Page:The Emu volume 9.djvu/251

 around Wiluna. I met with it almost everywhere, the exception being amongst the lagoons and sand-hills of Lake Violet. It was breeding commonly at Milly Pool, and I found several nests with young, being too late for eggs. All were in hollow limbs of eucalypts.

(Melopsittacus undulatus).—Met with in flocks everywhere. The edge of the big spinifex plain was a good place, as they feed on the seed of the spinifex, which was very abundant the present year. Like the last-mentioned species, they were breeding commonly around Milly Pool. I chopped out several nest-holes, but only found one clutch of six eggs, and these were on the point of hatching.

(Podargus brachypterus).—This interesting bird was found in scattered pairs throughout the district, and I found nests with both eggs and newly-hatched young. I shot a male for purposes of identification. I think it is now admitted that this is a good species, and should be separated instead of being joined with P. humeralis.

(Ægotheles novæ-hollandiæ).—In hunting for Parrots' nests I found two nests of this species, but was only successful in getting one egg—an infertile one. Newly-hatched young are covered with white flaky down, which is very long and dense around the beak. A pair hawking for insects reminded me strongly of the European Merlin (Falco æsalon).

(Halycyon pyrrhopygius).—The only Kingfisher met with. I found it breeding in hollow trunks the interior of which had been tilled up with red earth, conveyed there by termites. It is a late breeder, and I took a clutch of five eggs on 29th October. A second pair were still excavating their tunnel.

(Merops ornatus).—heard the familiar notes of this species as they passed over, migrating to the south.

(Eurostopus argus)(guttatus).—I flushed a Nightjar when climbing some rocks lying to the east of Wiluna. It looked very rufous, and may have been of this species. It was the only one I saw.

(Cuculus inornatus).—Far from common. I saw or heard most of it on the verge of the spinifex plain at Bore Well.

(Mesocalius palliolatus).—Much commoner than the last, but I had no luck in finding its eggs, though I was very keen in the quest. It is not the first time I have been disappointed in a locality where the bird has not been uncommon. I am inclined to think we have much to learn respecting its breeding habits.

(Chalcococcyx basalis).- Fairly common, its high-pressure notes being much in evidence around the margins of Lake Violet. I got several eggs from nests of Malurus leucopterus, and also found a young bird just ready to leave a nest of Acanthiza whitlocki, and again saw a second pair of these birds feeding a young one, which I caught.

(Hirundo neoxena).—Found near water throughout the district.

(Cheramœca leucosternum).—Fairly common. It favours the mining belt, where it often breeds in abandoned shafts or in the face of old alluvial workings.

(Petrœca goodenovii).~Ths little gem was the common Robin, or, more properly speaking, Stone-Chat, of the district. It was familiar everywhere; the only place it seemed to avoid was the tract of eucalypts near Milly Pool. It began to breed at the end of July, and nests might have been found up to the middle of October. Though it breeds when a year old, I do not think males assume full nuptial plumage until their second birthday is passed—in some cases perhaps a little later. I estimated