90 
MacGIOLIVRAY, s. IV. Queensland. [™t oT 
evidence that the Mutton-bird, in contradistinction to most other 
birds, lays only one egg in the season. This may be accounted 
for by the fact that the egg is such a large one, and quite dis¬ 
proportionate to the size of the bird. There also seems to be 
fairly conclusive evidence that the birds return to the same 
rookeries and holes each year for laying purposes. These are 
facts of great interest and importance in the conservation of 
these birds, and will have an important bearing on the regulations 
framed under the Game Acts for their conservation and 
protection. 
A Spring Excursion into South-western 
Queensland 
By Dr. W. M. MacGILlJVRAY, C.F.A.O.U., Broken Hill, 
Sometime President, R.A.O.U. 
Part II. 
We resumed our journey towards Ada vale, the thick scrub 
giving place to more open forest, and then to open scrub, with 
much herbage and many wild flowers. We stopped for lunch 
in quite a garden, and added many plants to our portfolios. 
Amongst these were a new Prostanthera, and a very beautiful 
Trichinum. Birds were mostly Yellow-throated Miners, which 
species had replaced the Noisy Miner since we crossed the Paroo- 
Bulloo watershed. Singing Honeyeaters were again in evidence, 
and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters were here as elsewhere; they 
had been with us all through. 
Nearing Adavale the country became more open, with larger 
timber, mostly Yapunyah, Bimble-box and E. Thozetiana, which 
finds its western limit here. We crossed the Blackwater Creek, 
which was running from bore-water, before entering Adavale — 
a small hamlet on a bare open space. Heaving the town we had 
seven miles to go over a bare open common before crossing the 
Bulloo main channel. The road to Windorah went on, but our 
way was to the south, parallel with the river. During a compul¬ 
sory halt a pair of Chestnut-tailed Thornhills were seen feeding 
their nestlings in a dead Mulga. The entrance hole in the tree 
we were curious enough to measure, and found its horizontal 
diameter § in., and its vertical $ in., yet the parent birds went in 
and out without difficulty. Up to this time we had not seen a 
Budgerygah, though a few small lots of Cockatoo-Parrots had 
passed 11 s at intervals since the commencement of our trip. We 
camped for the night at a good waterhole in the middle of the 
Bulloo channel. 
Next day we proceeded along the road, which crossed and re¬ 
crossed the river all the way from Adavale to Thargomindah. 
After several miles we decided to walk along the channel, while 
the car went on to the next crossing-place to await our arrival 
for lunch. The walk was a long one, and we did not have lunch 
till three in the afternoon. Very little bird life enlivened our 
walk—two pairs of White Cockatoos and one Galah, and we 
