38 Chandler, Bird-Life of Kow Plains. Tisf "lui • 



Petroica goodenovli. Red-capped Robin — A rare bird south of the 

 railway line. Specimens noted among Murray pines had well- 

 developed young flying. 



Melanodryas bicolor. Hooded Robin. — Numerous in the open 

 timber bordering the plains, and well distributed elsewhere. I was 

 directed to a nest one day which contained two young ones. On the 

 following day I took the camera along to photograph the nest and 

 nestlings, but the birds had vanished. As on many other occasions, 

 a Raven {Corvus ausiralis) was possibly responsible for the dis- 

 appearance of the brood. 



Smicrornis brevirostris. Short-billed Tree-Tit. — Exceedingly 

 numerous throughout the district. Although a sharp look-out was 

 kept for their nests, none was found. 



Rhipidura albiscapa. White-shafted Fantail. — A very rare species. 

 Two specimens were secured, which bear a great similarity to the 

 Western form, R. preissi. The Mallee appears to be the eastern 

 limit for many of the Western aviforms. 



Rhipidura motacilloides. Black-and-White Fantail. — Common. 

 One bird visited the camp daily, and would enter the tent in quest 

 of flies. 



Seisura inquieta. Restless Flycatcher. — Although often seen, by 

 no means a common bird. 



Graucalus melanops. Black-faced Cuckoo- Shrike. — Large flocks 

 of these birds arrived at Kow Plains at the end of August. By the 

 middle of October they had paired off, but had not started nesting 

 operations. 



Campephaga humeralis. White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater. — A 

 single male specimen was obtained. No other birds were observed. 

 A call of this species resembles " Peter-pete." The " Peter " is 

 repeated about half a dozen times. 



Cinclosoma castanotum. Chestnut-backed Ground-Bird. — Often 

 met with in sapling mallee. We had an interesting experience with 

 a female of this species. A nest was found on 26th September at 

 the foot of a mallee sapling ; it contained two young birds. When the 

 nestlings were handled the female came within 3 inches of us as we 

 knelt on the ground. At short intervals, while running round us, 

 the bird emitted a puffing sound, like that made by wind being blown 

 through pursed lips. A nest containing incubated eggs was obtained 

 near the end of September. These birds are fond of working over 

 ground where there has been a recent fire. 



Drymodes brunneopygius. Scrub-Robin. — This species may be 

 numbered amongst the few Mallee birds which show little fear of 

 man. By imitating the call notes one can decoy a bird to within 

 a few feet of where one is standing. The principal calls resemble 

 " Chip-pip-er-ee," " Chip-pip-ee," and " Chip-peer-a-peet." These 

 notes are varied, and are sometimes uttered in a low key, the effect 

 being ventriloquial. Another note, used largely as a call-note, is a 

 long-drawn-out whistle. A note of alarm and distrust sounds 

 phonetically " Charr-rrr, tuk-er-tuk-ertuk-ertuk." the " tuk-er-tuk " 

 portion being produced rapidly. This species is well distributed, 

 and is especially numerous where the turpentine-bush and acacia 

 grows. The Scrub-Robin is one of the last birds to begin calling in 

 the morning. The male will mount a favourite perch — in every case 



