122 ' THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
BIRDS SEEN AT “GOORIANAWA,” CENTRAL WESTERN 
DISTRICT, NEW SOUTH WALES, DURING AUGUST. 
By E. Outver Epwarps. 
Goorianawa is situated 39 miles east from Gular (on the 
Coonamble line) and 12 miles from Baradine. It is at the 
foot of the Warrumbungle Range, Mt. Exmouth (3000ft.) being 
about 10 miles to the south. 
Commencing with the order Galliformes, I have observed two 
members of the Pheasant family Phasinianidae, but only on one 
occasion. These were the Brown Quail (Synoicus australis), 
and the stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis) . 
Up to the present I have not seen any birds belonging to the 
order Turniciformes. 
Of the order Columbiformes, the Dove family, Peristeridae, is 
well represented, the introduced Indian Turtle-Dove (Turtur 
ferrago) being fairly often seen. The Diamond Dove (Geopelia 
cuneata), a smaller bird, is also common. TFlocks of Crested 
pigeons (Ocyphaps lophotes), quite charming birds, are com- 
monly seen feeding in the grass. One is often surprised by 
these birds rising with a whirr quite close by. 
Passing on to the order Charadruformes, there is one repre- 
sentative in the family Oedicnemidae or stone curlews which I 
had the luck to see; this was the southern stone curlew (Bur- 
hinus grallarius). They seem to be very shy birds, and will 
not allow anyone to approach within any distance of them. 
The Straw-necked Ibis (Carphibis spinicollis), belonging to 
the order Ardeiformes, family Ibididae, put in an appearance 
with the wet weather, flocks of them groping about in the boggy 
ground in search of insects. Here the advent of these birds is 
considered a sign of rain, but I cannot see why this should be 
so, possibly because of the Egyptian story that on the arrival 
of Ibises the Nile generally became flooded. 
Of the birds of prey, Accipitriformes, the Wedge-tailed Hagle 
(Uroaitus audax), of the family Faleonidae, is plentiful, and is 
destructive to lambs. These are the largest eagles known, their 
length being 38 inches from the tip of bill to the tip of tail. 
We now come to the order Psittaciformes, or parrots. Of 
these the White Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) is very common, 
as well as destructive to trees. I have seen large ‘gum trees 
almost stripped of their leaves, and the strange thing is that 
these birds appear to choose one tree, and not trouble about 
