Thomas Carter

“ The nest was built on a large milk-bush growing on a ledge. In previous years these birds have always laid in a nest on a ledge of cliff on the opposite side of the creek, but quite inaccessible owing to the cliff overhanging. This time I determined to secure the eggs, and returned two days after with ropes and three native boys. Rigging the ropes the same way as the "climmers" on the Yorkshire cliffs, we soon had the eggs. The birds flew round without attempting to interfere, uttering an occasional cry. ”

“ It is one of the commonest and most noticeable birds on all the rivers and white gum creeks where water lodges, from the Gascoyne River to here, and doubtless its range extends across the tropics. In fact it is so abundant that for some years I never even closely examined a specimen, never imagining it was likely to be a new species, which shows how carefully one should work in new country. ”

“ Inland, when driving through the high grass, they were at times a nuisance, as several of them would accompany the buggy in order to feed upon the numerous grasshoppers which were disturbed in the vegetation. The birds would flit close past the horses' heads, making them startled and nervous. ”

“ The Lyndon River runs west parallel to the Minilya about twenty miles more or less to the north. Both rivers (when they do run) empty into the vast saltmarshes near the coast, but, so far as is known, do not reach the sea. ”

“ It is the first time they have come under my notice. Keartland's Honey-eater (Ptilotis keartlandi) was fairly common on the high country behind the range, but I found no nests. I may mention that a skin of this bird was sent by me from here to Melbourne in 1890 for identification; but it was not until 1895 that Mr. Keartland secured specimens, when it was recognized by Mr. North as a new species.
On July 28th one of my men went to Frazer Island in the boat, and returned with more than two hundred eggs, all fresh, of the Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius) . ”

“ So far, I have only seen this bird on one limited part of a high rugged range that abounds with masses of large prickly spinifex and scrub, though apparently the whole length of the range (about seventy-five miles) offers similar conditions. I saw several of these birds there in July last, but failed to secure eggs or any particulars as to their breeding habits. It is surprising to see these tiny birds run, and occasionally fly, headlong into the dense prickly masses of spinifex, and thread their way through the countless spines like mice, without being impaled. ”

“ The rugged range, before mentioned, was within half a mile of both these nests, and high scrubby sandhills still closer, so it is strange the birds should choose such absurdly accessible places. Doubtless, the reason is, that months or a year may pass without a human being visiting there.
This being a season of rain that may not occur again in a generation, birds should be plentiful ”

“ On October 19th a pair, male and female, of the scarce Redkneed Dottrel (Erythrogonys cinctus) fell to one discharge of my gun, at an inland creek. They had one or two others with them, doubtless young of the year. The Sandpipers referred to in my last paper (Zool. 1899, p. 142) were kindly identified for me by Mr. Campbell as the Grey-rumped Sandpiper (Heteractitis brevipes) . They were common all the summer, especially in November; on the 2nd I killed eight with one shot, in company with other waders. ”

“ July 12th, found a Spotted Harrier's nest with two eggs. These birds were common this good season, and I found numerous nests up to Sept. 13th, when a nest contained two fresh eggs. The nests are built sometimes in a tree forty feet from the ground, or in a bush only four feet high. They frequently contain large Lizards in a paralysed state, placed for the benefit of the sitting bird; one nest contained four eggs. ”

“ As a colony of these birds is a rare sight—in fact, I do not know if there is any record of their breeding in West Australia—I drove down, but found most of the young birds had fledged, and only a few addled eggs were left in the nests. ”