Page:The Emu volume 3.djvu/272

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228
Hill, Notes from Guildford, W.A.
[ Emu 1st July

Melithreptus chloropsis.—Have seen two or three birds only, both in thickish timber.


Glycyphila ocularis.—Common.


Ptilotis sonora.—Common; known locally as the "Trooper."


Meliornis longirostris.—Common wherever the adenanthos grows; have seen it nowhere else; shy at all times. When nesting it may be observed without much difficulty, as it remains close by the nest, though it shows great agitation if this is approached; at other times it is hard to get even a glimpse of the bird. 19/(5/03.—Empty nests in adenanthos at Bennett's Brook. 30/9/03.—Nest with two sets eggs at Bennett's Brook. 3/10/03.—A good many nests (empty) at same place, all in adenanthos. 17/10/03.—Nest with two eggs barely set. In all its habits M. longirostris closely resembles M . mystacalis.


Manorhina obscura.—Not very common; warier than M. garrula, but quite as noisy.


Acanthochæra carunculata.—Very plentiful at times; scarce from May to August; when not nesting collects in flocks, sometimes of large size.


Acanthochæra lunulata.—Very local; fond of patches of thick scrub. 27/9/03.—Nest at Lockridge, in banksia, one egg; birds very quiet and feeding close by; one or two empty nests at Bennett's Brook; birds very wild.


Pardalotus ornatus.—Very common.


Petrochelidon nigricans.—Saw none in 1902. 6/5/03.—Was fairly plentiful through summer; not visible since end of March. 16/5/03.—Abundant on river. 25/11/03.—A good number nesting in hollow tree by river.


Anthus australis.


Artamus sordidus.—Usually Wood-Swallows are not very common, but there are a few about occasionally; this is the only species I have identified.


Merops ornatus.—Reported; have not seen it myself nearer than Perth.


Dacelo gigas.—Some years ago a number of "Laughing Jackases" was released in various parts of the south-west. In 1902 I saw a single pair only (near the Mundaring Weir), but since then they seem to have grown rather common. There were a good many all along the Swan during the latter half of 1903, and I found a nest on the Helena River in the middle of October.


Halcyon sanctus.—A common bird; nests abundant in trees along the Swan during November, 1903.


Cuculus pallidus.


Chalcococcyx plagosus.—Have not seen the bird, but a single egg of this species was shown to me.


Glossopsittacus porphyrocephalus.—At odd times small flocks of Lorikeets appeared; never saw any at close quarters, but believed they belonged to this species.


Calyptorhynchus baudini.—The White-tailed Black Cockatoos were frequently seen flying across or feeding in the timber.


Barnardius semitorquatus.—Occasionally reported.