Vol. XII. "j Jackson, Haunts of the Spotted Bower-Bird. 83 



half a mile. I saw the birds at different times leaving camp with 

 them a few days ago. A mirage on the plains is very remarkable. 



lyih October. — Saw few Red-kneed Dottrel {Erythvogonys cinctus) 

 at clay tank beside camp. Watched the Bower-Birds at No. 2 bower, 

 north of camp, nearly all day, and examined a great many more trees, 

 but no sign of a nest. 



icS/A October. — Walked some 4 miles north-west of camp to-day. 

 Took nest and eggs (two) of Pseiidogerygone jacksoni. Visited No. 4 

 bower, under the wild red currant bush (Exocarpus aphylla, R. Br.), 

 and the two Bower-Birds flew up from it. I watched them visit 

 the pines near, and bring green seed-pods from them to the play- 

 ground. More bones, bleached land-shells {Helix), &c., added to this 

 bower since my last visit. Being curious to know where the Bower- 

 Birds belonging to No. 4 bower collected the land-shells for their 

 play-grounds, I set to work on a dried-up warrambool not far away, 

 and on removing the loose pieces of fallen bark at the base of some 

 dead belah trees found a number of bleached shells (Helix), and, 

 moving some fallen trees, raked and dug down into the sheltered 

 root-holes of the dried mud bed, and found several living specimens, 

 two species of which are new to science. They wall be described by 

 Mr. C. Hedley, F.L.S.. Conchologist and Assistant Curator of the 

 Australian Museum, Sydney. Another instance of the play-ground 

 of a Bower-Bird leading up to the discovery of other new land-shells 

 may now be quoted respecting the rare, beautiful, and remarkable 

 shells known as Panda whitei. Hedley, named in compliment to Mr. 

 H. L. White, and described and figured by Mr C. Hedley, F.L.S., 

 in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of N.S.W. (191 2, part 2). 

 These were discovered by me in the Pioneer River district. North 

 Queensland, in 1908, owing to my finding broken shells in a play- 

 ground of the Satin Bower-Bird (Ptilonorhynclius violaceus). In an 

 adjacent dense scrub I found several living shells. 



To-day I noticed two eurah trees (Eremophila bignoniflora, F. v. M.), 

 bearing pink blossoms instead of yellowish-cream, and collected 

 specimens. Spiny-cheeked Honey-eaters {Acanthogenys rufigularis) 

 were feeding freely from the large bell-like blossoms of these trees. 

 Visited No. 2 bower, and found the birds were there. Saw a large 

 Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) at the sheep-tank near the 

 camp. It was busy capturing crayfish {Cheraps bicarinatns), eating 

 them on the bank. Several Emus came up close to the camp just 

 before dark. 



igtJi October. — " Willie willies " (whirlwinds) plentiful to-day. On 

 two occasions lately one has passed over No. i bower near camp and 

 wrecked it badly, but the birds repaired and rebuilt it each time. 

 Nine Emus in front of camp at 6 a.m. Budda wood when burning 

 smells like tar, causing a pleasant aroma. Saw a flock of 1 1 Corcorax 

 melanorhamphus . Found nest of Bicheno Finch (Stictoptera bichenovii) 

 containing fovir eggs. Saw a pair of birds resembling Eopsaltria 

 australis to-day ; they were feeding and flying about the sides of 

 trees where the timber was dense. Their throats were of a dark 

 yellow, and much deeper than the breast ; eyes black. Examined 

 them carefully at close range with the fteld-gl asses Saw one feeding 

 the other Both appeared to be adult birds. Came across swarm 

 of EngUsh bees hanging in a clump from the branch of a dead budda 

 tree ; the bees flew at the coloured handkerchief around my neck. 



