iQio ] MacgilLIvray, The Region of the Bayriev Range. tQ 



Strips of bark, which shelter destructive insects. But they 

 are responsible for the destruction of large numbers of nests, 

 eggs, and young of many birds, especially of species like the 

 Honey-eaters, which build more or less pensile nests. 



Another Short-billed Crow's nest, high up, as usual, contained 

 four hard-set eggs, which were not taken. Two hollows in 

 separate trees each contained three Galah's eggs. A pair of 

 Cockatoo-Parrakeets {Calopsittacus novcB-Jiollandice), passed us, 

 coming from the north, the first evidence of that migratory 

 movement from north to south which takes place every 

 year in the spring to a greater or lesser extent. The birds 

 drop off to breed wherever there is promise of a plentiful 

 supply of seed for the rearing of their young. Occasionally, 

 in the northern parts of this district, after good autumn 

 or late summer rains, nesting takes place in April or May. 

 In a tall tree in the next bend of the creek, well known 

 to us from previous visits, was found the nest of a pair of 

 Black-breasted Buzzards {Gypoictiuia nielanosterna), occupied 

 for the third year in succession. The nest, a large, flat struc- 

 ture of sticks lined with green gum-leaves, was placed on a 

 horizontal fork near the top of the tree, and M'Lennan, who is 

 a skilful and careful climber, had to brace the limb to a more 

 horizontal one with the climbing rope, and secure himself to the 

 end of it, before venturing out to the nest. There was only one 

 egg) which was left until next day in hopes of an addition. 

 The female, soaring above us, did not seem so fine a bird as the 

 one in possession during our other visits to this nest. We con- 

 cluded that the old female had been killed, probably poisoned, 

 and that the male had found a new mate. A hollow in the same 

 tree, occupied on both our previous visits by a pair of Bare- 

 eyed Cockatoos {Cacatua gyninopis), this year was found to 

 contain a clutch (four) of the eggs of this species. A steep and 

 sheltered sandy bank opposite to the Buzzards' tree, usually a 

 favourite nesting place of the Black-and-White Swallow 

 {CJieraniceca leucosternuni) and Red-backed Kingfisher (^Halcyon 

 pyrrJiopyghis)^ was now untenanted by either species. A soft, 

 sandy bank, such as this, is usually preferred for a nesting site by 

 the Black-and-White Swallow. A bank may be occupied by 

 several pairs, not because it is the habit of these Swallows to nest 

 in company, but that the site is a favourable one ; just as many 

 nest singly in small washaways, or at long intervals along the 

 same gully or washaway. I have seen the nests of these birds 

 in small water ruts with a bank not more than a foot in height. 

 Five pure white eggs form a clutch. 



As the grass and herbage is not very good along this creek, 

 we did not find the Bare-eyed Cockatoos, Galahs, and other 

 species nesting so freely as usual, so that lack of interest, 

 together with a feeling of weariness in limbs long unused 



