^2 Chandler, Bird-Life of Kow Plains. X^^ 



Emu 



July 



Melbovirne. I felt convinced that an examination of the two types 

 would prove the Mallee bird to be a new species. However, Mr 

 A. J. Campbell, to whom the skins were submitted for comparison, 

 states that they do not differ in plumage. Several nests were found. 



Grallina picata. Pied Grallina. — Rare ; two or three pairs observed. 



Gymnorhina tibicen. Black-backed Magpie. — A common bird. 

 Several nests were found each containing two eggs, and one which 

 held three heavily-incubated eggs. A number of hybrids between 

 G. tibicen and G. leuconota were seen at different times on the plains. 



Gymnorhina leuconota. White-backed Magpie. — Rare. See note 

 to previous species. 



Cracticus destructor. Collared Butcher-Bird. — Another bird whose 

 notes differ slightly from those of the Southern form. All the nests 

 noted were built in Murray pines. 



Oreoica cristata. Crested Bell-Bird. — Building ; nests of the Bell- 

 Bird, in course of construction, were found about the middle of 

 October, and also nests containing young. 



Pachycephala meridionalis. Southern Whistler — On any ridge 

 where the mallee or tea-tree was covered with a growth of parasitical 

 dodder we met with specimens of this bird. At the same time, the 

 species is b^' no means plentiful. The nest in every case was placed 

 in dodder. On one occasion a male bird was found breeding in 

 immature plumage. 



Pachycephala rufiventris. Rufous-breasted Whistler. — The beauti- 

 ful song of this bird was heard at times. It is a vara avis among the 

 Pachycephala of Kow Plains. 



Pachycephala gilberti. Gilbert Whistler. — A common form. Several 

 nests were built on old Babblers' (Pomatorhinus superciliosus) nests. 

 The male bird assists in building the nest, and also in the work of 

 incubation. The bird is very tame. P. gilberti has a variety of 

 notes. Those which are freely used resemble " Rath-u, rath-u " and 

 " U-rath, u-rath." A note sometimes given sounds phonetically like 

 ". Tce-cream." 



Pachycephala rufogularis. Red-throated Whistler. — One day 

 (^oth September), while on the fringe of the desert, in some porcupine 

 grass {Triodia^, I heard the call of a Whistler which resembled 

 slightly that of P. gilberti, but still was distinct. I raced through 

 the porcupine grass at full speed, for the call of the bird was growing 

 fainter. Presently, about 80 yards ahead, I caught a glimpse of the 

 bird, and was satisfied that it was larger than P. gilberti. For three 

 or four miniites I followed it, guided by the call, through dense 

 sapling mallee and porcupine grass. Suddenly I saw the form of a 

 bird move in the leaves of a mallee sapling ahead. I took a quick 

 snapshot, and a few seconds later had the pleasure of handling a 

 perfect male specimen of P. rufogularis. The next thing was to find 

 the female bird and nest ; but, although often in this neighbourhood, 

 I never obtained another glimpse of this rare species. 



Eopsaltria australis. Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin. — One morning 

 we heard a bird-call a few times about a quarter of a mile from camp, 

 which sounded exactly like notes uttered by this bird. A close 

 search failed to reveal further evidence. 



Aphelocephala leucopsis. Whiteface. — Common on the plains. 



