The Emu. 
127 
Gascoyne River, especially in the vicinity of some gardens, 
where I was told these birds comnaitted havoc with the fruit, 
and that until the gardens began to be productive the White- 
eyes were hardly ever seen. They were probably there but not 
noticed. On 2nd May, after my return here, Painted Finches 
{Emblema picta) were noted in some numbers, and on iith 
June on the high rocky range here they were quite common, 
flying about in small mobs of seven or ten. The last I saw was 
a pair at a sand-well on the beach, 13th September. When at 
Cardabia Creek, 14th July, I found a nest of the Whistling 
Eagle {Haliastur spJienurus) with two eggs, and in the next 
white gum, a few yards distant, a nest of the Black-faced 
Cuckoo-Shrike with two eggs. The following day nests of the 
White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater [Lalage tricolor), with young, 
and Tricoloured Chat {Ephthianura tricolor), with four eggs ; 
also of Tawny Frogmouth, with two eggs. A Darter {P lotus 
novcE-JiollandicE) was shot at the large pool, which, as recorded 
in The Zoologist for July, now contains numerous small fish. In 
September several Pelicans were seen there and a Pied Cor- 
morant {Phalacrocorax hypoleucus). The Cormorant and Darter 
were never noted there before. On 21st and 28th July I found 
several nests of the Pied Honey-eater {Entoinophila leucomelas) 
in scrub growing on the coast sandhills, near the shearing shed. 
The full clutch appears to be three. The nests were somewhat 
substantially built, and about 4 or 5 feet from the ground. One 
nest was in a small sandalwood bush standing apart. It con- 
tained young birds. The mother fluttered about, feigning lame- 
ness, and uttering a melancholy piping note. This bird is one 
of the commonest winter visitors, arriving in numbers after the 
first rains, usually in June. The male birds are much more in 
evidence than the females, as they perch on the upper twigs of 
bushes, and, rising to some height in the air, flutter to 
another perch, uttering their somewhat mournful piping 
song. They are usually shy and difficult to approach. 
In the course of shearing, a Pectoral Rail {Hypotcenidia 
philippinensis) was seen running about and feeding in the 
drafting yards and brush fences. ist September. — In some 
hard sandy cliffs on the beach several Black and White 
Swallows {Cheranioeca leiico sternum) had their nests. It is 
amazing through what hard material these apparently weak 
birds can drill a hole. With much trouble and the aid of a 
strong sheath-knife I enlarged two holes sufficiently to admit 
my arm. Both contained young birds. The holes were 3 feet 
long, the nest cavity being large and containing two or more 
handfuls of flat leaves, about 4 inches in length, off a species of 
mulga. loth September. — I noted three nesting holes of these 
birds excavated in the soft sand under a large bunch of 
spinifex on the roadside. The wind had blown and cut away 
one side of the hummock on which the spinifex was growing, 
