Page:The Emu volume 9.djvu/252

 the proportion of brown males to males in full plumage at five to one, and it is significant that I found in those cases where a brown male had paired the eggs resulting were not more than two, and in two instances an egg of the pair was infertile. Old females show traces of red on the forehead and breast, and I saw males apparently only just changing into scarlet and black at the close of the breeding season. All but one of the nests I found were very low down, and usually placed on dead wood. The exception was a nest near my camp at Bore Well, which was fully 8 feet from the ground. This nest was completed and eggs laid within nine days.

(Petrœca picata).—Distributed in scattered pairs throughout the district. I obtained several nests with eggs, which do not differ from those of P. bicolor. This Robin was one of the earliest birds to call in the morning. Long before the sun was up I used to hear their cry of "Kwēē-kwǔ-kwǔ," only to be heard at that hour of the day. More often than not I was then shivering over my freshly-kindled fire. This species is double-brooded. A pair were building on 4th October. I had rather bad luck with the nests I found. Several were destroyed by Crows or Babblers, and others I had to leave before the eggs were laid. This was very vexatious, as the parent birds are very wary and will not go back to the nest when watched.

(Smicrornis brevirostris).—Only met with in the eucalypt saplings at Milly Pool, and around Dural station, to the north-west. I was too late for eggs.

(Pseudogerygone culicivora).—Distinctly rare. One or two seen or heard near Bore Well.

(Rhipidura tricolor).—Breeding in scattered pairs throughout the district. Several nests found, but only examined for Cuckoos' eggs. This was another early bird, and at Bore Well I was reminded at daybreak that "I must please be strict"—in my general behaviour, I suppose.

I had the vexation to lose a specimen of a Rhipidura that may have only been R. preissi, but may equally well have been R. albicauda. It was the only one I saw during the trip.

(Pteropodocys phasianella).—I only met with this interesting bird immediately around Wiluna, and again near Milly Pool. It was distinctly uncommon, though by no means timid, as I often saw a pair amongst the stores and private houses comprising the main street of the township. The pairs were widely scattered, and nests consequently difficult to find.

It was not till I got to Milly Pool that I had any luck. On my arrival there young were already on the wing, but I noticed a pair of old birds which seemed to hang around a particular group of York gums. On 18th October I visited the spot, and caught sight of a nest on the topmost branch of a York gum, the sitting bird, with her long tail, being plainly visible. I had never taken eggs of this species before, and though I did not like the look of the slender branch holding the nest, I resolved to climb as far as I could, and see how things looked on a closer inspection. The nest was fully 30 feet from the hard-baked ground below, but I climbed to within 8 feet of it without any difficulty. There was one more fork, and if this would only bear my weight I had my prize within my grasp. I comforted myself with the thought that York gums are exceptionally tough, and took the risk. I had my reward in taking a record clutch of four beautiful eggs. All were perfect and typical specimens except one, which had less gloss than the others. These eggs were a second brood and quite fresh.

(Coracina robusta).—This is a migratory species on the Murchison, and it was not until 13th August that I saw the first. This was at Bore Well. In the gums around Milly Pool a few pairs were breeding. I noted several nests. In each case they were placed in