70 



ful examination of tlic body after skinning it I found it to be 

 a full-grown adult male. It was in this district that I shot an 

 albino emu-wren some years ago. 



Lichmera Novae-Hollandiae. 



I wish to introduce to your notice a bird that at first sight 

 in the bush much resembles the Meliornis, but is much scarcer, 

 and frequents higher timber for its food, which consists of 

 honey and insects. This pretty bird is the "Butterfly-bird" of 

 the boys in the district where it is found, and is so-called from 

 the horseshoe-like markings on its breast, giving the front of 

 the bird the appearance of a butterfly. 



I have always found it very local in its habitat, its principal 

 haunt being Mount Compass and the deep rocky, thickly-timbered 

 gullies running into the neighbouring ranges. It has a loud bold 

 song, consisting in the male bird of a variety of up and down calls, 

 then a low plaintive song, and then its challenge-like whistle 

 again. The bird may easily be heard a mile off on a fine still 

 day. The female is seldom seen except about the pairing time, 

 and specimens of it are diflacult to procure. But when the 

 breeding season approaches, the hen bird secretes herself in 

 some low bush and warbles out such a lovely song, so long and 

 varied in its melodious tones, that the idea of there being no 

 song birds in Australia is at once dispelled. Popular impres- 

 sions are often far from the truth, and in regard to this matter 

 especially so. I could enumerate several birds having a most 

 pleasing song ; I may instance the Redthroat {^Pyrrhalcemus 

 briinneus), a small bird found at the Gawler Eanges, Cooper's 

 Creek and other outlying places. This little bird has a sweet 

 little song much like a linnet's. Another curious and interest- 

 ing songster to be heard on a warm evening about swampy 

 country, such as the Square AVaterhole, is the Ground Parrot 

 {Pezopo?n(s formosus). I say is to be heard, but I may almost 

 say was, for the domesticated cats, that have become wild and 

 are now very numerous, have, as it appears, nearly exterminated 

 them in their old retreats. The song of this parrot consists of 

 a perfect octave, given out in very beautiful sweet notes. I 

 was a long time before I could find out what bird it was, and 

 had to shoot one singing in the twilight to be sure of its 

 identity. 



Petroica phoenicea. 



The flame-breasted Robin is a yearly visitor to the Square 

 Waterhole district. Being a very wet season this year they 

 arrived early, and were first seen on the 25th of April, or about a 

 month before their usual time. The South-East and the swampy 

 parts of South Australia are their principal habitats. In New 

 South "Wales they are not so numerous. After their arrival, 



