Vul. XIII. 



J Barnard, Search fur Amytornis ivoociwardi in N.T. i8q 



with us, made for some high ranges on the opposite side of 

 the river and the phice where we had seen the Amytornis on a 

 previous occasion. After crossing the river we made for a pool of 

 water about a mile from the river and on the top of the range. 

 In crossing a low spur at the foot of a very high wall of rock a 

 pair of Amytornis suddenly darted from under a rock close in 

 front of us, and instantly disappeared among a mass of rocks. 

 Our swags were dropped, and, creeping quietly forward with the 

 gun ready, I gained the rocks, only to see one bird dart from 

 rock to rock with such speed that it was impossible to get a shot, 

 and in a few seconds it had gained the bluff, which was fully 

 50 feet high, and with a succession of short flights and hops 

 quickly reached the top, over which it disappeared. I now turned 

 my attention to the other bird, which had reappeared further 

 down the spur. It made for the bluff. After much diffrculty 

 with rocks, lStc, a shot brought the l)ird down. We were quickly 

 on tlic spot, and ior some time searched in vain ; at last, when 

 nearly gi\'ing uj) in desjiair, I climbed to the ledge of rock above 

 our heads, and saw the bird wedged into a crack. In trying to 

 get my hand in I touched the l)ird, which ([uickly fluttered out 

 of the crack lower down and on to a rock close to my companion, 

 who promptly caught it. Making our way to where we had left 

 our swags, I left my companion on watch to see whether the other 

 bird returned to its mate, and with some difficulty scaled the 

 liluft'. The top was fairly flat, and I searched for some time 

 without result. In one place was a deep depression down which 

 water evidently jwurs during the wet season, probably coming 

 out again at some spot at the foot of the bluff. This depression 

 had a few small trees growing in it, the tops of which just reached 

 the surface, causing it to be dark within. In climbing down 

 I disturbed a pair of Boobook Owls roosting in a shrub at the 

 bottom ; probably they nest in the hollows of the sandstone. 

 Continuing my search for a quarter of a mile, I climbed down 

 to a lower shelf of rock, and watched a family of Malurus diilcis 

 feeding among the shrubs and spinifex below me. Several 

 '• Sandstone " Thrushes were creeping among the rocks like rats. 

 1 thought that if any specimens of Amytornis were about they 

 would be feeding with the other birds. For about 10 minutes I 

 remained still, watching the birds, when suddenly an Amytornis 

 hopped on to a rock close to me. I fired at once, killing it. I 

 kept quiet for a while, hoping that others would show out, but 

 as none appeared I climbed down and secured the dead bird. 

 Hearing a quick " chirp " behind, and turning quickly, I saw 

 another bird hop on to a rock, and, firing before it could get 

 away, killed it also. I now followed the Thrushes and Maluri 

 lower down, and, after watching them for some time, saw three 

 more Amytornis feeding among the rocks. I now returned to my 

 companion, and we again shouldered our swags and made for the 

 water. 



The quart-pot was now boiled, and after a pannikin of tea I 



