Vol. IX. 

 1909 



1 Grossman, Birds Seen at Ciimminin Station, W.A. 85 



water is principally found. There is very little surface water 

 except in the winter, and this is the great drawback to the 

 country. The soil in many parts is splendid, but the country is 

 unreliable for arable purposes on account of the uncertainty of 

 the rainfall. 



These notes were made during a residence of nearly three 

 years, the birds in most instances being identified through field- 

 glasses, though in several cases specimens were obtained with a 

 collector's gun. There were, in addition to those set out here, 

 several other species which were not sufficiently identified, and 

 of these no mention is made in this paper. However, it is 

 hoped that the following list (89 species) will be of some 

 assistance in arriving at the distribution of the various birds of 

 Western Australia : — 



Emu (Dromfsus novce-hollandicB).— This bird is common in the 

 district, though large numbers of them must die during the summer 

 for want of water. The Emu has an objectionable habit, when in the 

 paddocks with sheep, of marching round and round a flock, drumming 

 all the time, and then rushing through the middle of them regardless 

 of consequences. There is a hill on Cumminin station, known as 

 Narenuppin or Emu Hill, which is a favourite resort for these birds, 

 no doubt on account of the open waterholes there. 



Mallee-Fowl or Gnow (Lipoa ocellata). — This bird was formerly 

 much more plentiful than at the present time, if one may judge from 

 the old nesting mounds about, but no explanation can be given why 

 they, in common with opossums and other small animals, practically 

 disappeared from the large tract of country of which Cumminin is 

 part. It is surprising in what hard country one finds their old nests. 

 I found a very large disused one in 1907 in hard ironstone gravel 

 country; it was practically circular, and measured 16 feet in diameter. 

 I was never lucky enough to find a nest in use, but in the beginning 

 of 1908 I found one which had been used the previous nesting season. 

 This was in soft country in gimlet gum forest, and was within 20 

 yards of the old Narrogin-Southern Cross road. 



Stubble Quail (Coiurnix pectoralis). — The Brown Quail * was an 

 irregular visitor. In 1907 it appeared in considerable numbers, and 

 also nested in the district, whereas in the following year I did not see 

 a single bird. 



Brush Bronze-wing (Phaps elegans). — A common species, seen in 

 large numbers round the waterholes in the summer, but very occasion- 

 ally seen in the winter, when there is plenty of water about. 



Black-tailep Native-Hen {Microtribonyx ventralis). — I saw one 

 of these birds near my homestead for several days early in 1907. 



Black Moor-Hen {Gallinula tenebrosd). — A bird of this species 

 frequented a small soak at Narenuppin for some time. No doubt 

 they are not uncommon round some of the salt lakes in wet seasons. 



Southern Stone-Plover (Burhinus grallarius). — This bird, com- 

 monly known as the " Curlew," is very plentiful. 



* The Brown Quail of W.A. is generally recognized as Synnvciis sordidus. — Eds. 



