32 Wilson, Oologists in the Mallee. [,st^Ti'iv 



hollow were found. The nestlings when newly hatched are covered with a 

 whitish down, and the nesting hollow containing them on being opened 

 smells very strongly of honey. Sometimes the egg cavity would be close to 

 the entrance, while at other times it would be at the bottom of the tree, 1 5 or 

 20 feet below. Around these nesting areas was a scene of constant activity, 

 the ijarent birds continually setting out for and returning from the feeding 

 grounds. 



Cacatua leadbeateri. Pink Cockatoo.— These handsome birds were often 

 seen in the Kow Plains district, where they frequently nest. 



Cacatua roseicapilla. Rose-breasted Cockatoo. -This Cockatoo seemed to 

 be a rare one in the districts visited, as only two pairs were noted during 

 the trip. 



Barnardius barnardi. Mallee-Parrakeet.— This is a very common bird in 

 the Mallee country, and its handsome plumage never fails to attract the eye. 

 We were somewhat early for eggs, as all the nesting hollows we examined 

 were only being cleared out. 



Psephotus haematonotus. Red-backed Parrakeet. — A few pairs were 

 observed close to Ouyen, and a nesting hollow which the birds were clearing 

 out noticed. 



Psephotus multicolor. Many-coloured Parrakeet. — One specimen only of 

 this delicately-plumaged bird was seen. It was flushed from some long 

 grass, close to Ouyen station. 



Podargus rossi. (Mathews). —This bird, which Mr. Mathews has, 1 think, 

 rightly described as a new species, was met with both at Ouyen and Kow 

 Plains. At both these places a nest was found containing two fresh eggs. 

 The eggs, as has been pointed out by Mr. F. E. Howe, are considerably 

 smaller than those of Podargus strigoides. In both the nests I examined 

 green twigs of the turpentine shrub had been incorporated in the structure, 

 which was otherwise made of dry twigs of the mallee eucalypt. The nest 

 is the same shape and about the same size as that of Podargus strigoides, 

 and is placed on a horizontal fork. 



.ffigotheles novse-hollandiae. Owlet-Nightjar. — When tapping the larger 

 mallee gums in search of hollow-loving species, we frequently disturbed 

 these birds, some of which had already commenced nesting operations, as 

 two or three incomplete sets of eggs were noticed. 



Eurostopus albigularis. White-throated Nightjar. — Although we did not 

 actually see these birds, we often heard their curious call near our camp on 

 moonlight nights. Mr. J. Scarce also had the remnants of an undoubted 

 e'^'i^ of this species which he had found in the locality. 



Cuculus pallidus. Pallid Cuckoo. — Cuckoos were all very plentiful, and 

 the Pallid species was met with on all sides. They did not appear to have 

 started laying, as, although we examined numerous suitable nests, no eggs 

 were seen. 



Cacomantis rufulus. F'an-tailed Cuckoo. — We were fortunate in finding a 

 nest oi Hylacola cauta containing two eggs and an ^%g of this species, the 

 only Cuckoo's ^gg taken during the trip. 



Mesocalius palliolatus. Black-eared Cuckoo. — The Mallee seems to be 

 the home of this tine Cuckoo. They were very plentiful around our camp at 

 Kow Plains North. 



Chalcococcyx basalis. Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo. — Common every- 

 where. 



Chalcococcyx plagosus. Bronze-Cuckoo. — Fairly common, but not half as 

 numerous as the preceding species. 



Hirundo neoxena. Swallow. — These Swallows had a nest at the Kow 



