j52 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [,st "hui. 



Cuculus pallidas. Pallid Cuckoo. — Pallid Cuckoos were heard on 

 several islands as we passed in the steamer, and they were fairly plentiful 

 on Flinders Island. 



Cacomantis flabelliformis. Fan-tailed Cuckoo.— These Cuckoos were 

 extremely plentiful, and could be heard calling in every direction. 



Chalcococcyx basalis. Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo. — Although this 

 bird seems to answer to the description to a certain extent, still there 

 are some differences, and it would be hard to determine without further 

 material. 



Hirundo neoxena. Swallow. — Observed about homesteads. 



Petrochelidon nigricans. Tree-Martin. — Tree- Mart ins were numerous 

 in the timbered country, and more numerous near swamps and lagoons. 

 However, no specimen was procured. 



Petroeca vittata. Dusky Robin.— These birds were numerous in the 

 thick scrub as well as close to the sea-shore. We found them breeding, and 

 in all stages from fresh eggs to fully fledged young. A favourite situation 

 for the nest was in the upturned roots of large gums. On comparison with 

 Tasmanian birds it was found to be much darker throughout. 



Petroeca leggii {frontah's).* Scarlet-breasted Robin. — These birds were 

 moderately numerous, and met with only some distance inland. 



Petroeca phoenicea. Flame-breasted Robin. — Fairly plentiful. This in- 

 land form appeared much lighter, both above and below (perhaps due to 

 time of year) than the Tasmanian bird, 



Pachycephala glaucura. Grey-tailed Thickhead. — Fairly numerous on 

 the island. Several males in adult plumage were calling loudly. 



Pachycephala olivacea. Olive Thickhead. —Few in number; birds both 

 in adult and immature stages were observed. 



Rhipidura diemenensis. Dusky Fantail.— These restless little birds 

 were found in numbers on the island. A pair had a nest with three fresh 

 eggs, situated immediately over one of the tents. 



Graucalus parvirostris. Small-billed Cuckoo-Shrike. — Met with in 

 pairs, and from the well-worn state of their plumage apparently they had 

 finished nesting some time previously. There is little or no variation 

 between these birds and the Tasmanian specimens. 



Ephthianura albifrons. White-fronted Bush-Chat.— Numerous. The 

 islands may have been stepping-stones by which this bird found its way 

 from the mainland to Tasmania. The island birds show no variation from 

 mainland birds. 



Megalurus flindersi. Flinders Grass-Bird (for description seepage 164). 

 — Although not plentiful, on several occasions seen amid thick under- 

 growth in swampy localities. 



Acanthiza ewingi. Ewing Tit. — Like Tasmania, Flinders Island 

 aboimds with this Tit. It was found in every conceivable situation, and 

 their sharp little twitter was ever sounding in our ears. 



Sericornis flindersi. Flinders Scrub-Wren (for description see page 

 165). — That Flinders Island yielded a new Sertcorfiis is not a surprise, when 

 so many of the islands in Bass Strait have their own varieties of this widely 

 dispersed genus. Not numerous. Found in the thick undergrowth on 

 mountain sides and in the deep gullies. 



* This bird answers well to G. M. Matthews' description, and both this and the 

 Tasmanian bird are smaller than the New South Wales specimen. — S.A.W. 



