Vol. X. 

 igio 



] Macgillivray, The Region of the Barrier Range. lOI 



We were following the creek into scrubby country ; it flows from 

 open salt-bush plains through the mulga to the Coogee Lake. 



In a sheltered portion of the creek we came to a Goshawk's nest 

 containing three eggs. Many White-fronted Honey-eaters {Glycy- 

 phila albifrons) were seen and heard, and a nest in course of con- 

 struction in mistletoe growing on an acacia was seen. M'Lennan 

 found a nest of Maluriis assimilis, containing three fresh eggs ; 

 the nest was composed of fine bark strips and shreds and lined 

 with 'possum fur. The scrub here on either bank was becoming 

 thicker, and the flowering tobacco-bush amongst it furnished a 

 good feeding-ground for a number of Honey-eaters — Acanthogenys 

 rufigularis, Ptilotis penicillata, Glycyphila albifrons, and Myzomela 

 nigra — whose comings and goings amongst the trees and bushes, 

 and quarrelings and love-making, we were content to watch while 

 resting tired limbs. Making out on to the road, we turned towards 

 camp, intending to take a shorter route across the blue-bush. 

 There were damp patches on the blue-bush plain, and on these 

 Emu tracks were numerous. At one place we could see where a 

 family had camped the night before ; the young were about two 

 months old, judging by the size of their tracks and excreta. The 

 rapid increase and spread of the fox throughout this country 

 means death to numbers of young Emus. After lunch M'Lennan 

 and I went down the creek again and out into the salt-bush to look 

 for White-winged Wrens. Many were seen, but no nest was found. 

 Several Wedgebills {Sphenostoma cristatum) were disturbed from 

 the little clumps of acacia out on the plain, and one nest was 

 found in an unfinished state. Crossing the creek, we came up 

 through a saltbush flat bordering the opposite side to our camp. 



Next morning we struck camp early, and made a start for 

 Yalcowinna Creek. M'Lennan and I went on towards the road, 

 searching the larger clumps of blue and salt-bush for W^rens 

 {Malurus). Several families of the White- winged species were 

 seen, and a nest of M. assimilis was found near the ground in a 

 salt-bush, and constructed outwardly of grass instead of strips of 

 bark, as is usual. It contained two eggs only. We rejoined the 

 trap, and at the crossing of Sleep's Well Creek noted the usual 

 Honey-eaters in the scrub and tobacco-bush — " Greenies," Miners, 

 Singing, White-fronted, and Spiny-cheeked Honey-eaters. In 

 sight of Yalcowinna Creek we watered the horses at a dam and 

 filled the water-bag and billies, in case there should be no water in 

 the bed of the creek. We stopped for lunch at the nearest point 

 on the creek, and, whilst the others proceeded along the bed of 

 the creek towards the Buzzard's nest, Jim M'Lennan and I 

 followed the high sandy bank, which has been an old aboriginal 

 camping-place, and is strewn with their mills, grinding stones, 

 and flint chippings. At the Buzzard's nest we rejoined the others, 

 who reported that the nest was re-lined and ready for occupation 

 again. On seeing the female again we had no doubt that she was 

 smaller than the one in possession in igo8 and 1907. Throughout 

 our trip we noted very few Wedge-tailed Eagles compared with 

 other years. The squatters' poison had done its work only too well. 



