84 Howe AT<!D Tr.-eg'el'L\s, Rarer Birds of the Mallee. [^^^ 



Emu 

 Oct. 



contained a fresh egg that had been broken by Ravens. Close 

 to the house a pair of Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrikes had built a 

 nest in a pine tree. In another pine a pair of Frogmouths was 

 hidden, and some Redthroats frequented the blooming marguerites. 

 Black-backed Wren-Warblers and a Rufous Song-Lark, Cinclo- 

 rhamphiis rufescens {Ptenoedus matheivsi vigor si), were also seen, 

 and just before leaving a Chestnut-rumped Tit- Warbler, Acanthiza 

 uropygialis {A . ti. ruthergleni), which flew into the stable, was found 

 to have a nest, containing three fresh eggs, between the folds of 

 a sack. 



A delightful drive into Murrayville took us into civilization 

 again and away from the interesting birds of this remarkable 

 Mallee District of North-Western Victoria. 



Bird Life in the National Park, N.S.W. 



By (Dr.) E. Brooke Nicholls, Melbourne. 



During the Sydney session of the British Association for the 

 Advancement of Science a visit was paid to the National Park 

 at Port Hacking. The party included Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Evans 

 (Cambridge), Mr. A. E. Le Souef (Director of the Zoological 

 Gardens, Sydney), and Mr. and Mrs. H. Burrell, who put their 

 motor-car at the disposal of the visitors. 



After an hour's run from Sydney the edge of the table-land 

 overlooking the Park was reached, and a magnificent view was 

 obtained. Range upon range of purple hills of the wonderful 

 Hawkesbury sandstone ran back to the horizon, while nearly 

 2,000 feet below lay the shining waters of the Hacking River. 

 Descending the long, winding road to the Park, the mellow notes 

 of a family of Pied Bell-Magpies {Strepera graculina) were heard. 

 These birds were numerous, and so confiding that they came on 

 to the verandah of the Rest House and ate cake provided by the 

 fair picnickers. Mr. Burrell called them " afternoon tea birds." 



Reaching the Park, the party secured a boat, and rowed up 

 stream. The banks of the river, clothed in a sub-tropical scrub 

 (the so-called "brush") of palms and araucarias, climbing vines 

 {Ficus), Moreton Bay figs, birds' -nest ferns, and tree orchids, 

 together with the familiar eucalypts and Casnarina, presented a 

 beautiful sight. The very striking Flame or Fire trees {Sterculia 

 aceriptia), with their masses of vivid scarlet flowers, make a 

 wonderful contrast to the dark background of evergreens. These 

 trees are invaded by Honey-eaters, principahy the Yellow-eared 

 {Ptilotis chrysotis) and the Spinebill {Acanthorhynchus tenui- 

 rostris). While we were rowing, a "green" Satin Bower-Bird 

 {Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus) flew overhead. A few Black Ducks 

 {Anas superciliosa). Grebes {Podiceps novce-hollandia;), and Moor- 

 Hens {Gallinula tenehrosa), quite unalarmed, made for the under- 

 growth of the banks, while Black Swans {Chenopis atrata) swam 

 alongside the boat, waiting to be fed. Arriving at the camping- 



