175 



too hot. Although I was assured they occasionally frequent 

 the Fitzroy River and its vicinity, I never saw them there. 



No. 53. Melanodryas bicolor (Hooded Robin). 

 These birds were seen throughout the trip, being particularly 

 numerous at Creek in August. On October 26 I found 



a nest of this Robin containing two eggs. It was placed on the 

 horizontal branch of a desert gum-tree, about six feet from the 

 ground. It was a cup-shaped structure, built of strips of bark, 

 <3obwebs, and line grass. Although the rope holding our tar- 

 paulin was tied to the branch, the birds visited and sat on the 

 nest several times during the da}'-. The eggs were dark-olive- 

 green, v,^ith a reddish-brown tinge at the larger end. Other birds 

 of this species were subsequently seen near the Fitzroy River. 



No. 54. Malurus Lamberti (Lambert's Superb Warbler). 



The first specimen of this species was obtained near Lake 

 Augusta, but others were afterwards seen in considerable 

 numbers, and frequently in company with M. leucopterus in the 

 saltbush and samphire near Creek. At Separation 



Well several of their nests were seen in the low bushes near our 

 <;amp, but the young birds had all taken wing prior to our arrival 

 there on October 9. 



Malurus leucopterus (White-winged Wren). 

 Several of these beautiful little warblers were seen near the 

 camel depot on Creek, and the late Mr. C. F. Wells 



shot some capital specimens, which were, unfortunately, aban- 

 doned in the desert. The male birds are very shy, except at 

 breeding-time, when they become pugnacious, fighting and 

 chasing each other away from the bushes where they purpose 

 building their nests. On one occasion two males were so intent 

 on their battle that I killed both at one shot from about 15 paces. 

 The White-winged Wrens generally frequent the saltbush and 

 samphire flats, but are also found in any low dense bushes and 

 undergrowth. Three of their nests, containing fresh eggs, were 

 found during September. 



No. 55. Malurus leucoxotus (White-backed Superb Warbler). 

 This shy little warbler was first noted in the saltbush near 

 Lake Way, where several specimens of both sexes were obtained. 

 They were afterwards noted at various places right across the 

 desert, to within 50 miles north of Johanna Springs, but were not 

 seen near the river. In the pursuit of these birds I found the 

 homely-clad females very tame and easy to approach, whilst the 

 males in full plumage were extremely shy. When heard or seen 

 out of range the male would immediately either fly off or drop 



