Page:The Emu volume 3.djvu/58

 The following species were noted at Ellensbrook which do not occur in Mr. Milligan's list :—Cerchneis cenchroides (Kestrel), Sericornis maculata (Spotted-throated Scrub-Wren), Glycyphila fulvifrons (Fulvous-fronted Honey-eater) and G. ocularis (Brown Honey-eater), Halcyon sanctus (Sacred Kingfisher), Demiegretta sacra (Reef-Heron), Nettion gibberifrons (Grey Teal), and Dromaius novæ-hollandiæ (Emu). G. fulvifrons was not uncommon on the open hills about Cowaramup Brook, and were feeding young in the nest on 10th November. Zonceginthus oculatus (Red-eared Finch) was on two occasions shot from the upper limbs of karri trees in forest.

4th to 14th January I spent at Killerberin, on the Coolgardie railway line, with the enthusiastic oologist Mr. B. W. Leake. When camped out together in the neighbourhood we shot two specimens of Melithroptus which Mr. Milligan stated to be identical with his recently described species, M. leucogenys. The same day I was watching a Yellow-cheeked Parrakeet (Platycercus icterotis) from a short distance with my binoculars, being struck with its red mantle, but, unfortunately, did not shoot it, as I had a long string of specimens to skin, and had overlooked the possibility of its being P. xanthogenys (Salvadori). Some future collector may solve the problem of this species occurring there, also the identity of a small Wren seen in the open scrubby plains, which was not secured, and a small bird which was once seen travelling very rapidly in a family party among the tops of the timber—perhaps a Sittella. When crossing the Coolgardie railway line on 10th January we noted a Red-backed Kingfisher (H. pyrrhopygius) fly out of one of the numerous pits dug at the water-pipe joints. Investigation disclosed a nest containing five incubated eggs, which were visible without enlarging the nesting-hole. Mr. Leake says these birds are much more numerous than formerly, having evidently followed up the line, in consequence of procuring abundant food from the newly turned up soil.

Notes on a Collection of Bird-skins from the Fitzroy River, North-Western Australia.

By Robert Hall.

With Field Notes by J. P. Rogers.

Part III.

114. Falco lunulatus (Latham), Little Falcon.

Falco frontatus, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. i., pi. 10 (1848).

Falco lunulatus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds, Brit. Mus., vol. i., p. 398 (1874).

a. Adult skin, female, 18/2/02.

b. Immature skin, female, 27/2/02.

This morning I saw this species keeping low and flying at a tremendous rate immediately above the grass. Some Wood-