Kmu 



l88 Barnard, Search for Amytornis woodiuardi in N.T. [,'V"j'an 



Search for Amytornis woodward! in the Northern 



Territory. 

 By Harry G. Barnard, R.A.O.U. 



On Tuesday, 23/9/13, my companion and self left camp for some 

 high sandstone ranges about 7 miles distant, and east of the 

 i unction of the Clyde River with the Macarthur, in the Northern 

 Territory. The object of our quest was an Amytornis, or Grass- 

 Wren, of which we had previously seen a single specimen, but 

 which we had failed to obtain. As we intended to put in two 

 days in the ranges, we carried provisions to last the time, also 

 took camp mosquito-nets, as snakes are numerous in that class of 

 country. We also carried a small-bore rifle and a 410-bore 

 specimen gun, with plenty of ammunition, and skinning apparatus. 

 About 10 a.m. we arrived at a small pool under a high sand- 

 stone bluff. Here we established our headquarters, and, as it was 

 still early, placed our swags on the sandstone shelves, and, taking 

 the gun and rifle, spent several hours among the high sand- 

 stone bluffs and deep ravines, in which grew a few stunted ])ushes 

 and great masses of " old man " spinifex or porcupine-grass. 

 This grass is armed with sharp points, which penetrate one's 

 clothing, also one's flesh, leaving a nasty stinging sensation. It 

 is also covered with a sticky, waxy-like substance which blackens 

 one's clothing and is very hard to remove. We returned to camp 

 at mid-day, having seen nothing of the bird wanted. The only 

 birds seen were a few Thrushes {Colluricimia woodivardi), 

 " one old nest of which was seen placed in a round hole in 

 the side of a cliff," a Honey-eater {Ptilotis) which is only found 

 among the sandstone, and a small colony of Lavender-flanked 

 Wrens {M alums dulcis). After a short spell and lunch, we again 

 set forth, this time following the ranges parallel with the Mac- 

 arthur River ; after going about 3 miles through \'ery rough 

 country we struck across to the river. We had seen no sign of the 

 bird we were after, but found an old nest, placed on the toj) of a 

 bunch of spinifex, which undoubtedly belonged to an Amytornis. 

 On reaching the river we flushed a Winking Owl {Niiiox coii- 

 nivens) from a hollow high up in a large melaleuca. and a 

 clutch of two eggs was obtained. Tired of mountain climbing, 

 we followed the river till opposite the camp, which we reached 

 towards evening, weary and very disappointed with the day's 

 work. After supper we rigged our nets, and, as it became dark, 

 crawled beneath them. The night, however, proved very chilly 

 and the ground hard, and long before morning we crept out 

 and gathered what sticks we could find in the dark. After 

 lighting a fire we lay beside it, waiting for dawn, and listening 

 to the rock-wallabies, which kept hopping about on the rocks, 

 wondering, no doubt, what strange beings had taken jiossession 

 of their drinking quarters. 



At the first sign of dawn the quart-jwts were on the fire, and, 

 after a hasty breakfast, we rolled uj) o\w swags, and, taking them 



