^°'; j^"-] Wilson, Oologists in the Mallee. 35 



Pomatostomus superciliosus. White-browed Babbler. — ^These well-known 

 birds are very plentiful throughout the Mallee, particularly on the Murray 

 pine ridges, where scores of their nests were observed. 



Calamanthus howei. Howe Field-Wren. — These timid little creatures we 

 found to inhabit the dry salt-bush plains around Kow Plains and North 

 Dam, and had great difficulty in obtaining specimens. We obtained four 

 birds in all, and on dissection we found that if not already breeding they 

 were very close upon it. The birds we obtained were all secured at the 

 foot of a copai hillock, where two species of salt-loving plants grew. When 

 flushed they sought refuge in the prickly salt-bush, from which it was 

 exceedingly difficult to dislodge them. The only note we heard them utter 

 was given in a low tone, and was somewhat similar to the commonest call 

 of C. albiloris. I saved the stomachs of the birds obtained, together with 

 those of several other species, which will be dealt with at a later date. The 

 type specimen of this species was obtained at Kow Plains two years pre- 

 viously by Messrs. J. A. Ross and F. E. Howe, and it was named by Mr. 

 Gregory Mathews from the single specimen. 



Cinclorhamphus cruralis. Brown Song- Lark. — One specimen only was 

 seen at Kow Plains, where in some seasons they are said to be plentiful. 



Ephthianura albifrons. White-fronted Bush-Chat. — This was another old 

 friend which we saw in the open country east of Ouyen. 



Acanthiza apicalis (?) Broad-tailed Tit. — An Acanthiza having decided 

 leanings towards the Western Australian form. A. apicalis was obtained 

 on the dense tea-tree covered sand-ridge south of Kow Plains, where four 

 specimens were obtained. The Mallee specimens all had bright red irides, 

 while A. piisilla always has rich brown. Again, the notes of the Northern 

 bird are totally distinct from A. pusilla. 



Acanthiza pyrrhopygia. Red-rumped Tit. — We only met with this bird on 

 three occasions at Kow Plains, and did not see it at all at Ouyen. 



Acanthiza uropygialis. Chestnut-rumped Tit.— This Tit is found wherever 

 the timber is sufficiently large to contain suitable holes for nesting purposes. 

 Several nests were found, one of which was close to Ouyen railway station. 



Acanthiza chrysorrhoa. Yellow-rumped Tit. — Was often seen in the Murray 

 pine country around Kow Plains. 



Sericornis brunnea. Redthroat. — In some low scrubby country, close to 

 Ouyen, we met with and obtained a specimen of this quaint little bird. 



Malurus melanonotus. Black-backed Wren. — The beautiful plumage of 

 this and the following species is one of the first things to catch the eye of 

 the ornithologist visiting the Mallee. Although occasionally found in the 

 porcupine-grass country, it usually inhabits the turpentine-bush and low 

 scrubby growths of the flats, where it is a very common bird. Several skins 

 showing the interesting changes of plumage of the male bird were secured. 

 A sharp look-out was kept for their nests, but we were too early, only one 

 partially-built nest being found. 



Malurus assimilis. Purple-backed Wren. — Might be described as " the 

 gem of the porcupine grass," where it is always seen, darting in and out of 

 the great tufts in search of ants and other small forms of insect life. At the 

 time of our visit they were still in flocks, about a dozen birds being the usual 

 complement. In a flock of this dimension I usually saw two adult males 

 and two or three others in varying stages of maturity. The reddish line 

 near the eye of the female of this species is not so bright as in the case of 

 M. indanonofiis^ but otherwise it is almost impossible to distinguish 

 between them. 



