212 Whitlock, On the East Murchison. [.st'^Aprii 



Septcinber I obtained a pair of incubated eggs. This nest was in a 

 bunch of mistletoe. 



Pipit {Anthus anstralis). — Distributed in scattered pairs throughout 

 all open country, but nowhere numerous. 



Lesser Bush-Lark (Mirafra secunda) (?). — In the spinifcx at 

 Bore Well I saw a brown bird whose actions and flight reminded me 

 of this species, but it was the only one I saw, and I am not too certain 

 of its identity. 



Chestnut-eared Finch {Tceniopygia castanotis). — Never before 

 have I seen this Finch so abundant. Around all wells, rock-holes, or 

 permanent water they were in dozens upon dozens. I found nests 

 near Nannine in June, and, from the numbers of immature birds on 

 the wing, they had evidently been breeding for some months. When 

 I left Milly Pool, 6th November, pairs were still building. Their nests 

 were everywhere — from the hollow spouts of eucalypts to the smallest 

 salt-bushes. It was only in the samphires that I failed to find them. 

 One hakea bush near my camp at Milly Pool contained thirteen nests, 

 all of this season. In this bush three nests were actually touching one 

 another. Other nests in quite an unfinished state contained eggs. 

 All were of the same type — oval in shape, and built of fine grasses, 

 with the entrance sheltered by a spout or pent-house. The lining of 

 a new nest is neat and warm, and consists as a rule of the soft, down- 

 like flowers of Dicrastyles fulva. Six eggs was a common clutch, but 

 more often four or five. Some were white, others had a tinge of 

 yellow ; others, again, were bluish-white. I made it a rule to peep 

 into all accessible nests, in the hope of finding a Cuckoo's egg, but had 

 no luck in this respect. 



This was the only Finch 1 identified with certainty ; but on two 

 occasions, in the spinifex at Bore Well, I met with another species that 

 I failed to secure. In the first instance I encountered a single bird ; 

 I fired at and missed it. A heavy gale was blowing at the time. 

 On the second occasion I saw three, but had used my last dust-shot 

 carti-idge, and had only No. 3 left. I fired to the side of one bird with 

 a quarter charge, in the hope that a stray shot would hit it. But 

 again no luck. These Finches looked like StictopteYci aiinulosa, but I 

 am very uncertain. I hope some other ornithologist visiting the East 

 Murchison will clear this point up. 



Crow {Covvus coronoides). — Nowhere numerous, but always a flock 

 hanging around the slaughter-yard at Wiluna. I examined the 

 remains of half a dozen or so which appeared to have been poisoned, 

 but they were too much mutilated to determine whether or not they 

 were of the present species or C. hennetti. A pair had a nest near 

 Bore Well, but the young flew soon after my arrival. 



Leaden Crow-Shrike {Strepera plumbea). — Distinctly rare. I 

 caught sight of a single bird at Bore Well, and also heard the notes of 

 a pair near a likely-looking nest in a tall gidgi tree. The situation of 

 this nest was too dangerous to warrant an attempt to rifle if — x wetik 

 horizontal branch at a height of 35 feet, with the nest on the extreme 

 end, out of reach of a scoop, and an outcrop of jagged ironstone rocks 

 below. A broken limb in these lonely scrubs is a serious matter, the 

 chances of timely assistance being remote. 



Yellow-spotted Bower-Bird {Chlamydodera guttata). — When I 

 left home I had just the faint hope I might encounter this rare and 



