Page:The Emu volume 20.djvu/174

 the oldest timber-getters in the district heard anything of it. Birds generally, both for numbers and species, were remarkably scarce. The reason was not far to seek. The forests bore ample evidence of fire, both recent and remote. However, one interesting sight was a flock of about 30 Black Cockatoos (the White-tailed species, baudini) seen on the ground by the wayside. As the birds rose and flew from tree to tree, dispersing, they uttered quaint cries like that of a captured domestic hen. Although the bushfires had played havoc with the fauna, the flora had been greatly refreshed, as evinced by the abundance and beauty of remarkable flowers seen everywhere. On the return journey Mr. Dudley Le Souëf and Mr. A. J. Campbell together spent a week-end with Mr. Bruce W. Leake and family at Woolundra, which is 140 miles inland from Perth. The district was typical jam-wood (Acacia) and salmon gum (Eucalyptus) country, and was brightened by many flowering bushes. One "Daisy of the Desert," by its elegance and keeping qualities, threatens to rival the fame of the flannel-flower of New South Wales. Specimens kept fresh, in water, for a fortnight after they were gathered. Birds were not numerous, but a few were observed nesting about the homestead, notably Grallinas or Magpie-Larks, which had a curious and very distinctive call compared with that given by the same species in eastern parts. The Black-tailed Parrot (Polytelis melanura) is reported as occasionally seen in the district. One has since been obtained.

NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA, FROM PERTH NORTHWARDS TO GERALDTON.

Mr. J. W. Mellor and the writer visited Geraldton, 370 miles north of Perth; but, except for one day at Geraldton and part of a day at Moora, our observations were made separately. By this means we were able to cover more ground, each visiting different localities. We beg to acknowledge the courtesy of the Western Australian Government and the officials of the Midland Railway Co. in granting us facilities without which it would have been impossible to cover as much ground in the limited time at our disposal.

The occurrence of two rare species of Sandpiper at Dongara is interesting, and suggests that these may possibly be regular visitors to the North-West coast of Australia, and only accidental visitors on the eastern side of the continent. The replacement of Barnardius semitorquatus by B. zonarius or its ally such a short distance inland and northwards is remarkable: also, the fact that the Purple-backed Wren-Warbler (Malurus assimilis) takes the place of the Red-winged Wren-Warbler (M. elegans) at Dongara and Geraldton suggests that the latter has a limited range. The discovery of the Yellow-tinted Honey-eater (Ptilotus flavescens)