134 THE BIRDS OF THE COEBORA DISTRICT. 



in the thick iron bark forests. They breed here, but I have never known them to entirely build a 

 nest for themselves. Of about twenty I have examined, all have been inside old Babbler's nests. 

 Enlarging the entrance they roughly reline it with bits of bark and dry grass. I have never found 

 a clutch of more than two eggs, and I have taken them from August 22nd till as late as October 25th. 



Tropidorhynchus corniculalus (Friar Bird). — A common species everywhere, more especially in 

 the spring, sometimes arriving in great numbers, but they do not all remain here to breed. In 

 certain localities on some of the sandy flats between the ranges, a fair number of them breed every 

 year, placing their nests near the end of a long thin horizontal branch, mostly in ironbark and stringy- 

 bark trees. Very few of them can be climbed out to ; to secure their eggs it is usually necessary 

 to scoop them. I have examined about thirty-five of their nests, but have only been able to put 

 my hand in two of them in its natural position. Three eggs is generally the full clutch, but I once 

 took a set of four. They are rather late breeders, the earliest record I have of taking eggs being 

 September 28th, and the latest December 16th. 



Philemon citreigularis (Yellow-throated Friar-bird). — A very common species here during the 

 spring and summer months, but they are seldom found far away from water. They breed here freely, 

 mostly building their nests in the redgums, river oaks and native apple trees growing on the banks 

 of the river. I know of no bird the nests of which differ so greatly ; some are rather frail structures. 

 loosely constructed, composed of dry grasses, while others are great bulky structures, neatly made 

 within, but almost entirely composed of wool from sheep. Three eggs is the usual clutch torn sitting; 

 I have only once found a set of four. They are late breeders, mostly laying during November, but I 

 have taken eggs as early as September 30th and as late as January 12th. 



A iitltus australis (Ground Lark). — A very common species on all the open country on the estate. 

 They breed here in great numbers, sometimes placing their nests in an old rusty jam tin. They 

 evidently rear several broods during a season, because I have seen nests containing eggs from August 

 25th till as late as November 12th. The usual clutch is three, but often four. 



*Mirafra horsfieldi (Bush Lark). — A rather rare species here, only odd pairs and single birds 

 turning up in good springs. I once caught a young bird which had only just left the nest. 



Staganopleura guttata (Spotted-sided Finch). — A common species throughout the district, in all 

 classes of country, often seen in gardens, and frequently found building their bulky nests in creepers 

 growing on the sides of verandahs. Wherever a Brown Hawk's nest is found there are sure to be 

 several nests of this Finch in close proximity, mostly in the same tree, and usually two or three 

 attached to the underneath part of the larger nest. I once counted twenty-two nests in a single 

 tree. They lay from three to six eggs for a sitting, and are not very particular at what time of 

 the year they breed. I have examined nests containing eggs from June 23rd up till January 15th. 

 They use the old nest for roosting purposes long after the young birds can fly. 



Taem'opygia castanoiis (Chestnut-eared Finch). — Some years enormous flocks of this species put 

 in an appearance, but most of them disappear before they breed — in fact, yery few of them breed 

 here at all ; those that do, build a nest within a hollow branch of a dead tree. One evening 1 saw 

 a bird enter a hole in a dead tree, about six feet from the ground ; upon giving it a knock with a 

 tomahawk out flew about a dozen of these birds. 



Aidemosyne modesta (Plum-headed Finch). — A very rare species in this district. I have not 

 seen more than a dozen birds, just an odd pair turning up any year in the spring. At present a 

 pair have taken up their abode about my house. I often see them in my garden ; they come 

 on to a lawn only a few steps off my verandah, and pick up feathers blown there from a white 

 cockatoo which is kept in a cage on the verandah, so they are evidently building somewhere close 

 about. I have only found three of their nests containing eggs, and the clutches were lour, five 

 and six, all found during the month of November. Two of the nests were placed in black thistles, 

 the other in a tussock on the bank of the river. 



