Page:The Emu volume 20.djvu/217

 On my return to the Dampier Archipelago, in October, 1918 (see Emu, vol. xviii., part 4), I called at Dirk Hartog and spent three weeks there, landing about the middle of October. The brerding season was over; only one or two species of birds were nesting. Nearly two years afterwards I arrived in Denham, Shark Bay, 11th June, and crossed over to the island four days later, where I remained until 18th September following.

In 1918 I worked on Peron, around the township of Denham, during the month of November; but in 1920 I examined a larger area in the same locality during the latter half of September and the earlier part of October, but on each occasion the breeding season was practically over.

The year 1920 will be remembered in Western Australia for its exceptionally cold and stormy winter—heavy falls of snow on the Stirling Ranges and surrounding country and also in the Porongorup district, about 40 miles from the south coast. The influence of this exceptional weather was felt as far north as Shark Bay. On 5th August a fall of 112 points of rain was recorded on Dirk Hartog, and for several days I waded through water to reach my camp. On another occasion the vegetation at daybreak was crisp with crystals of frost—almost an unprecedented occurrence in these latitudes near the sea.

If we eliminate casual visiting birds, neither Dirk Hartog nor Peron is inhabited by a large number of species, but this is compensated for by the abundance of individuals. Mr. Carter remarks on the high percentage of Wrens inhabiting the island. If he includes in the comprehensive term of "Wrens" Wren-Warblers (Malurus), Field-Wrens (Calamanthus), Scrub-Wrens (Sericornis), and Emu-Wrens (Stipiturus), I agree wih him; but if he confines the term to Malurus alone I think he over-estimates their numbers. It must be remembered, however, that during his last visit to the island the season's young birds were on the wing. The breeding season must commence very early. By the middle of June the Pipit (Anthus), Field-Wren (Calamanthus), and White-eye (Zosterops) had newly-fledged young in the wing. When the local Scrub-Wren (Sericornis) breeds is still a puzzle.

The special objects of the trip were to secure type nests and eggs of the Black-and-White Wren-Warbler (Malurus leucopterus), Textile Grass- Wren (Amytornis textilis), Emu-Wren (Stipiturus malachurus hartogi), and several other local forms, and also to learn all I could of their habits in the field, and to obtain photographs of nests in situ. Mr. H. L. White, of Belltrees, N.S.W.. again financed the expedition in the interests of ornithological research.

My best thanks are due to Mr. J. Nicholas, the owner of Dirk Hartog sheep station, and also of Peron, for permission to collect and camp on both runs: also to Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Lloyd, of Dirk Hartog, for hospitality and aid in transport from point to point; to Mr. Len. Bryant, for obtaining for me a type-clutch of Wedge-tailed Eagle's eggs, and to Mr. Berteux for advice and