122 Ingle, Birds of Merriman's Creek, South Gippsland. [jsf'oct. 



Goshawk {Astur approximans, Vig. and Hors.) — This is the most 

 familiar Hawk of the district. I have frequently found nests, con- 

 taining sometimes four eggs, but three seems to be the usual clutch. 



Sparrow-Hawk (Accipiter cirrhocephalus, Vieill.) — Occasionally seen. 

 One nest was noted some four years ago ; it contained three eggs, which 

 were taken. Since then I have not known them to breed here. 



BooBOOK Owl (Ninox boobook, Lath.) — Frequently heard calling at 

 night, and often flushed from cover. Several nests have been seen ; 

 one, from which I secured a clutch of three eggs, was in a gum on the 

 steep side of a hill, and overhanging Merriman's Creek. The height 

 from the ground was 80 feet. 



Grey Crow-Shrike (Strepera cuneicaudata, Vieill.) — These birds 

 are very plentiful at times, but generally all disappear at the approach 

 of the breeding season. Only one nest has been seen in this district. 



White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphus , Vieill.) — 

 Frequently seen in flocks of from 6 to 12 ; they breed freely. One 

 nest I noted was composed of cattle droppings ; this was owing to the 

 scarcity of mud. 



Oriole (Oriolus viridis, Lath.) — Plentiful. Usually appear late in 

 August, breed till the close of January, and leave before the end of 

 April. 



Magpie-Lark (Grallina picata, Lath.) — Very plentiful. Flocks are 

 often seen after the breeding season, when some individuals fall an 

 easy prey to the Goshawk (A . approximans). 



Grey Shrike-Thrush {Collyriocincla harmonica, hath.) — This Thrush 

 is the most common in the district. 



Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike (Graucalus melanops. Lath.) — Very 

 plentiful, arriving in August, breeding from October to January, and 

 leaving before the end of April. 



Caterpillar-eater {Edoliisoma tenuirostre, Jardine). — This species 

 arrives in the beginning of October. It is fairly plentiful. Several 

 nests noted on 29th of November and the 9th and loth of December, 

 1909. The birds leave before the end of March. 



White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater {Lalage tricolor, Swainson). 

 — During the spring of 1908 two pairs arrived here. The nest of one 

 pair was discovered, and contained three fresh eggs, on the 6th of 

 January. This is the only instance in which I have known L. tricolor 

 to come so far south. 



Brown Flycatcher {Micrceca fascinans, Lath.) — Extremely plenti- 

 ful, and is found breeding everywhere. I have found the nest placed 

 3 feet from the ground and as high as 40 feet. 



Scarlet-breasted Robin {Petroeca leggei, Sharpe). — This species is 

 numerous, and found breeding in the heavily-timbered lands. 



Flame-breasted Robin {Petroeca phcenicea, Gould). — This Robin 

 arrives about the middle of March, the females coming a few weeks 

 before the males. I have never known any to stay later than the .30th 

 of September. 



Hooded Robin (Petroeca bicolor, Vig. and Hors.) — Not very plenti- 

 ful ; odd pairs scattered over the open country, where they breed in 

 old stumps. 



