Page:The Emu volume 21.djvu/252

 grasses and herbaceous plants are up to and above one's knees. They form favourite feeding grounds for a variety of birds.

I paid several visits to the timber belts near Haig, particularly to the one five miles to the east. I worked this chiefly to the north. Roughly it is about a mile in width, and I could not discern its northerly limit, even with the aid of a field-glass. Near the railway, the timber had been much cut during construction times. I found these belts to contain plenty of bird life, but with the exception of the Masked Wood-Swallow (Artamus personatus) and the Swift Quail (Turnix velox) few species seemed to breed there. One reason for this may be the entire absence of hollow trunks, and the foliage being confined to the umbrella-like tops of the trees.

I left Haig 28th October on a flying trip to Loongana, 116 miles from the South Australian border. My object in visiting Loongana was to inspect a well-known cave there, and to examine a series of blow-holes a few miles to the west in the hopes of meeting with specimens of the Cave, or Barn Owl (Tyto alba). The breeding season being practically over, I only remained a few days at Loongana, returning to Haig to pick up my impedimenta, en route for Perth, which I reached November 4th.

Before referring in detail to the various species of birds met with during the expedition, I must mention that the season was a good one, the rainfall for the month of May being exceptionally heavy, and extending right across the plain. Even at Haig it amounted to 366 points. June registered 145 points. At Naretha the fall was equally good, and during my stay there further falls of from 20 to 50 points were not infrequent. The most serious drawback to collecting and observing bird life on the plain is the almost incessant wind. Really calm days are quite the exception, and at times the gales are very violent indeed. It is necessary to have one's tent protected by a windbreak of some kind.

I found Mr. Gibson's list of birds reliable. I did not meet with all the species he did, and on the other hand, I found a few that were not noted by him. This is only what might be expected. Mr. Gibson covered a far larger area, but against this, I examined the country around my various centres more closely, and obtained one or two species likely to be overlooked in a more casual search. I shall therefore not repeat his list, but content myself with commenting on those species met with which are of special interest.

Of the birds of prey recorded by Mr. Gibson, 1 saw nothing of either the common Kite (Milvus migrans) or the Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura). Possibly both species were breeding well away from the railway line. Many of the railway employees are interested in homing Pigeons, and Hawks are not popular around the various stations.