THE WOMBAT. 27 



To the naturalist, of course, such a district as I have 

 described offers a large field of research, and I look forward to 

 doing a good deal of work, but I find it a mistake to take up 

 too many lines at once, so am confining myself at present to 

 the birds. 



The first thing that struck me was how extremely common 

 some species are, notably Cacatua galerita (White Cockatoo), 

 Dacelo gigas (Jackass), Platycercus ex fortius (Rosella), Climacteris 

 scandens (Brown tree-creeper), Gymnorhina tibicen (Black- 

 backed Magpie), Malurus cyaneus (Blue Wren), Pardalotus 

 striatus (Diamond Bird), and Geobasileus chryssorrhoza (Yellow 

 Tail). Gymnorhina tibicen was only of rare occurrence round 

 Castlemaine, whereas G. leuconota, which is so common there, 

 is wanting here. There are other species which were amongst 

 the commonest birds there, and which appear to be either 

 very scarce or not represented here, such as Pomatostomus 

 superciliosus (Cat Bird), Oreoica cristata (Crested Oreoica), 

 Ptilotis auricomis (Yellow Tufted Honeyeater), Collyriocincla 

 harmonica (Grey Thrush). Later on, when I am in a position 

 to do so, I shall make comparative lists of the two localities, 

 which will doubtless prove interesting. 



I have been disappointed with the Parrot tribe. Besides 

 the two already mentioned I have only seen Callocephalon 

 galeatum (Gang Gang), A prosmictus scapulatus (King Parrot), 

 Platycercus pennantu (Red Lory), Trichoglossus concinnus 

 (Musk Lorikeet) and T, pusillus (Little Lorikeet), also one 

 pair of Black Cockatoos, but could not get near enough to 

 identify the species. 



The honey-eaters seem to be fairly represented, but I have 

 not seen so many species as I expected. I heard of Philemon 

 corniculatus (the Leatherhead) in Castlemaine, but never saw 

 one there; here they are very common, and their peculiar note 

 may be heard everywhere, especially during the breeding 

 season. Anthochaera carunmlata (Wattle Bird) and Myzantha 

 garrula (Miner), are also much in evidence. Ptilotis chrysops 

 (Yellow-faced Honeyeater) is very common, Melithreptus 

 brevirostris (Short-billed Honey-eater) fairly so. 



Grallinas are plentiful, but up to the present I have not 

 given them much attention. 



Hawks are numerous, Tinnanculus cenchroides (Nankeen 

 Kestrel) being the commonest. I have shot four or five species, 

 but have not identified them all yet. 



