743 



Family GLAREOLIDAE. 



Peltohyas a. australis, Gould (Australian Dotterel). 

 While travelling over a very stony tableland a party of 

 these interesting birds was met with ; they were running over 

 the stony ground very rapidly, and their colouration har- 

 monized so well with the gibber stones around them that when 

 .-stationary it was almot impossible to tell bird from stone. 

 After the first shot they made off very quickly. Those 

 :specimens secured were all males. Although a sharp look-out 

 was kept for these birds, they were not again seen. What 

 they can get in the shape of food on the fearfully dry gibber 

 plains or stony desert country is a wonder, but when the 

 stomach contents have been worked out this may throw some 

 light upon the subject. 



Family BURHINIDAE. 



BuRHiNUS M. MAGNiROSTRis, Latham (Eastern Stone Plover). 



The bird was not actually seen, but that is only natural, 

 for they keep very close to the ground when danger is near, 

 and their colouration is so like their surroundings that it defies 

 detection at times. Their unmistakable cry was heard on 

 more than one occasion at night time. 



Family OTIDIDAE. 

 AusTROTis A. AUSTRALIS, Gray (Australian Bustard). 



This fine bird was not at all numerous, a fact due to the 

 ;great drought, no doubt. In places where a few light showers 

 had fallen and the herbage made its appearance some of the 

 bustards had collected, but were extremely shy, and were 

 seldom seen before they were on the wing. It is a great 

 wonder how such heavy birds can rise upon the wing amongst 

 the thick mulga where they often are to be found. In several 

 places feathers were seen, showing where the natives had made 

 •a capture. 



Order PSOPHIFORMES. 

 Family ARDEIDAE. 



NOTOPHOYX NOVAE-HOLLANDIAE, Latham 



(White-fronted Heron). 

 It was not unusual to meet with this bird near the large 

 "M'ater-holes which last for many months after the river ceased 

 to run. This was especially noticeable on the Alberga. The 

 birds were either flushed from the edge of the water, where 

 they were in quest of food, or they were seen perched in the 

 big gums near the river. As soon as we left the Alberga and 

 •entered tne dry country these birds were not seen. 



