:<0 Barnard, Novthern Territory Birds. [ist^'july 



trees, but never on the ground. During the breeding season the tail 

 feathers of this bird are much longer than at other seasons. 



Poephila personata {Neopoephila p. personata). — Often seen in small 

 flocks of from eight to twelve. This bird builds its bulky grass nest 

 in short grass, often almost, if not quite, on the ground. It re- 

 sembles a bunch of dead grass. Small pieces of charcoal are built 

 in with the layers of grass in forming the nest, and loose pieces are 

 left in with the eggs. When first laid the eggs are pure white, but 

 in a few days they take on a sooty appearance from coming in contact 

 with the charcoal. This is intensified as the brooding is carried on, 

 and when hard set the eggs are much the colour of the charcoal. 

 The bill of this bird in life is a bright yellow, but fades after skinning. 



Poephila gouldias (P. g. gouldics). — This handsome Finch was often 

 seen on dry ridges at long distances from water. It resorts to small 

 hollows in trees for nesting purposes, and several pairs nest in the 

 same hollow. An instance of this came under my notice while col- 

 lecting on the M'Arthur. In a swamp gum growing on the bank of 

 the river, three nesting hollows were found at heights varying 

 from 20 to 40 feet from the ground. One hollow contained five 

 eggs, of two distinct types ; a second contained no fewer than fourteen 

 perfectly fresh eggs, of three distinct types ; the third hollow was 

 beyond reach. After taking the eggs, I watched the birds assemble 

 about the different hollows ; no fewer than six pairs gathered at one 

 hollow and three at the other. At the hollow that was not disturbed 

 several birds were busy carrying in bits of straw and dead coolibah 

 leaves. 



Neochmia phaeton (N. p. phaeton). — Frequents the cane-grass and 

 pandanus palms growing in marshy localities. The butts of the 

 pandanus leaves often formed a nesting site. At other times a hollow 

 spout or jutting piece of bark was chosen. 



Oriolus aflinis (Mimeta sagittaia affinis). — A fairly common bird 

 on the M'Arthur. It was often found feeding in fig trees and on 

 wild berries growing along the river. Nests were found during 

 December and January. 



Chlamydera nuchalis (Rogersornis nuchalis melvillensis). — This is 

 a very common bird all through the coastal fall, and many nests 

 were found ; each contained a single egg. These birds started to 

 rebuild their play-grounds in September, but it was not till November 

 that eggs were found. 



Corvus coronoides (Corvus cecilcs cecilce). — A common bird on the 

 table-land, but rather uncommon on the coastal fall. It breeds freely 

 ill the gidgea timber along water-courses. 



Birds of all kinds appear to be affected by the season in the 

 Northern Territory, and, though a few breed during the dry seasons, 

 the majority waits for the rains. 



Contents of Crops and Gizzards of Birds Examined. 



20/2/13. — Gizzard of ? Podargus phalcenoides (P. strigotdes 

 phalcenoides) contained remains of large grasshoppers and hard- 

 shelled beetles. 



22/2/13. — Gizzard of S Podargus phalcsnoides contained remains 

 of beetles and the head of a large grasshopper. :■ i 



22/2/13. — Stomach of J Neositta leucoptera (N. pileata sub-' 



