32 Alexander, Observations at Bremer Bay {W .A .) [,sf"juiy 



Wedge-tailed Eagle (Uroaetus audax';. — Two were seen, or possibly 

 the same bird on two occasions. One flew round above the water 

 trying to make up its mind to attack a wounded Teal, but, seeing us 

 on the bank, thought better of it. 



Whistling Eagle {Haliastur sphenurus). — A pair seen occasionally 

 circling over the water. 



Brown Hawk (leracidea berigora). — Frequent, hunting over the 

 open country, especially where it had been burnt by bush-fires, II 

 is interesting to note that this bird has the hovering habit of the 

 Kestrel group, but is not nearly so expert as the latter, hovering only 

 for a few seconds. 



Nankeen Kestrel (Cerchneis cenchroides). — Seen only once. 



Osprey {Pandion haliaetus). — A few observed. 



White-tailed Black Cockatoo ^Zanda baudinii). — Common. Noisy 

 flocks oi these birds were often to be seen, especially in the more open 

 country. It is generally supposed that these birds are chiefly 

 inhabitants of the gum-tree forests ; but, in my experience, they arc 

 more plentiful in the open country, finding most of their food in the 

 low shrubs or on the ground. When settled they make a curious 

 croaking note, very difficult to describe, but directly they fly they 

 begin to utter their loud screams, and keep them up all the time as 

 they travel, so that they are often heard approaching before they 

 come in sight. To my mind, their loud, harsh cries are the wildest 

 of all the sounds of the bush, and harmonize with the somewhat drearv 

 country in which they are found. 



Western Australian Rosella (Platycercus icterotis). — One was shot 

 by a member of the party. 



Western Australian King Parrot {Purpureicephalus spurius). — An 

 inhabitant of the gum-trees in the valleys. The call-note is much 

 harsher than that of the more familiar "Twenty-eight" (Barnardhis 

 zonarius), and it is worthy of note that the latter species was not seen. 



Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides). — A pair were seen on the sand- 

 plain in a very small bush, yet their wonderfully softly-tinted 

 plumage rendered them so inconspicuous that we almost walked on 

 to them before they rose. 



Sacred Kingfisher {Sauropatis sancfa). — Frequent. 



Bee-eater (Cosmcsrops ornatus). — A few pairs. 



Swallow {Hirundo neoxena). — Common. 



Tree- Martin (Hylochelidon nigricans). — Common, 



Scarlet-breasted Robin {Pefroica multicolor). — A few pairs. 



Short-billed Tree-Tit {Smicrornis brevirostris). — Seen once. 



Black-and- White Fantail {Leucocirca tricolor). — Very numerous. 



Restless Flycatcher {Seisura inqtiieta). — Frequent. 



Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike {Coracina novcehollandics). — Frequent. 



Striated Field- Wren (Calamanthus fuliginosus) (?) — A skulking bird, 

 seen se\eral limes among the bushes in the sand-plain country, was 

 perhaps this species. 



White-fronted Chat {Epthianura albifrons"^. — Common on the sand- 

 hills. 



