Page:The Emu volume 9.djvu/248

 the run. If approached carefully they are not timid, but if fired at usually fly away to some distance. Amongst the samphires this Dottrel is very inconspicuous, and looks grey rather than ferruginous in colour. This may be due to the glare, which is very trying to the eyes until one is accustomed to it. In addition to the syllable "Kr-root" before described, this bird has a sharper call, which can be heard at some distance; it resembles the word "quick" uttered in a slightly metallic tone.

(Pisobia ruficollis).—A few non-breeding birds, with traces of rust-coloured feathers in their plumage, around the lagoons in Lake Violet.

(Ancylochilus subarquatus).—On 20th August, at Lake Violet, I shot a single male bird. It was, of course, a non-breeding individual. The plumage was much mottled with rufous.

(Burhinus grallarius).—I frequently heard the weird, plaintive cry of this bird at night, chiefly around Milly Pool.

or (Eupodotis australis).—A fair number seen. They had evidently bred after the summer rains, as young were to be seen nearly half-grown at the end of June.

(Ibis spinicollis).—A pair or two around Milly Pool.

(Notophoyx novæ-hollandiæ).—A few pairs at Lake Violet and around Milly Pool. I think there was a nest near the latter locality, as I saw the remains of a young bird.

(Notophoyx pacifica).—A pair at the largest lagoon in Lake Violet.

(Chenopsis atrata).—A few on the largest lagoon in Lake Violet. This species breeds plentifully on Lake Naberu, some 70 miles, or thereabouts, to north-west of Wiluna.

or (Casarca tadernoides).—A number on Lake Violet, and I think a pair was nesting in a rabbit burrow about a mile to the east of the big lagoon. These and other Ducks lead troubled lives, owing to the severe periodic bombardments they receive at the hands of Wiluna sportsmen. As Ducks soon learn to keep well out of gunshot, they are more frightened than hurt.

(Anas superciliosa).—A fair number on Lake Violet, Milly Pool, and other sheets of water. No doubt pairs occasionally breed, as the young have been shot before they could fly.

(Accipter cirrhocephalus).—Scattered pairs are to be found throughout the district, breeding in suitable haunts. Near Milly Pool I found three nests—the first a very well constructed nest in a beef-wood tree. All the material was entirely new and neatly put together. The cup was shallow, but for all that profusely lined with green eucalypt leaves. The female sat close, and I could not see her from below. On climbing the tree I found four beautiful eggs, well marked, but with the blotches pale rufous, in which characteristic they differ from eggs of the European Sparrow-Hawk, which they otherwise resemble. A second nest was a rough, untidy structure, probably the old nest of some larger Hawk; but, like the last, the egg cavity was neatly lined with fresh eucalypt leaves. This nest contained three fresh eggs, quite spotless and almost white in ground colour. I was very unwell at the time, and in coming down the tree got caught on a snag, breaking two of the eggs. My third nest was in a very large casuarina, and was again an old nest re-lined. I took it probably before the clutch was completed. It contained but two fresh eggs.

(Uroaëtus audax).—Far from common, and I heard of no breeding place near to Wiluna.

(Utolmaëtus morphnoides).—I frequently saw a fine pair flying over Lake Violet, but I could not get on the track of their nest.