14 Jackson, Trip to Upper Hunter River Dist., N.S.W. [j/^'ju,y 



good numbers in the banks of the Page River, a tributary of 

 the Upper Hunter, and in addition to them I also noticed the 

 following birds in the same locality, viz. : — The DoUar-Bird or 

 Roller {Eiirystomus pacificus). White-fronted Heron {Notophoyx 

 noviE-lLollandice), Little Cormorant {Phalacrocorax melanoleiicus), 

 Red-capped Dottrel {zEgialitis ruficapilla), Wood-Duck 

 {CJienoiietta jubata), Black-throated Butcher-Bird (Cracticus 

 nigrigularis), Sacred Kingfisher {Halcyon sanctus), Nankeen 

 Kestrel {Cerchneis cencJiroides), Rosella Parrot (Platyccrciis 

 exiviius), Black-fronted Dottrel {yEgiaiitis inelanops), Brown Fly- 

 catcher {Micrccca fascinans), White-shouldered Caterpillar- 

 eater {Lalage tricolor), Pallid Cuckoo {Ciiculus pallidus), 

 Grey Shrike-Thrush ( Colly riocincla harmonica), Black-and-White 

 Fantail (Rhipidura tricolor), Wedge-tailed Eagle {Uroai'tns 

 audax), Whistling Eagle {Haliastur sphenurus), Swamp- Hawk 

 {Circus gouldi), Friar - Bird {Philemon), Oriole (Oriolus), 

 Babbler, Pied Grallina {Grallina picata), Straw-necked Ibis 

 {Carphibis spinicollis), Raven {Corone anstralis), Scaly-breasted 

 Lorikeet {Psitteuteles chlorolepidotiis), &c. We came to 

 many crossings of the tortuous river from the western end of 

 the Brush Mountain, leaving on our left rear a mountain 

 composed of loose basalt boulders, dotted with patches of scrub, 

 which appeared to give admirable shelter for the smaller birds, 

 such as Fantails, Tits, &c. ; it was a curious formation, some- 

 what similar to that of a hill with which I am very familiar in 

 the Clarence River district (N.S.W.), known as Glen Ugie Peak, 

 and styled by geologists a " volcanic blow " ; apparently both 

 districts have geological features in common. Still another dip 

 down and over the Page, and we arrive at the village of Gundy, 

 close to which I saw the Black-fronted Dottrel industriously 

 earning his living on the shingly slopes of the Page River. 

 Here a rest was made before breasting the long rise to the top 

 of a neighbouring mountain, from which an exquisite view of 

 the Upper Hunter River valley is to be had, with the Arden 

 Hall homestead nestling into the foothills on the right bank of 

 the river. A quick drive down a very long, winding road, 

 brought us across the Upper Hunter waters. The country here 

 to me was full of interest. Several hares were disturbed, and the 

 birds I noticed particularly plentiful at this spot were the 

 Black-breasted Plover {Zonifer tricolor), Red-capped Dottrel, 

 Babbler, Magpies {Gymnorhina), Rosella Parrots, &c. After 

 crossing the ford we passed through some really pretty country for 

 several miles, then, after another drive through the river and up 

 the opposite cutting, we were confronted with the 22-mile post, 

 a record of the distance covered. Here we were met by the son 

 of my kind host, Master Alfred White, aged six, who has 

 inherited his father's enthusiasm for natural history, and is well 

 versed in the names, habits, and haunts of the birds of the 



