140 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



and Terns (Hydrochelidon leucoptera ?). Many of the Ducks had young, 

 and I found nests in hollow white gum trees. When returning, I shot a 

 Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) in a patch of trees some 

 miles from water ; the head-plumes were black for three inches from the 

 tip. Gould describes them as white. Next day I found a nest of the Tri. 

 coloured Ephthianura (E. tricolor), containing three eggs, and an egg of 

 some sort of Cuckoo, not identified. March 24th, flocks of Swifts (Cypselus 

 pacificus) were travelling south. Pied Honey-Eaters (Lichnotentha picata) 

 and White-fronted Glycyphila albifrons were in abundance ; also the Tri- 

 coloured Ephthianura, and a few Yellow-fronted E. aurifrons. Swift- 

 flying Turnix (I 7 , velox) were everywhere in the luxuriant grass, and 1 saw 

 several young in down on the 29th. From March 31st to April 2nd 

 countless numbers of Swifts were flying south ; and I may mention Cossack 

 and Roebourne, farther in the north-west, were partially destroyed by 

 another hurricane on April 2nd. Turkeys (Choriotis australis) were abun- 

 dant, and often varied our bush meals. April 5th, I visited the nearest 

 pool which is permanent, and situated in a deep rugged gorge in the ranges 

 thirty miles north of this locality. Here I shot a Painted Finch (Emblema 

 picta), the first I have seen, and so far this is, I believe, the farthest south 

 and west record. I was climbing up the precipitous cliffs out of the gorge, 

 when it alighted on a ledge below me, and I was obliged to shoot there and 

 then to secure the bird, and unfortunately smashed it ; but there was no 

 mistaking the species ; its crop was full of small seeds. Gould says he 

 thought its food might differ from other Finches, as its beak is of a different 

 shape. Immediately after I shot a Yellow-bellied Shrike-Thrush (Collyrio- 

 cincla rufiventris) and White-bellied Owlet Nightjar (JEgotheles leucogaster), 

 but was unsuccessful in securing another fine Nightjar, though I flushed 

 it several times. April 14th, 1 shot a male and female Emu-Wren close to 

 a patch of mangroves; they were in company with immature Superb 

 Warblers, and are the only ones I have seen. My correspondent, Mr. A. 

 G. Campbell, of Melbourne, to whom I am much indebted for naming 

 numerous birds, thinks it may be a different species to Stipiturus mala- 

 churus, as this is such a usually dry country ; and 1 have forwarded him 

 the skins, but not yet heard his decision. April 25th, shot two Sander- 

 lings (Calidris arenaria). May 19th, shot a Black-eared Cuckoo (Miso- 

 calius osculans) on a rocky range here, the only specimen I have seen. 

 May 27th, secured one out of two Barred-tailed Godwits (Limosa melanur- 

 oides) on the beach. May 29th, shot three Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoos 

 (Lamprococcyx basalis), and saw a considerable number of these birds 

 evidently migrating. Flocks of Yellow Zosterops (Zosterops luteus) and 

 immature Campephaga leucomela were often seen. The former were to be 

 found until September, and I have no doubt were breeding, but I was not 



