44 Chandler, Bird-Life of Kow Plains. [isf"july 



near the homestead at Kow Plains, and subsequently obtained four 

 specimens. The birds are lighter in colour than a typical P. 

 penicillata, and the legs and feet are more slender. Two of the 

 specimens are male birds, and several yellow feathers extend beyond 

 the white plume in both. The notes appeared to differ also from 

 those of P. penicillata. 



Meliornis novae-hollandiae. White-bearded Honey-eater.— On 23rd 

 August a flock of these birds, numbering several dozen, was observed, 

 and odd pairs were often seen during the trip. The notes of the 

 Mallee bird differ from those of the Meliornis around Melbourne. 



Myzantha melanotis. Black-eared Miner. — We found this species 

 very plentiful in the dense sapling mallee south-east of Kow Plains. 

 They search for their food on the ground, to a large extent, and, after 

 feeding in one place for a few minutes, fly through the scrub for 50 

 or 100 yards before settling again. On a few occasions I watched 

 individuals searching for insects under the bark of mallee saplings. 

 One of the farmers brought me a set of two eggs of this species the day 

 before we broke camp, but they were too heavily incubated to make 

 into specimens. Up to this time the majority of the birds was still 

 in flocks. 



Myzantha flavi^ula. Yellow-throated Miner. — A few pairs of birds 

 of this species frequented the open timber on Kow Plains. On I4.th 

 October a nest was found containing newly-hatched young, and a 

 nest in course of construction was noted. 



Anthochaera carunculata. Red Wattle-Bird. — Common. A re- 

 markably shy bird. 



Acanthogenys ruGgularis. Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater. — These 

 noisy birds were observed in hundreds. Most of them were preparing 

 to nest about the middle of October. Two pairs nested close to 

 camp, in mallee gums. I watched one bird nest-building. The 

 female alone was doing the work. The male frequently flew near 

 her while she was flying to and from the nest. In the intervals he 

 would perch in a pine tree, close to the nesting-site, and utter his 

 gurgling notes. At times he made a curious flight into the air, 

 emitting a loud chattering call the while, then floated on outstretched 

 wings back to the pine tree. Perhaps on his return he would savagely 

 chase a Graceful Honey-eater out of the neighbourhood. 



Anthus australis. Australian Pipit. — Fairly numerous on the salt- 

 bush plains. 



Corvus australis. Raven. — Common. Several nests containing two 

 young birds were examined. 



Strepera melanoptera. Black-winged Bell-Magpie. — This bird, 

 although well distributed, was not common. It is very shy, though 

 there are exceptions to the rule. We often disturbed a bird feeding 

 on the ground in thick mallee. It would rise hurriedly and fly away, 

 uttering its musical notes. Nests containing eggs, and in various 

 stages of building, were found. The height of the nest from the 

 ground varied from 15 feet to 35 feet. 



Corcorax melanorhamphus. White-winged Chough. — Common. 

 A nest was found composed wholly of cattle droppings. Under one 

 nest I noticed a hole in the ground ; the birds had undoubtedly used 



