. XXIV., p. 58 (1896). 



Four adult females, one adult male, two young males. Shot 

 near the camp about five miles from the junction of the Fitzroy 

 and Margaret rivers. Recorded for the first time from North- 

 West Australia. It is worthy of note that the late Mr. T. H. 

 Bowyer-Bower obtained specimens of G. Isabella [G. grallaria 

 Temm.) in the same district. On the eastern coast G. orientalis, 

 has been procured as far south as Botany, near Sydney. 



[The appearance of this bird is regarded by residents of North- 

 West Australia as an indication of the approach of rain, and it is 

 locally known as the " Little Storm -bird." During January I 

 noticed a flight of strange birds, which afterwards proved to be 

 this Pratincole, about a-quarter of a mile from the telegraph 

 station. I ran for my gun, but was surprised to see the birds 

 rising from the ground like a continuous column of smoke and 

 circling overhead until they spread out so as to almost obscure 

 the sky. I was within one hundred yards of them when the last 

 bird left the ground. After soaring and rising in the air they 

 disappeared in a southerly direction. For about a month after- 

 wards they were seen in large flocks nearly every day coming 



