v°i- viii-J Jackson, Trip to Upper Hunter River Dist., N.S.W. I7 



and the Cockatoo-Parrakeets {Calopsittaais novcE-liollandia). 

 Mr. White accounted for the unusual presence of the latter by 

 the supposition that the drought existing at the time had driven 

 the birds from the western localities to seek more favourable 

 grounds on the coast-line. Not far from here I made an 

 interesting find. Looking across the river I saw a Black- 

 shouldered Kite sitting near a ne.st in a large river oak; the 

 nest, however, looked more like that of the Whistling Eagle 

 than anything else, and on closer examination so it turned out 

 to be. Here I also saw a Wedge-tailed Eagle and a Whistling 

 Eagle soaring above me. Travelling further on, I crossed the 

 river again, and climbed a pyramidical hill, from which a very 

 remarkable view was to be had, and from this point of vantage 

 I took three large panoramic photographs of the Belltrees 

 homestead and its surroundings. It really was a fine look-out, 

 and to me was a place full of charm, for, perched up aloft, above 

 the rest of the landscape, I could yet hear quite plainly, and 

 distinguish as easily, the notes of the birds in the trees on 

 the flats and river banks below. I picked out from the 

 pleasant babel of sound the notes of the Friar-Bird or 

 Leatherhead, Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Pachycephala riifi- 

 ventris), Pallid Cuckoo, ^xox\zq-<ZwcVoo {Chalcococcyx plagosus). 

 Whistling Eagle, White Cockatoo, Leach Black Cockatoo 

 {CalyptorhyncJius viridis), Babbler, Oriole, Grey Shrike-Thrush, 

 Striped Honey-eater {PlectrorliyncJins lanccolatus), Red Wattle- 

 Bird {AcantJiodicera caninculata), Noisy Miner, Superb Blue 

 Wren {Maluriis cyanens). Laughing Jackass, Wood-Swallows, 

 Sacred Kingfisher, Grey Butcher-Bird {Cracticns destructor), 

 Peaceful Dove, Bronze-wing Pigeon, Pied Grallina or Magpie- 

 Lark, Magpie, Reed-Warbler, Cockatoo-Parrakeet, and many 

 others. 



One fine feature of the magnificent landscape spread out before 

 me was the towering bulk of Mount Woolooma in the middle 

 distance. This noble-looking hill, which runs up to 5,000 feet 

 above sea level, is shown in the accompanying photograph, and 

 is a veritable nursery of nature, and full of objects of interest to 

 the naturalist. Amongst other things it is noteworthy that on 

 its top there grows a species of eucalyptus which, so far, has not 

 been recorded as being found in any other part of the Australian 

 continent, though it has been met with in Tasmania. The 

 western slope is thickly timbered, carrying heavy scrub in parts, 

 in which the Powerful Owl {Ninox stremid), Brush-Turkey 

 {Catheturus lathami), flying fox, &c., live in comparatively 

 undisturbed security, whilst round the foot of the mountain 

 kangaroos and wallabies enjoy similar privacy, and are con- 

 sequently somewhat plentiful. In fact, Belltrees proved to be the 

 home for the bird-lover, and prior to my return to Sydney a 

 visit to Ellerston, another part of the estate, disclosed similar 



