I'^S White, North Australian Birds. \ uiTn 



many old nests and one fresh of the Thrushes, all placed in holes in 

 the backs and roofs of overhanging ledges of rock. Malurus dulcis 

 observed for some time ; could not locate the females. A Ptilotis 

 also seen. After lunch I worked another part of the range. A 

 Thrush flew from under a ledge 20 feet from the bottom of a ravine 

 — rather a stiff cUmb. A fresh-looking nest was found in a hole 

 under the ledge. Further on a nest of Artamus minor was found on 

 a narrow ledge 20 feet up the face of an abrupt pinnacle of rock ; 

 after a stiff climb I managed to get above the nest, which contained 

 two small young. Some Koels, a Bower-Bird, a Megapode, and a 

 Chalcophaps were noted in a small patch of scrub at the head of a 

 ravine. Worked about 2^ miles of the range to the northward. 

 There had not been any rain in this part yet. Caught a few water- 

 beetles and some tiny shell-lish that were swimming rapidly in a pool ; 

 bottled them. Reached camp at dusk. 



22/1 i/i 5. — Felt stiff and sore; too much rock work yesterday. 

 Took a skinning outfit and went to spring up river. Neochmia 

 phaeton were the only birds seen up till 10 a.m. Then a few Munia 

 and Stictoptera came. Four Poephila were located in a bushy tree 

 about 20 yards away from where I sat. I fired, and quite a large 

 flock flew from the tree. I picked up 13 birds; four of them were 

 badly damaged ; the others were good specimens. Sent New back 

 to the camp to bring along some lunch, and set to work on the birds 

 again ; finished 13 skins by 3 p.m. Later, two large flocks of P. 

 gouldi were noted, and numerous small flocks of M. castaneithorax 

 kept arriving Did not see any of M. xanthoprymna. Rest of the 

 afternoon hunted through the forest. 



23/1 1/15. — Went to the sandstone range and into it about a mile 

 further north than last visit. A party of Malurus dulcis Cmale and 

 four females) was watched for some time without result. A single 

 Ptilotis was procured. Several Thrushes heard calling, but only 

 one nesting-place discovered — two nests side by side on a sheltered 

 ledge ; one appeared to be fresh. An Eagle's nest was observed 

 jambed between a fig-tree and the face of the cliff, about 100 feet 

 from the bottom of a ravine. Worked round and up above the nest, 

 which appeared being built, as a green branchlet could be seen in 

 it. Some large bats were disturbed in a narrow ravine : bagged two 

 of them. A fine rock-hole of clear, cool water was found, from which 

 a lot of small, shrimp-like creatures were secured. After lunch 

 worked through another part of the range. A pair of small Owls 

 was flushed from a bushy tree; one bird was dropped, the other dis- 

 appeared. A number of human thigh and shin bones, mostly coloured 

 red, was found hidden under a shelf of rock. Nothing else of note 

 seen. Returned to camp about sunset, shooting a Platycercus browni 

 on the way. 



24/1 i/i 5.— Shot a Little Cuckoo (Chalcococcyx minutillus) near 

 the camp before breakfast. A Swift (Cypselus pacificus) flew south. 

 Worked through the forest south of the camp. A small Owl flushed 

 from bushy eucalypt ; shot it. Two pairs of Cracticus argenteus 

 were observed for some time ; do not think they have started to breed 

 yet. Artamus venustus noted. Called in at the billabongs on the 

 way back. Tracks of Emus seen in the mud. All the Finches again 

 in evidence at the spring, and fairlv numerous. Got back to camp 

 about 2 p.m. and skinned birds. 



