Vol. X. 



] Hill, Field Notes on Birds of Kimberley, N .-W. Aiist. 261 



The broken sandstone country commences at from 2 to 3 miles 

 from the coast, and forms the western wall of the higher but more 

 or less level country between Napier Broome Bay and the Drys- 

 dale River. This waU rises abruptly from the lower country, and 

 is composed entirely of sandstone rocks, scantily clothed with 

 stunted eucalypts, pines, and many varieties of shrubs, chief of 

 which are Calycothrix microphylla, C. laricina, and Acacia lepto- 

 phleha. A few species of birds, notably Malurus diilcis (Lavender- 

 flanked Wren), Collyriocichla woodwardi (Brown-breasted Shrike- 

 Thrush), and Petrophassa albipennis (White-quilled Rock-Pigeon), 

 are peculiar to this class of country, but, generally speaking, 

 bird-life is very scarce. A large rock-kangaroo {Macropus wood- 

 wardi ?) and a small wallaby (Petrogale, sp. ?) are fairly plentiful 

 here. 



Travelling in a south-easterly to easterly direction, the country 

 generally is level or slightly undulating, and, excepting a few 

 rich marshes and flats along permanent creeks, is absolutely 

 worthless for pastoral purposes. In the poorest of the gravel and 

 scrub-covered areas I found the two species of Honey- eaters 

 Ptilotis sonora and P. planasi (Campbell, Emu, x., p. 168), fairly 

 plentiful, but other birds and game were very scarce. The 

 difficulty of procuring food in the bush was one of the most 

 serious troubles we had to face, not only in this, but in almost 

 every locality I visited. 



As the Drysdale River is approached, rich alluvial plains of 

 large extent take the place of the poorer sandy or gravelly country 

 to the westward. I spent a week at the beginning of June about 

 the river and the country near Camp FB/85 of the Kimberley 

 Exploration Expedition of 1901, but I was disappointed to find 

 bird-life poorly represented and nests few and far between. 



Quail were numerous, and, from tracks seen, kangaroos were 

 evidently fairly plentiful at times, but it was evident that large 

 parties of aborigines had been hunting there just previous to our 

 arrival. Small crocodiles and fish were plentiful in the river 

 but no water-fowl were seen. 



I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without referring to 

 the courtesy, hospitality, and cordial assistance extended to me 

 by Bishop Torres, Very Rev. Father Planas, and the members of 

 the Drysdale River Mission, and by many residents of Derby, 

 whose kindness will always remain the most pleasant recollection 

 T possess of this trip. I also desire to express my best thanks to 

 Mr. Joseph Hope, Chief Draughtsman, and to Mr. Fred. S. Brock- 

 man, Chief Inspecting Surveyor, Lands Department, W. A., for plans 

 and valuable information ; also to Mr. W. B. Fletcher, W.A. 

 Government Agency and Tourists' Office, Melbourne, for maps, 

 guide books, letters of introduction, &c., which were of the utmost 

 assistance to me. 



Mr. H. L. White, of Scone, New South Wales, kindly consented 

 to allow the ornithological collection to remain in Melbourne 

 until my return, and it is to him and Mr. A. J. Campbell that 



