IQO Whitlock, On the East Murchison. [isf April 



the run. If approached carefully they are not timid, but if fired at usually 

 fly away to some distance. Amongst the samphires this Dottrel is very 

 inconspicuous, and looks grey rather than ferruginous in colour. This may 

 be due to the glare, which is very trying to the eyes until one is accustomed 

 to it. In addition to the syllable " Kr-root " before described, this bird has 

 a sharper call, which can be heard at some distance ; it resembles the word 

 " quick " uttered in a slightly metallic tone. 



Little Stint {Pisohia ruficoUis).—^ few non-breeding birds, with traces 

 of rust-coloured feathers in their plumage, around the lagoons in Lake Violet. 



Curlew Sandpiper {A?icylocInlus subarquatus). — On 20th August, at 

 Lake Violet, I shot a single male bird. It was, of course, a non-breeding 

 individual. The plumage was much mottled with rufous. 



Stone-Plover {Rtir/iinus ^s^ral/arius). — I frequently heard the weird, 

 plaintive cry of this bird at night, chiefly around Milly Pool. 



Bustard or Wild Turkey {Eupodotis ausiralis). — A fair number seen. 

 They had evidently bred after the summer rains, as young were to be seen 

 nearly half-grown at the end of June. 



Straw-necked Ibis {Ibis spi?iicollis). — A pair or two around Milly Pool. 



White-fronted Heron {NotopJwyx 7wvcv-/iolla?idice). — A few pairs at 

 Lake Violet and around Milly Pool. I think there was a nest near the latter 

 locality, as I saw the remains of a young bird. 



White-necked H eron {Notophoyx padjicd). — A pair at the largest lagoon 

 in Lake Violet. 



Black Swan [Chenopsis atrata). — A few on the largest lagoon in Lake 

 Violet. This species breeds plentifully on Lake Naberu, some 70 miles, or 

 thereabouts, to north-west of Wiluna. 



Mountain-Duck or Sheldrake {Casarca iador-7ioides).—K number on 

 Lake Violet, and I think a pair was nesting in a rabbit burrow about a 

 mile to the east of the big lagoon. These and other Ducks lead troubled 

 lives, owing to the severe periodic bombardments they receive at the 

 hands of Wiluna sportsmen. As Ducks soon learn to keep well out of gun- 

 shot, they are more frightened than hurt. 



Black Duck {Afias superciliosa). — A fair number on Lake Violet, Milly 

 Pool, and other sheets of water. No doubt pairs occasionally breed, as the 

 young have been shot before they could fly. 



Sparrow-Hawk {Acapi/cr cirrJiflccpkalus). — Scattered pairs are to be 

 found throughout the district, breeding in suitable haunts. Near Milly Pool 

 I found three nests — the first a very well constructed nest in a beef-wood 

 tree. All the material was entirely new and neatly put together. The cup 

 was shallow, but for all that profusely lined with green eucalypt leaves. 

 The female sat close, and I could not see her from below. On climbing the 

 tree I found four beautiful eggs, well marked, but with the blotches pale 

 rufous, in which characteristic they differ from eggs of the European 

 Sparrow-Hawk, which they otherwise resemble. A second nest was a rough, 

 untidy structure, probably the old nest of some larger Hawk; but, like the 

 last, the tgg cavity was neatly lined with fresh eucalypt leaves. This 

 nest contained three fresh eggs, quite spotless and almost white in ground 

 colour. I was very unwell at the time, and in coming down the tree got 

 caught on a snag, breaking two of the eggs. My third nest was in a very 

 large casuarina, and was again an old nest re-lined. I took it probably before 

 the clutch was completed. It contained but two fresh eggs. 



Wedge-tailed Eagle {Uroaefus audax). — Far from common, and I 

 heard of no breeding place near to Wiluna. 



Little Eagle {Viohnaetus morphnoides). — I frequently saw a fine pair 

 flying over Lake Violet, but I could not get on the track of their nest. 



