vestigating in this locality. It seems almost certain that the Leipoa living in this apparently isolated and certainly wet locality will show some specialized differences; one would expect that, at least, it will prove to be a new sub-species.
I met one resident living back from the coast in the forest who evidently knew the Noisy Scrub-Bird. He described its loud ascending whistle and its build and colour most accurately. He said he had heard it occasionally in the big timber, close to the spot where we were talking, within the last 18 months. He said it kept to the thick under-bushes in the karri country, and would sometimes, when disturbed, fly up a few feet and cling to the rough bark at the base of the tree-trunks, apparently to enable it to take stock of the intruder, but otherwise it kept close to the ground or in the low bushes. I feel confident that this bird still exists in these extensive untouched forests. Probably it should be searched for at the pairing season, when it will be calling; otherwise the finding of it in these immense forests is next to impossible.
BIRDS OBSERVED DURING THE VISIT OF THE R.A.O.U. TO THE SOUTH-WESTERN DISTRICT— OFFICIAL REPORT.
By S. A. White, C.M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U.
The period over which the following observations were made ran into barely a week. The area worked extended from Cape Naturaliste in the north to the Margaret River (although observations were made down to Cape Leeuwin). Our field extended from the sea on the west for some distance inland to the east. The country varied much in character. First there were sand dunes in places facing the ocean, and at other times rugged rocky coast-line, at the back of which was invariably a narrow belt of dwarf vegetation characteristic of such an exposed situation. Further back, undulating country covered in forest trees and undergrowth. In places deep ravines extended to the very coast-line, and here and there down these ravines small streams found their way to the sea. The rainfall in the winter months is very heavy, and during our stay the days were bright and often warm; yet there was not one night that rain did not fall, but not a sign of water lying about could be seen next morning. But this can easily be understood when it is seen that the country consists mostly of a light sandy soil over a very porous limestone, with in places a network of caves underneath.
The vegetation was striking, for there were big forest trees stretching over vast areas of country—first of all the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), karri (E. diversicolor); but the most widely distributed tree is the so-called "red gum" (E. calophylla), the latter bearing a wealth of white blossoms. The undergrowth consists of a wonderful growth of flowering shrubs and plants, forming much food for bird-life. First of all the banksias play a
