742 



excreta seen they must frequent the same roosting site for 

 months at a time. Their flesh is white, tender, and of excel- 

 lent flavour. From specimens taken they seem more robust 

 and stronger-marked birds than those we collected in the 

 central regions the previous year. The natives call this bird 

 "Ebru." 



OcYPHAPS L, LOPHOTES, Temmiuck (Crested Pigeon). 



These beautiful pigeons were found fairly numerous near 

 water-holes on the Alberga, but became less numerous as we 

 worked west. A number came in to water at Wantapella 

 Swamp each morning and evening ; disappearing as we entered 

 granite country. They are a much more trustful bird in com- 

 parison with the Bronze-wing (Fhu-p^^ c. dial co2)t era ), and 

 when a party of these birds are moving over the ground in 

 search of food, raising and lowering their beautiful crests, it is 

 a very pretty sight. 



Order PODICIPIFORMES. 

 Family PODICIPIDAE. 



PoLiocEPHALus P. POLiocEPHALUs, Jardiuc and Selbv 



(Hoary-headed Grebe). 



After leaving Todmorden and travelling up the Alberga 

 River, we met with these birds in most of the water-holes. 

 They were not plentiful : two or three were the most seen at 

 one water-hole. They showed no variation from the southern 

 bird. 



Order CHARADIIFORMES. 



Family VANELLIDAE. 



LoBiBYX NOVAE-HOLLANDiAE, Stephens (Spur-winged Plover). 



If this bird be a resident in the north-western corner of 

 the State I was unable to ascertain, but the call was heard on 

 several occasions at night during the first part of the journey.. 



Family CHARADRIIDAE. 

 Elseya m. melanops, Vieillot (Black-fronted Dotterel). 

 Like the grebes, a few of these birds were seen at all the 

 waters along the Alberga, but as soon as the last water-hole 

 was left behind us these birds were not seen again. There is 

 no doubt they breed in the interior, for a female bird went 

 through all the antics of a wounded bird to entice me away 

 from young and eggs ; she fluttered along the ground a few paces 

 in front of me, rolling over on her side at tim.es, as if 

 exhausted with her strus^gles. 



