^°l'/i^' J Whitlock, On the East Murchison. 103 



around Wiluna. I met with it almost everywhere, the exception being 

 amongst the lagoons and sand-hills of Lake Violet. It was breeding 

 commonly at Milly Pool, and I found several nests with young, being too 

 late for eggs. All were in hollow limbs of eucalypts. 



Warbling Grass-Parrakeet {Melopsiiiacns utidulaties). — M.&\. with in 

 flocks everywhere. The edge of the big spinifex plain was a good place, as 

 they feed on the seed of the spinifex, which was very abundant the present 

 year. Like the last-mentioned species, they were breeding commonly around 

 Milly Pool. I chopped out several nest-holes, but only found one clutch of 

 six eggs, and these were on the point of hatching. 



Short-winged Frogmouth {Podargus brachypterus). — This interesting 

 bird was found in scattered pairs throughout the district, and I found nests 

 with both eggs and newly-hatched young. I shot a male for purposes of 

 identification. I think it is now admitted that this is a good species, and 

 should be separated instead of being joined with P. hiimeralis. 



Owlet Nightjar {/Egothcles novcc-liollandicE). — In hunting for Psrrots' 

 nests I found two nests of this species, but was only successful in getting one 

 &%% — an infertile one. Newly-hatched young are covered with white flaky 

 down, which is very long and dense around the beak. A pair hawking for 

 insects reminded me strongly of the European Merlin {Falco cesaloii). 



Red-backed Kingflsher {Halycyon pyrrhopygius). — The only King- 

 fisher met with. I found it breeding in hollow trunks the interior of which 

 had been tilled up with red earth, conveyed there by termites. It is a late 

 breeder, and I took a clutch of five eggs on 29th October. A second pair 

 were still excavating their tunnel. 



Bee-eater {Mcrops ornatus). — \ heard the familiar notes of this species 

 as they passed over, migrating to the south. 



Spotted Nightjar {Eurostopus argus){guiiafus). — I flushed a Nightjar 

 vv'hen climbing some rocks lying to the east of Wiluna. It looked very 

 rufous, and may have been of this species. It was the only one I saw. 



Pallid Cuckoo {Cuculus inomatus). — Far from common. I saw or 

 heard most of it on the verge of the spinifex plain at Bore Well. 



Black-eared Cuckoo {Mcsocaliiis palliolatus). — Much commoner than 

 the last, but I had no luck in finding its eggs, though I was very keen in the 

 quest. It is not the first time I have been disappointed in a locality where 

 the bird has not been uncommon. I am inclined to think we have much to 

 learn respecting its breeding habits. 



Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx basalis).- Fairly com- 

 mon, its high-pressure notes being much in evidence around the margins of 

 Lake Violet. I got several eggs from nests of Ma/urns Icucoptcrus^ and 

 also found a young bird just I'eady to leave a nest of Acanthiza wJiitlocki^ 

 and again saw a second pair of these birds feeding a young one, which I 

 caught. 



Swallow {Hirundo ncoxciui). — Found near water throughout the 

 district. 



Black-and-White Swallow {Cherainceca leucosternuin). — Fairly com- 

 mon. It favours the mining belt, where it often breeds in abandoned shafts 

 or in the face of old alluvial workings. 



Red-capped Robin {Petrosca goode/!ovn).~Th\s little gem was the 

 common Robin, or, more properly speaking, Stone-Chat, of the district. It 

 was familiar everywhere ; the only place it seemed to avoid was the tract of 

 eucalypts near Milly Pool. It began to breed at the end of July, and nests 

 might have been found up to the middle of October. Though it breeds 

 when a year old, I do not think males assume full nuptial plumage until their 

 second birthday is passed— in some cases perhaps a little later. I estimated 



