THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
from the east. On Feb. 17th, 1900, two of them perched on the wire stay of 
the house flagstaff (mast off a wrecked pearling lugger), and were shot for 
identification. A heavy north-east gale with severe duststorm preceded 
their appearances. These birds, when on the wing, constantly utter their 
chattering note.” 
Mr. J. P. Rogers has sent me the following : “ May 17th, 1911. At 
‘ Willin ’ Camp, about thirty miles out from Derby, on the Fitzroy, I saw 
several of these birds for the first time this year. They leave this locality 
before the wet season and return in May and June. I have never been able 
to get the date the last leave, but it seems to be in October. On May 19th, 
1911, at Marngle Creek, several small flocks were seen and on May 28th the birds 
were in hundreds, many large flocks being seen. On reaching Mungi Rockhole 
I found the birds scarce, and now on the 3rd of July I have seen none for the 
past week. The country here is practically desert and insect life is scarce, 
so there would not be food for the large flocks seen in the better watered 
country. Usually these birds are in thousands along the Fitzroy. Often 
there are one or more pairs of A. super ciliosus, apparently stragglers, but this 
year I have seen none. At Derby, on 25th to 30th July, they were still 
numerous.” 
Hall had previously recorded Roger’s notes from Derby : “ On 24/5/00 
this species arrived in thousands, and as with A. super ciliosus, noted, it seems 
as if they had arrived at or near the end of migratory course. There were 
a few before this date. The next month in the following year (26/6/01) 
they also appeared in thousands (Lower Livuringa).” 
Under A. super ciliosus, Rogers’ note reads : “ In the two specimens the 
irides differ from Gould’s description (black) ; male is nearer orange, female 
lighter yellow. Within the last few days (24/5/00) this species appears to 
have arrived, possibly from their migratory course. They are now feeding 
upon the honey-laden flowers, and this perhaps accounts for their brush 
tongues. They are eating in the company of A. personatus and Manorhina 
lutea .” 
Simultaneously Berney recorded from Queensland : “I had no idea 
till quite recently that the Wood-Swallows were honey-eaters, or perhaps it 
would be more correct to say eaters of honey. Two of the species (A. personatus 
and A. superciliosus) have been flocking lately on the bauhinia trees, which 
are just now in full bloom. I watched them quite close, there being no need 
for the glasses, for in their eagerness to gather their breakfast of honey they 
crowded round me within 8 feet of my head. They make an animated scene, 
seven or eight hundred in a tree, continually shifting from flower to flower, 
at the same time keeping up an incessant twittering and chirping. I wanted 
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