on his Visit to Australia.



i 6 5



fence is demolished, rabbits will climb quite a high fence rather

than starve, and we witnessed that evening what they had

done in this way. As we approached they ran before us in

droves, the majority making for the fence, knowing that their

home lay on the other side. We had no dogs with us but suc¬

ceeded in capturing several rabbits with our hands as they ran

backwards and forwards trying to find an exit. There were one

or two black or sandy-coloured ones amongst the host we saw,

proving their descen t from tame stock. What would not the

Australians give to be rid of this link with the old country, this

introduced pest?


The species of birds we identified 011 this trip may be

perhaps worth enumerating as follows:—


Whistling Eagle ( Haliasiur sphenurus), Brown Hawk ( Hieracidea

orientalis), Raven ( Corone australis). Grey Crow-shrike ( Strepera cuneicau-

data), Magpie Lark (Grallina picta), Grey Shrike-thrush ( Collyriocincla

harmonica), Scarlet-breasted Robin (Petrceca leggiij, Blue Wren (Malums

cyaneus), White-shafted Fautail (.Rhipidura albiscapa), Black and White

Fantail ( R. tricolor). Striated Tit (Acanthiza lineata), Yellow-ruuiped Tit

{A. chrysorrhoa), White-browed Scrub Wren (Sericornis frontalis), White-

fronted Chat (Ephthianura albifrons). White-backed Magpie (Gymnorhina

leuconota), Yellow-breasted Shrike Robin (Eopsaltria australis), White-

throated Thickhead (Pachycephata gutturalis), Rufous-breasted Thickhead

(P. lufiventris). White-throated Tree-creeper (Climacteris leucophoza), Spine-

bill ( Acanthorhynchus superciliosus), White-naped Honey-eater (Melithreptus

lunula Ins), Brown-lieaded Honey-eater (M. brevirostris), Fuscus Honey-eater

(Ptilotis fusca). Yellow-faced Honey-eater (P. chrysops), White-bearded

Honey-eater (Meliornis novce-hollandce), Yellow Wattle-bird (Acanthochcera

carunculata), Spiney-cheeked Honey-eater ( A. rufigularis), Spotted Parda-

lote (Pardalotus punctalus). Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Pipit (Ar.thus

australis). Wood Swallow (Arlamus sordidus), Red-browed Finch (xEgintha

temporalis). Musky Lorikeet (Glossopsittacus concinnus), Little Lorikeet (G.

pusillus). Pennant’s Parrakeet (Platycercus elegans), Rosella (P. eximius),

Black-breasted Plover (.Zonifer tricolor) Bronze-winged Pigeon (Phaps

chalcoptera), and Laughing Jackass (Dacelo gigas).



