Vol. XII. 

 1913 



j Hill, Ornilhological Notes, Barclay Expedition. 243 



There is some very remarkable scenery and abundance of water 

 in the ranges here, but fewer birds were seen than in the open 

 country. Amytornis textilis (Grass- Wren) were plentiful both in 

 the gorges and on the porcupine-grass-covered rises at the foot 

 of the ranges. Petraeca picata (Pied Robin) were also plentiful 

 on these rises. Emhlema pida (Painted Finch) were met with for 

 the lii'st time during the journey on the slopes of the deep and 

 sheltered gorges. 



At about 75 miles west by north of Alice Springs we crossed 

 the northernmost of a series of parallel ranges that form the 

 great Macdonnell Ranges, and continued westward over level 

 and (for the most part) acacia-covered plains. Bird-life now 

 became even scarcer than on the southern side of the ranges. 

 Occasionally wc flushed Parrakeets in the dense scrub, but they 

 were more often heard than seen. Gymnorhina tibicen (Black- 

 backed Magpie) and G. leuconota were seen in company several 

 times in the more open country. Corviis coronoides and Uroaetus 

 audax were occasionally seen overhead.' Large flocks of 

 Calyptorhynchiis stellatus (Red-tailed Cockatoo) were noticed near 

 Mount Zeal. 



Nothing further of interest to an ornithologist was met with 

 until we reached Haast's Bluff (135 miles W. by N. of Alice 

 Springs, approximately). Here, at a small and very polluted 

 spring, bird-life was represented by numbers of Tceniopy^ia 

 castanotis (Chestnut-eared Finch), Corvus coronoides (Crow), 

 Emblema picta (Painted Finch), Lophophaps feniiginea (Red 

 Plumed-Pigeon), and a few pairs of Ptilotis keartlandi (Keartland 

 Honey-eater). 



At another spring, a few miles further to the westward, birds 

 were more plentiful, and I took advantage of several days' halt 

 in this neighbourhood to add as much as possible to the collec- 

 tions of plants, insects, &c. 



The following birds were identified here (No. i Camp, lat. 

 23° 18' 36" S., long. 131° 47' E., altitude 2,578 feet) : — 

 TcBniopygia castanotis (Chestnut-eared Finch), Emhlema picta 

 (Painted Finch), Lophophaps leucogaster (Plumed-Pigeon), Dromceus 

 nov(e-hollandicB (Emu); Oreoica cristata (Bell-Bird), Amytornis textilis 

 (Grass-Wren), Corvus coronoides (Crow), Cracticus nigrigularis 

 (Black-throated Butcher-Bird), Petra'ca picata (Pied Robin), 

 Acanthiza uropygialis (Chestnut-rumped Tit), Ptilotis sonora 

 (Singing Honey-eater), Ptilotis keartlandi (Keartland Honey-eater), 

 Ptilotis leilavalensis (Pallid Honey-eater), Hieracidea berigora (Brown 

 Hawk), Falco limiilatiis (Little Falcon), Eutohnactus morphnoides 

 (Little Eagle), Gypoictinia melanostermtm (Black-breasted Buzzard), 

 Uroaetus audax (Wedge-tailed Eagle), Cerchneis cenchroides (Kestrel), 

 Haliastur sphenurus (Whistling Eagle), Goshawk {Asttir fasciatiis). 

 Tawny-shouldered Frogmouth {Podargus strigoides), Anthus 

 australis (Pipit), Rhipidura tricolor (Black-and-White Fantail), 

 Geopelia ciineata (Little Dove), Cheranuvca leucosternum (Black-and- 

 White Swallow). 



