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Family MUSCICAPIDiE. 



Whiteornis goodenovii (Southern Red-capped Robin). 



This familiar little bird was found all over the country — 

 on the table-lands, sandhill country, and ranges. Not plentiful 

 in any one spot, just a pair here and there. 



Melanodryas cucullata vigorsi (Southern Hooded Robin). 

 This is one of the most widely-dispersed birds of the 

 interior, and we found it in almost every situation possible. 

 A very silent bird, and will sit motionless on a twig near the 

 ground for a long while, then, at the sight of an insect, will 

 flit to the ground in a- most silent and soft way, returning to 

 its perch to watch again. Except for their movement, their 

 presence in the silent mulga scrubs would never be detected. 

 We found these birds nesting in August. 



Smicrornis brevirostris flavescens (Yellow-tinted 



Tree Tit). 



We met with these small birds as soon as we reached 

 the Finke. Its note is very loud for such a small bird. We 

 observed them high up amongst the red gum tops, also many 

 times in the mulga scrub amongst the small bushes close to 

 the ground. They seem to be found all along the watercourses 

 and through the ranges. They build a beautiful little sus- 

 pended nest, made of soft dead leaves attached to one another 

 by cobwebs and lined with feathers. The nest, in shape, is 

 like that of the Diceum. 



Leucocirca tricolor (Black-and-white Fantail). 



This familiar bird was met with at all stations and home- 

 steads, also hundreds of miles from all habitations, in locali- 

 ties where it is very doubtful if white man, up to our visit, 

 had ever trod, and here these birds were found to be as 

 trustful and as quiet, if not more so, than when they are in 

 constant association with man. These birds are much disliked 

 by the natives, and the old people say that they hang about 

 their wurlies and are for ever eavesdropping and carrying tales, 

 telling other natives what they (the birds) hear. So that 

 when these birds are about they speak of anything important 

 only in a whisper. 



Family CAMPOPHAGID^. 



Pteropodocys maxima (Eastern Ground Cuckoo-Shrike). 



We met with this graceful bird once or twice on our way 

 up the Finke. They were exceedingly shy and difficult to 

 approach. Their flight and call are very distinct from Cora- 

 cina melanops, and the forked tail, which shows very plainly 

 when flying, and their call draws attention to them at once. 



