278 Hill, Field Notes on Birds of Kimberley, N.-W. Aust. [2,^")' 



Emu 

 an. 



Lalage tricolor (White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater). 



A small flock in adult S plumage passed over the Mission Station on 

 7/1 1/09, flying south, and, during the two months following, occasional birds 

 were seen travelling in the same direction. From the beginning of January 

 until 22/4/10 none was seen, but on this date I shot one bird from a flock 

 of twelve which flew over in an easterly direction. These and all that were 

 seen subsequently were female birds. On 27/4/10 many birds settled near 

 the station, and their numbers increased daily until 3/5/10, when they began 

 to decrease rapidly until none remained on 15th June. During their stay 

 they lived almost entirely on the ground during the day, only occasionally 

 flying up to the eucalypt flowers to catch the insects that were numerous in 

 them. As in the case of Pardalotes, an accumulation of honey and pollen 

 was frequently noticeable on the feathers of the throat and forehead. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



Lalage leucomel.«na (Pied Caterpillar-eater).* 



One pair secured in the tropical scrubs at Parry Harbour were the only 

 birds of this species seen during my trip. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



Total length. Wing. Tarsus. Bill. Tail. 



S ... 203 ... 98 ... 22 ... 15 ... S3 



? ... — ... 94 ... 20 ... 14.5 ... 84 



POMATOSTOMUS RUBECULUS (Red-breasted Babbler). 



Were fairly numerous. The nesting season appears to be September and 

 October. 



Measurements of birds in mm.: — 



CiSTicOLA EXILIS (Grass-Warbler). 



Excepting on Hecla Island and Cape Bougainville I saw very few of 

 these birds. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



Total length. Wing. Tarsus. Bill. Tail. 



3 ... 114 ••• 44 ••• 17 ••• II ■.• 30 



S ... 106 ... 45 ... 18 ... 10.5... 29 



c? ... no ... 42 ... 17 ... 10.5... 38 



$ ... 106 ... 40 ... 17.5... 10 ... 34 



o 



127 ... 40 ... 17 ... 9 .•• 54 



? ... 121 ... 38 ... 18 ... 9 ... 48 



Megalurus GALACTOTES (Tawny Grass-Bird).* 



On my arrival at the station, in the middle of October, this species was 

 one of the first to attract my attention. About a dozen birds inhabited a 

 patch of very luxuriant swamp grass on the edge of the small area of tropical 

 forest mentioned in my introductory remarks, but, owing to the height of 

 most of the grass (6 or 7 feet), I had to confine my observations to a few 

 pairs and some odd birds inhabiting shorter growths. Having doubts as to 

 their identity, I determined to spare no effort to secure eggs, for I felt sure 

 the nesting season was approaching, if it had not already arrived. I found 

 that the mated birds never moved far from a given point, and that I could 

 rely upon finding them within a few yards of the same place day after day. 

 When cautiously approaching the domain of a pair, the first intimation of 



