Page:The Emu volume 3.djvu/127

 The country in this district consists largely of granite, great boulders of which occur everywhere, the largest of these being known as the "Nine-acre Rock." This name is, however, misleading, as the block must measure about a quarter of a mile each way, and so would cover nearer forty acres than nine. I was struck by the great size of the crystals of spar in some of these blocks. The granite country, as elsewhere, is fairly open, with tall trees, and here are found the larger birds, such as Hawks, Magpies, Squeakers (Strepera), &c. Running from north-west to south-east across the granite is a curious succession of low ridges of gravel (ironstone), with a steep cliff face towards the south, and the long slope on the northerly side. The steep faces are generally bare of vegetation, while the long slope is covered with a densely-growing scrub of hakeas and honey-bearing bushes. This scrub is the home of numerous tamma, kangaroo-rats, and kangaroos, and it contains an immense variety of small birds, chiefly Honey-eaters and Wrens. The gullies between the gravel ridges have a scrub of their own, not so dense as that on the slopes, and consisting mostly of box poison, which is also found in the granite country.

My list of birds is not very long, but the weather was very bad for bird-work during half of my stay, otherwise I believe I could have doubled the number observed in the time.

(Uroaëtus audax).—Saw three individuals myself, and one other was reported. Probably a single pair. On two other occasions I saw fair-sized Hawks in the distance.

(Corone australis).—Was far from common. Heard the cry several times, but only saw one bird.

, "Squeaker" (Strepera plumbea).—Was fairly plentiful on the granite, but did not occur near the gravel ridges. A wary bird (see note under "Restless Flycatcher"). The cry somewhat resembles that of the "Twenty-eight" Parrakeet.

(Collyriocincla rufiventris).—Very abundant everywhere. Some individuals were very shy and difficult to approach, while others were the reverse. Have several distinct songs, one of which is loud and musical but hardly so melodious as that of C. harmonica of eastern fame.

, "Blue Pigeon" (Graucalus melanops). — Saw only an occasional bird, and always in the granite.

(Micrœca assimilis).—Not uncommon.

(Petrceca goodenovi).—Frequent in the granite country and generally away from the denser scrub.

(Petrœca bicolor).—Only saw a single specimen.

(Pseudogerygone culicivora).—Heard this bird calling once or twice, but did not see it.

(Malurus, sp.).—Very plentiful in the thickest scrub on the gravel ridges, but, though they were always to be heard, it was difficult to get a sight of one. Only saw one or two specimens after long waiting, and did not succeed in procuring a skin. As those I saw were all hens, I cannot