222 Stray Feathers. [^^j 



Emu 

 April 



{AcmitJiochcera carunculata and A. mellivord), Brown Tits {Acan- 

 thiza pusilld), and White-browed Scrub-Wrens {Sericornis frottt- 

 alis) were plentiful, while on the ocean beach Silver Gulls {Larus 

 novcB-Jiolla7idi(B), Pacific Gulls {Gabiatms pacificus), Black and 

 Pied Cormorants {PJialacrocorax carbo and P. hypoleucus). Hooded 

 and Red-capped Dottrels [y^gialitis cuciiUata and ^. mficapilld) 

 were seen, and eggs of the last-named were noted on 23rd 

 December, the late nesting being due, perhaps, to the fact that 

 my brother took eggs from the some locality on i8th and 23rd 

 November. A Hooded Dottrel's nest containing four eggs (two 

 being the usual clutch) was found on i8th November. These 

 eggs were probably laid by two female birds which were seen in 

 close proximity to the nest. The most interesting part of this 

 district from an ornithologist's point of view is the long, narrow 

 strip of land terminating in Point Smythe, and separating the 

 inlet from the ocean. A fringe of high sand-dunes and tea-tree- 

 clad ridges runs along the coast in a south-easterly direction, and 

 effectively protects the inland portion from the southerly gales. 

 The soil at the western end of this peninsula is sandy, undulat- 

 ing, and more or less covered with banksias, tea-trees, and 

 stunted eucalypts. Banksias grow profusely here, and attain a 

 large size in the more open localities. Bird-life is much in 

 evidence, and the harsh notes of the Red and Brush Wattle- 

 Birds may be heard in every direction. Several pairs of Coach- 

 whip-Birds {Psophodes crepitans) were seen or heard in the dense 

 tea-tree scrub. It was noticed that the Brown Tits were found 

 only in the tea-tree along the coast on either side of the entrance 

 to the inlet, while the Buff-rumped and Yellow-rumped species 

 were to be found in the timbered country on the mainland, and 

 always at some little distance from the coast. 



Curlews (^Nmnenins cyanopus). Red-capped Dottrels, and Black 

 Ducks {Anas stiperciliosa) could be seen nightly making their 

 way down the inlet from the mud-flats to the sandy beach 

 within the entrance. 



I had no opportunity of visiting the eastern end of the inlet, 

 but my brother, who was there on 20th November, noted a great 

 number of waders and swimming birds of different kinds, and 

 heard Coachwhip-Birds in the reeds and coral fern growing at 

 the entrance of the Tarwin River. Probably the extensive 

 clearing of timber in the neighbourhood may account for the 

 birds being driven into country so different from what they 

 usually inhabit. 



I noticed the following birds, and several others that I w'as 

 unable to identify : — 



Harrier {Circus gouldi), Kestrel {Cerchneis cenchroides) , Black-faced 

 Cuckoo-Shrike {Graucalus melanops), Lalage (sp.), Oriole {Oriolus 

 viridis), Magpie-Lark {Grallina picata), Grey Shrike-Thrush {Collyrio- 

 cincla harmonica), Brown Flycatcher {Micrceca fa,scinans), Blue Wren 



