107 
NOTES ON THE DISAPPEARANCE— TOT A Lor PARTIAL— 
of CERTAIN SPECTES of BIRDS in the LOWER 
LACHLAN DISTRICT. 
By K. H. BENNETT, F.L.S., &c. 
Wjttlg collecting for the Australian Museum some years ago, 
1 was asked by the Curator to make a few notes on the migration 
of birds, their arrival and disappearance, shortly after my notes 
were mislaid, but recently on their turning up again, T thought 
perhaps a few remarks on the rarer forms would prove interesting 
to Ornithologists. 
It is a noticeable fact, and one that must strike an observer, 
that great changes have taken place in the avifauna of this part 
of the Colony during the last eighteen or twenty years. Species 
that were formerly numerous, have for many years past entirely 
disappeared ; others that were numerous, during certain portions 
of each year are now represented at long and uncertain intervals 
by a few stragglers. Whilst on the other hand species that were 
at that time few in numbers have now become plentiful and per- 
manent. Amongst those that have entirely vanished may be 
mentioned Phaps histrionica , Geopliaps script a, Pedionomus tor- 
quatus and Oreoica cristata. Whilst amongst the now occasional 
visitants (once plentiful) are Falco subniger , Milvus affinis , 
Coturnix pectoralis , Turnix velox , and Synoicus australis. There 
can, T think, be little doubt, but that in most cases this disappear- 
ance is due to the occupation and stocking of the country with 
sheep, whilst the prevalence of the domestic cat (gone wild) has 
doubtless in some cases proved another factor. In former years 
the whole of these vast plains were covered with a dense mass of 
vegetation in the shape of dwarf saltbush, herbaceous plants and 
grass, affording at the same time a safe cover, and a plentiful 
supply of food in the large quantities of their various seeds. For 
many years past, this state of things has been entirely changed 
by stocking with sheep, and as a rule the country is bare, or at 
best affording but a scanty covering and an equally scanty supply 
of food. The disappearance of Pedionomus torquatus , I think, is 
due to other causes, for this bird (never very numerous) had dis- 
appeared long before the country became bare or thinly clothed with 
herbage. It is from the shortness of its wings a very poor flier, and 
always reluctantly takes flight during the day time, instinct 
teaching it that it would become an easy prey to any predatory 
feathered foe. Its journeys on the wing, as I am assured by the 
natives, and which my own observations tend to confirm, are for 
