268 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
There were also great numbers of the Straw-necked Ibis, Carphibis 
spinicollis, a bird which all colonists here agree has only once been previously 
seen in the district. These birds I first observed last May, feeding near 
the stock-yards and houses; then they betook themselves more to the 
rivers and water-holes, though often met with in great flocks on open flats. 
The Gascoyne River has also been visited by great numbers of these birds. 
They were in a most emaciated condition on their arrival, and great 
numbers died. Others, however, were in better condition, or else speedily 
grew fat, for I found one day, on shooting three, they were quite as much 
as I cared to carry a quarter of a mile. Though not nearly so numerous 
as they were a few months ago, many still remain, but though they have 
been here eight months I cannot hear of their breeding. Most of the 
natives here regard it as a new bird. A species of Laughing Jackass 
(Dacelo cervina?) is abundant on the Lyons and Gascoyne Rivers, but 
curiously enough does not occur on the Minilya; I believe it is also found 
on the Lyndon. Emus have been wonderfully plentiful this season: these 
birds prolong their time of laying very much; eggs were brought in here 
in May, and early in December last I came upon a party of ten young 
ones with their parents; the former were certainly not a fortnight old. 
The reason may be that the first clutches of eggs are often taken by natives. 
Migration goes on here to a considerable extent among several species of 
birds, but it is difficult to make exact notes in a new country. During the 
months of October and November great numbers of what from Gould's 
description must be, I think, the Letter-winged Kite, Elanus scriptus, 
appeared here. Many died from some cause which I could not ascertain, 
and very few are now to be seen. When in Carnarvon, last November, I 
saw some young Magpies that a teamster had brought down the river 
with him : it was the same species as occurs in the southern portion of this 
colony, and I previously imagined the Murchison River to be its northern 
limit. It is a curious fact that many species of bush quadrupeds com- 
pletely died out here some years ago; their unoccupied habitations may be 
seen all over the bush. The Kangaroos in this district were almost totally 
exterminated some years when so many natives succumbed to the 
“measles ”: they say the Kangaroos and other species contracted this 
disease. It is, however, certain that some species have died out entirely ; 
others are now increasing again. Many species of birds here lay whenever 
a good rain falls, no matter what time of year.—THomas Carrer (Minilya 
River). 
Uncommon Birds in Skye. — Although the Greater Spotted Wood- 
pecker (D. major) has long been known to visit the Shetlands, it has 
not to my knowledge been recorded from the Hebrides. I ought, perhaps, 
to say that it has recently occurred in Skye, on at least one occasion. In 
October, 1886, a male bird was shot near Edinbane, by Mr. Boyd, the 
