162 



Two adult females. Shot on a small swamp at the rear of the 

 telegraph office, and about iive miles from the junction of the 

 Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers. Wing measurement, 8-1, 8-2 

 inches. Similar to examples from Eastern and Southern Aus- 

 tralia. 



[As soon as a good rainfall takes place in any part of West 

 Australia this Trihonyx makes its appearance. A short time 

 prior to our arrival at Lake Way in July abundance of rain had 

 fallen and formed a fresh-water lake about five miles in circum- 

 ference, around the margin of which thousands of these birds 

 were seen. They appear just like a number of Bantam fowls 

 running in the scrub and long grass, where they seek their food, 

 often at a considerable distance from water. When disturbed 

 they run rapidly for a short distance and then take wing, but 

 always fly towards or over the water. The footprints of these 

 birds were seen on nearly every dry claypan passed. As soon as 

 the tropical rains formed swamps at the Fitzroy River these birds 

 arrived, and hundreds were to be seen in places where a few dayS' 

 before no trace of them existed.] 



No. .^9. Tadorna radjah (Radjah Sheldrake). 



Anas Eadjali, Garnot, Voy. Coq. ZooL, torn. I., p. 302 (1828). 



Tadorna radjah, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., vol. VIL, pi. 8 

 (1848) ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. I., 2nd series, p. 

 1,096 (1886); North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 338 

 (1889) ; Salvad., Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. XXVIL, p. 175 

 (1895). 



One female. Shot on the Fitzroy River, about seven miles 

 from camp, Some of the feathers in the centre of the chestnut 

 pectoral band are missing, in other respects the bird is in perfect 

 plumage. Wing 11 inches, 



[These birds are very local in their habits, and at various 

 places they frequent on tlie Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers they 

 appear to spend most of the year. If shot and disturbed, they 

 will return to the same spot during the night. In January a 

 pair of adults with eleven newly hatched young ones were seen 

 in the Margaret River. The nest which these birds had 

 occupied was in the hollow spout of a Eucalypt overhanging the 

 water. Although generally found in pairs, flocks of from four 

 to eight are not uncommon. On two occasions single birds were 

 seen in company with a flock of " Black Ducks."] 



The eggs of the following species were also obtained : — 



No. 60. Cacatua roseicapilla (Rose-breasted Cockatoo). 



Cacatua roseicapilla, Vieill,, Nouv. Diet, d' Hist., torn., XVII 

 p. 12(1817); Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol IL, 2ndi 



