Vol. X, 

 igio 



j Macgillivray, The Region of the Barrier Range. 25 



However, we found a Kestrel, Boobook Owl, and Galah nesting 

 in hollows in the old gum. Five fresh eggs of the Mallee 

 Parrakeet were found in another hollow — the only fresh full 

 clutch of this species found during the trip. Two nests (each 

 with two eggs) of the Bare-eyed Cockatoo were located in 

 separate trees, and as it grew dark we disturbed a Kestrel and 

 another Cockatoo from the same tree, but did not trouble to 

 climb. 



Next morning, 15th September, M'Lennan and I started 

 before the trap to follow the creek to the station. The flats all 

 along it were in splendid condition. Annual salt-bush, milk- 

 thistles, spinach, and wild oats were luxuriant, but out from the 

 creek, where the grass should grow, there was little of anything 

 permanent. A few hot northerlies will soon put an end to the 

 succulent herbage. This is a result of winter rains ; earlier 

 autumn rains would have brought on a more permanent herbage. 

 The birds seemed to know that it was to be a short season, and 

 were all nesting in a hurry, the grain-eaters to hatch out when 

 the seeds ripened, the insect-eaters when they could be sure of a 

 plentiful supply of food for their nestlings. The proportion of 

 full clutches and clutches of more than what may be regarded 

 as the normal number was greater this year than when condi- 

 tions were not so favourable. The loud and pleasing sound of 

 the Rufous Song-Lark was heard all along the creek ; they 

 were only mating, and the male bird sang when making his 

 short flight from the ground with rapidly vibrating wings, 

 either to curve downwards again on to the top of a bush or to 

 perch high up on a gum and there continue his song. We often 

 flushed these birds from thick undergrowth, where they were 

 feeding mostly on insects. The other species {cruralis) is a 

 bird of the open country, never being found along the creek flats 

 or in scrub. 



We found nests of two species of Cockatoo and of the 

 Many-coloured Parrakeet {Pscphotus multicolor), containing fully 

 fledged young. These Parrakeets frequent the creeksides, and 

 also the box flats in the scrub country throughout the district ; 

 they are usually seen in pairs, or families after the breeding 

 season ; they never flock like the Red-rumped Grass-Parrakeet 

 (/-'. JKcmatonotiis), which is not found nearer than Menindie, on 

 the Darling, apparently its northern limit in this direction. 

 Nearing the station we found that the trees had been cut out, 

 and the growing saplings do not encourage bird-life. A Spotted 

 Harrier flew from them, however, and a nest, lined and ready for 

 eggs, was located in a small gum. Rejoining the trap, we drove 

 up to the station, which was uninhabited, the overseer being 

 away attending the shearing at another station belonging to 

 the same owners. Some 20 years or more ago this station 

 carried 40,000 sheep, now 10,000 hardly find a living on its bare 



