Vol. xiv.-i Howe and Tregellas, Rarer Birds of the Mallee. 8l 



1914 J 



The eggs of the species are comparatively rare. Black-backed 

 Wren-Warblers are always found in pairs during the breeding 

 season, but in the case of the Purple-backed species one usually 

 sees the male and female accompanied by two or three sober- 

 coloured birds, including an immature male. Probably they are 

 young of the previous year and the birds do not reach maturity 

 until they are two years old. 



Rain set in early on 25th September, and continued till about 

 I p.m. We travelled north to find a pine ridge. We flushed a 

 Redthroat, Pyrrholcemiis brunneus [Pyrrholmmis b. brunneus), 

 from a beautiful nest, placed in the open centre of a porcupine. 

 There were three chicks, not long hatched. Two Blue-winged 

 Grass-Parrots, Euphema chrysostoma {Neonanodes chrysostomus), 

 were feeding on the grass, and the male was secured. In a gully 

 farther on we found three nests of the Bell-Magpie ; from one of 

 these two eggs were obtained. On a flat overgrown by salt-bush 

 Black-backed Wren- Warblers were fairly abundant. We found 

 nests and eggs of the Grey Shrike-Thrush and the Crested Bell- 

 Bird. Mr. Scarce went farther west to a sand-ridge to look for 

 the pines. Specimens of Ground-Wrens (Hylacola), Ground- 

 Birds, and Grey Goshawk, Astur cinereus {Leucospiza clara 

 clara), were obtained. After lunch a nest of the White-eared 

 Honey-eater was found, at the foot of a tea-tree {Melaleuca) growing 

 on a sand-ridge. The sitting bird allowed us to approach to 

 within a few feet before leaving. The nest contained two eggs. 

 Rain fell, the strong westerly wind driving it in our faces and 

 drenching us to the skin. Every gully appeared to contain a 

 pair of Bell-Magpies, but no more nests were found. We reached 

 the border fence, and, on a plain, met with the Many-coloured 

 Parrot, Psephohts nmlticolor {Psephotus varms variiis). We were 

 far from camp, and the day had nearly gone when we retraced 

 our steps. 



We were astir at dawn on 26th September, when everything 

 was white with frost. Most of our goods were sent off by the 

 bullock waggon, as we had only two more days to spend in camp. 

 We must go due north to try to locate the pine ridge that was 

 missed yesterday. Mr. Scarce had been there some three months 

 before. He travelled on horseback, and, coming back on his 

 tracks, left a trail easy to follow. On 25th September we left 

 the track, and went much too far west. As we ascended a sand- 

 ridge, a burrow of the Yellow-rumped Pardalote was discovered, 

 and in a clump of porcupine grass at the foot of a mallee bush 

 a nest of the White-eared Honey-eater. A httle further on we 

 came to a patch of whipstick mallee, and in this found Scrub- 

 Robins, Ground- Wrens, and Ground-Birds. We hunted for nests 

 without success. Reaching the top of a sand-hill, we at last saw 

 the pine ridge, apparently three miles away, and it was reached 

 after a 40-minutes' walk. These were the first pines that we had 

 seen north of Carina, nearly 40 miles away. Here grew silver 

 grass, interspersed with tall turpentine. The bird-life was 



