PARSONS — A Day in the Mallee. 115 



this little bird was lost, as none of the males was in full 

 breeding plumage. 



Some other species identified with certainty were as fol- 

 lows : — 



Geopelia placida tranquilla (peaceful dove).— These grace- 

 ful birds went about in little flocks of 6 or 12 birds, and would 

 come about the doors of the farm houses. 



Zonifer tricolor (black-breasted plover). — Four or five 

 birds could always be seen in a cleared grass paddock. 



Urodetus audax (wedge-tailed eagle). — Only one noticed; 

 it was soaring aloft. A nest was seen of this spcies, built in 

 a large mallee in a secluded part of the scrub. 



Poh/teMs anth ope plus (black-tailed parrot). — Only five 

 birds were seen. I think these birds are plentiful closer to 

 the River Murray. 



Psephotus varms (many coloured parrot). — Several of 

 these were met with in the scrub, but only a pair at a time; 

 they were very confiding, and could be approached to within 

 a few yards. 



Whiteornis goodenovii (red-capped robin). — Many pairs of 

 this species were seen; they seemed to be always close to the 

 pine clumps. 



Seisura inquieta (restless fly catcher). — A very common 

 bird ; the residents of the district thought it was the common 

 willie wagtail (Leuroeirca tricolor), but none of that species 

 were noticed. 



' Pseudartamus cyanopterus (wood swallow). — This 

 species was very plentiful ; not many were noticed during the 

 day, but towards dusk they came in large numbers to roost 

 in blackwood trees close to the house. They clustered to- 

 gether, but did not hang on one another like bees swarming, 

 as I understand they do sometimes. First five or six settled 

 on a short bough, then others settled on them, and then 

 others, until a dark mass was formed about 18 inches high, 

 but all the birds were above the supporting bough. Some 

 birds were very much lighter in colour than others; they may 

 have been immature birds, or perhaps a sub-species. 



Oreoica cristata (crested bell bird). — These were fairly 

 numerous, especially where the growth was not too thick. 

 They would run under a bush and remain stationary for quite 

 a long time. 



Aplieloccphala leucopsis (white face). — These birds were 

 plentiful, and often were in company with Acanthizae about 

 the pine clumps. 



