IQ4 Whitlock, On the East Murchison: f '^a'"-, 



yt ' I tst April 



the proportion of brown males to males in full plumage at five to one, and it 

 is significant that I found in those cases where a brown male had paired 

 the eggs resulting were not more than two, and in two instances an egg of 

 the pair was infertile. Old females show traces of red on the forehead and 

 breast, and I saw males apparently only just changing into scarlet and black 

 at the close of the breeding season. All but one of the nests I found were 

 very low down, and usually placed on dead wood. The exception was a 

 nest near my camp at Bore Well, which was fully 8 feet from the ground. 

 This nest was completed and eggs laid within nine days. 



Pied Robin {Petrccca picatd). — Distributed in scattered pairs throughout 

 the district. I obtained several nests with eggs, which do not difier from 

 those of P. bicolor. This Robin was one of the earliest birds to call in the 

 morning. Long before the sun was up I used to hear their cry of " Kwcc- 

 kwii-kwu," only to be heard at that hour of the day. More often than not 

 I was then shivering over my freshly-kindled fire. This species is double- 

 brooded. A pair were building on 4th October. I had rather bad luck with 

 the nests I found. Several were destroyed by Crows or Babblers, and others 

 I had to leave before the eggs were laid. This was very vexatious, as the 

 parent birds are very wary and will not go back to the nest when watched. 



Short-billed Tree-Tit {Smicrornis brevirostris). — Only met with in the 

 eucalypt sapHngs at Milly Pool, and around Dural station, to the north-west. 

 I was too late for eggs. 



Southern Fly-eater {Pseudogerygonc cidicivora). — Distinctly rare. 

 One or two seen or heard near Bore Well. 



Black-and-Whi'JE ¥ AWi: x\h {Rhipidura tricolor). — ^Breeding in scattered 

 pairs throughout the district. Several nests found, but only examined for 

 Cuckoos' eggs. This was another early bird, and at Bore Well I was 

 reminded at daybreak that " I must please be strict " — in my general 

 behaviour, I suppose. 



I had the vexation to lose a specimen of a Rliipidura that may have only 

 been A', prcissi^ but may equally well have been A', albicauda. It was the 

 only one I saw during the trip. 



Ground Cuckoo-Shrike {Pteropodocys phasl(iHclld).-~\ only met with 

 this interesting bird immediately around Wiluna, and again near Milly Pool. 

 It was distinctly uncommon, though by no means timid, as I often saw a 

 pair amongst the stores and private houses comprising the main street of 

 the township. The pairs were widely scattered, and nests consequently 

 difficult to find. 



It was not till I got to Milly Pool that I had any luck. On my arrival 

 there young were already on the wing, but I noticed a pair of old birds 

 which seemed to hang around a particular group of York gums. On i8th 

 October I visited the spot, and caught sight of a nest on the topmost branch 

 of a York gum, the sittmg bird, with her long tail, being plainly visible. I 

 had never taken eggs of this species before, and though I did not like the 

 look of the slender branch holding the nest, I resolved to climb as far as I 

 could, and see how things looked on a closer inspection. The nest was fully 

 30 feet from the hard-baked ground below, but I climbed to within 8 feet of 

 it without any difficulty. There was one more fork, and if this would only 

 bear my weight I had my prize within my grasp. I comforted myself with 

 the thought that York gums are exceptionally tough, and took the risk. I 

 had my reward in taking a record clutch of four beautiful eggs. All were 

 perfect and typical specimens except one, which had less gloss than the 

 others. These eggs were a second brood and quite fresh. 



Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike {Coracina robustd). — This is a migratory 

 species on the Murchison, and it was not until 13th August that I saw the 

 first. This was at Bore Well. In the gums around Milly Pool a few pairs 

 were breeding. I noted several nests. In each case they were placed in 



