^"''i^is'^'l Whitlock, A''o/^5 0)7 Norfh-Wesiem Birds. 17^ 



were amongst the d/'bris (fast up by the big blow of last March. An 

 exceptionally situated nest was quite 200 yards inland, on perfectly 

 fiat country. All were similar in construction — mere platforms of 

 dry sticks lined with seaweed, and often containing a collection of 

 bleached sea-shells. 



Common Harrier {Circus assimilis). — A pair used to annoy me by 

 driving all birds to cover in front of me when I was searching for an 

 adult male of Malurus edouardi. On Double Island I observed one 

 of this species carrying some small animal. An Eagle swooped at it 

 and the Harrier dropped its prey. The animal, which was found to 

 be a common house-rat, had a severe wovmd in the throat, and was 

 dead. 



Nankeen Kestrel (Cerclineis cenchroides). — This species was un- 

 common. Individuals looked very small and slender, but this may 

 have been due to the greater numbers of the large birds of prey, the 

 conti-ast in size being so very striking. 



Singing Honey-eater {Ptilotis sonora). — Fairly common amongst the 

 large snake-wood bushes, where I found two empty nests. In a low- 

 lying tract of covmtry about two miles from the coast was a small 

 thicket of old and gnarled Brachychiton trees. Though almost devoid 

 of leaves, the blood-red flowers were opening. Many birds of the 

 present species were feeding on the nectar they contained. 



Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater (Acanthogenys riifigularis). — A single 

 example of this species both seen and heard in the mangroves near 

 our harbour. Its presence on Bari^ow Island was no doubt due to 

 accident. 



White-rumped Wood-Swallow (Arfamus leucogaster). — Rather un- 

 common, and confined to the small patches of mangroves. 



Welcome Swallow (Hirnndo neoxena). — Pairs observed in A'arious 

 parts of the island, but I saw no young birds. 



Black-and- White Wren {Malurus (leucopierus) edouardi). — To learn 

 all I could of the habits and present status of this scarcely-known 

 species was the chief object of mv visit to Barrow Island, for Mr. 

 White. 



It was not until the second day of my exploration that I 

 encountered it. I was examining a valley about a mile from the 

 coast when I observed a party of small birds fly from the spinifex 

 into a patch of low scrub. They looked very brown — much like the 

 colour of the surrounding soil, in fact — and when they hopped or 

 ran amongst the spinifex were very difficult to follow with the eye. 

 I watched them quietly for some time without seeing any signs of 

 a male in nuptial plumage, and an hour's subsequent search 

 throughout the neighbourhood failed to discover one. I came to 

 the conclusion that this party was led by a male which had not yet 

 acquired nuptial plumage. I have often found the same state of 

 things prevailing with parties of the common blue White-winged 

 Wren (Malurus cyanotus). According to my observations, it is not 

 until the third season that males amongst the Mahiri assume full 

 nuptial plumage, though exceptional cases of early hatched males 

 assuming a partial nuptial garb late the following season un- 

 doubtedly occur. Later (5th November) I procured a male in change. 

 This is a late date for such an occurrence, and bears out my contention 

 as above. Males in brown plumage, too, undoubtedly pair with 

 adult females, and become the parent of a brood of young. 



