02 Macgili.ivray, The Region of the Barrier Range. [isf'oct. 



engaged in collecting census returns. After visiting two new dams, 

 we drove 7 miles through thick scrub to Grassmere station. 



I was astir at daylight next morning, and went for a stroll along 

 the gum creek that runs by the house. Many Cockatoos were 

 feeding near the house ; Kites and Whistling Eagles were disturbed 

 from the gums. The cooing of Peaceful Doves {(jcopelia tranquil I a) 

 and the melodious notes of the Harmonious Thrush {Collyriocincla 

 harmonica) sounded at intervals along the creek. We started for 

 Cuthawara station through more open mulga and neelia country, 

 very poorly supplied with grass or herbage of any sort. The 

 nest of a Tree-creeper (C. superciliosa) was found in a casuarina, 

 5 feet from the ground ; it contained three young birds. Two 

 Hooded Robins (P. hicolor) were dodging about in the scrub near 

 by, and the Red-cajijicd species was numerous all along the road. 

 Where the thick scrub gave place to tall, scattered neelia and 

 mulga. Ravens' nests were frequently noted in the trees. Most 

 of the nests contained young birds. Cuthawara Lake at present 

 is only a dry depression, but when full it forms an imposing sheet 

 of water. On the banks were the remains of the fires of bygone 

 generations of aborigines. After lunch we turned back towards 

 Tangawirra by a different route to inspect a mob of 7,500 sheep, 

 which were returning after having been shifted for want of food 

 and water last year. The scrub, mostly mulga, with occasional 

 clumps of mallee, was here very thick, and intersected at intervals 

 by sand-ridges, on which grew black oak {Casuarina) and pines. 

 In one of the black oaks was another nest (two young) of 

 Climacteris superciliosa . 



Next day we walked past the station and across the water channel 

 leading to the lake into a paddock covered with low scrub, mostly 

 turpentine and mulga. Malurus assimilis was noted ; Singing 

 Honey-eaters, Babblers {P. riificeps), and Sj^ny-cheeked Honey- 

 eaters were frequently disturbed from tree or bush. We crossed 

 over to the Cultivation Creek, where we found the steep bank of 

 a waterhole taken possession of by Fairy Martins. Many of their 

 retort-like nests, finished and unfinished, were being busily attended 

 to. In a box was a brood of young Nightjars {Mgotheles novce- 

 hoUandicB). Pied Honey-eaters were seen and heard among the 

 mistletoe along the creek and out in the turpentine-bushes. This 

 is the first year that we have noted their presence. A fairly good 

 season here, or a bad one elsewhere, is the probable explanation. 

 An Oreoica's nest was located in a mistletoe clump high up in a 

 neelia ; it contained a clutch of three eggs. Black Honey-eaters 

 were feeding on the mistletoe liowers, and the loud and musical 

 note of the Striped Honey-eater {Pleciorhynchus lanceolatus) 

 came at intervals from the box trees along the creek. 

 M'Lennan found among the turjxMitine two nests of the 

 Singing Honey-eater, one imfinished and one containing one 

 egg, also a finished nest of the Spiny-cheeked Honey- 

 eater. Kingfishers were commencing to burrow or examine 

 favourable banks for a nesting site. A quandong tree {Santalmn 



