^°i lo^ ] Ingle, Birds of Merriman's Creek, South Gippsland. 127 



Spur-winged Plover {Lobivanellus lobatus, Lath.) — Numerous in 

 the open country, where nests are frequently found. 



Black-breasted Plover (Zonifer tricolor, Vieill.) — An occasional 

 visitor. 



Snipe {Gallinago austvalis, Lath.) — Very few visit the district. 



Straw-necked Ibis (Carphibis spinicollis, Jameson). — Only a 

 visitor. In January, 1910, 40 birds arrived, stayed for a few days, 

 and then disappeared. 



White-fronted Heron {Notophoyx novce-hollandicE, Lath.) — 

 Common. Breeds freely. Clutches of five eggs found. 



Night-Heron {Nycticorax caledonicus , Gmelin). — A few arrive here. 

 Usually seen first about the end of January. Do not breed in the 

 district. 



Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo, Linn.) — An odd specimen 

 occasionally seen. 



White-breasted Cormorant {Phalacrocorax gouldi, Salvad.) — 

 Common along the creeks, but does not breed here. 



Black-throated Grebe (Podicipes novce-hollandics , Steph.) — A few 

 pairs breeding in local swamps. 



Black Swan (Chenopis atrata, Lath.) — Odd specimens noted, but 

 the birds do not breed here. 



Wood-Duck (Chenonetta jubata, Lath.) — An occasional flock seen, 

 but none are known to breed in this locality. 



Black Duck (Anas superciliosa, Gmelin). — Common, and breeds 

 freely. 



Musk-Duck (Biziira lobafa, Shaw). — Only a few pairs are known ; 

 they breed in the swamps. 



Emu (DromcBus novcB-hollandicr , Lath.^ — Becoming rare, although 

 " protected," owing to their being hunted down with dogs. 



The Dusky Robin (Petroeca vittata). 



By H. Stuart Dove, F.Z.S. 



The vision of this familiar bird calls up memories of my first 

 acquaintance with the bush, when, a good many years ago now, 

 my brother and I selected land on the North-West Coast of Tas- 

 mania and settled down to " colonial experience." While picking 

 up and throwing together the branches and debris after the burn- 

 off, we had good opportunities for making acquaintance with some 

 of the birds. One of the earliest species to pay us a visit was the 

 Dusky Robin — although we did not know it by that name, nor, 

 indeed, by any other, for some time. One of the hardest tasks 

 in this comparatively new and unpeopled country was to find out 

 what the birds were. There was practically no literature on the 

 subject. " Native Sparrow " was the name we got from the bush 

 folk for the species now under consideration, and not an inapt one 

 either, as regards size and soberness of colouring. 



When a small store of knowledge had accumulated, I began to 



