Vol. IX. 



1909 



] Mathews, On the Birds of North-West Australia. II 



of lower mandible greyish-brown in adult male ; in immature 

 male and female bill brown, base of lower mandible pale yellow. 



The immature birds are just getting their dark feathers on 

 the back. 



Common ; lives on bauhinia trees when they are in bloom. 

 The heads of some of the above have pollen on them. 



The stomach contained fragments of beetles and insects and 

 flesh of figs. 



POMATOSTOMUS RUBECULUS (Red-breasted Babbler). 

 Math., Handl. B. Austr., No. 532. 



Three adult males and two females. Parry's Creek, 22nd 

 August, 14th November, 1908. 



Iris very pale yellow ; feet and legs olive-brown ; bill brown, 

 base of culmen and basal half of lower mandible white. 



These birds spend most of the day amongst the dense growth 

 on the banks of creeks and waterholes, but are at times found 

 many miles from water. 



The stomach contained fragments of insects. 



CiNCLORHAMPHUS RUFESCENS (Rufous Song-Lark). 



Math., Handl. B. Austr., No. 539. 



Male. Parry's Creek, November, 1908. 

 Iris brown ; feet and tarsi light brown ; bill dark brown. 

 The stomach contained fragments of grasshoppers and other 

 insects. 



CiSTICOLA EXILIS (Grass-Warbler). 

 Math., Handl. B. Austr., No. 552. 



Two males and two females. Parry's Creek, November, 1908. 



Iris pale brown ; feet and tarsi yellowish-white ; bill — upper 

 mandible brown, lower mandible and corner of mouth white. 



The stomach contained fragments of small insects. 



Malurus CRUENTATUS (Red-backed Wren). 

 Math., Handl. B. Austr., No. 608. 



Six adult males. Parry's Creek, October, 1908. Six adult 

 females and two immature males, 7/1 1/08. 



Two adult males are in full breeding plumage ; the other four 

 are little, if any, different from the adult females. In the ones in 

 breeding plumage the eye is black, feet and tarsi light brown, 

 bill black ; in winter plumage the eye is dark brown, feet and 

 tarsi light brown, bill brown, lower mandible fleshy-white ; the 

 adult female the same. 



The stomach contained fragments of small insects. 



These birds feed very late. On the lOth September, when it 

 was nearly dark, I saw a flock of them running along the 

 ground. I could not distinguish the birds, but knew their call, 

 and knew they were feeding because I could hear their bills 



