arrival, and in the interim I turned my attention to the avifauna of the Moore River, the east branch of which flows immediately past Mogumber.
On the return of the expedition to the latter place, about a month later, I was again detained, for a fortnight or thereabouts, and I took advantage of the opportunity to carry my investigations to a point some 20 miles further down the river.
As our track to the Wongan Hills practically followed the eastern branch to its sources, some few miles beyond the settlement of New Norcia, I had thus an opportunity of exploring about 40 miles of the course of the stream, a distance comprising about two-thirds of its total length.
Roughly speaking, the Moore flows in a tortuous course from north-east to south-west, About four miles west of Mogumber it receives the north branch, which flows from the direction its name implies. Some 12 miles from its mouth it is joined by the Gin-Gin Brook. These are the only tributaries of any importance. During the rainy season some of the lower reaches of the river expand into small lakes. The upper portions of the Moore call for little comment. The volume of the stream is at all times very moderate, and its valley of no great width. Generally speaking, it is well timbered, and, where not cultivated and cleared, well clothed with scrub and herbaceous plants. Westward of Mogumber, however, in the lower portions, the valley deepens and contracts, and the flow is much augmented, and permanent, until some 20 miles away the valley becomes a veritable gorge, with cliffs exceeding 150 feet in height. For the most part the surrounding country is a succession of sand plains; but at intervals oases of stunted banksia, casuarina, and other trees are encountered. At some few localities, the soil is richer, and the valley expands into small alluvial flats. Here several species of eucalyptus are found, and grow to a large size. In the spring of the year the whole district is clothed with a brilliant and varied flora.
Hieracidea berigora (Striped Brown Hawk).—Not infrequent. More often observed flying over the sand plains than anywhere else.
Cerchneis cenchroides (Kestrel).—Far from common. According to my observations this is a rock-loving rather than a forest species.
Accipiter cirrhocephalus (Sparrow-Hawk).—Frequently seen. A pair had a nest close to Mogumber railway station, but I could not find the exact locality.
Ninox boobook (Boobook Owl).—The familiar call often heard at night near Mogumber.[1]
Corvus coronoides (Crow).—Pairs and family parties pretty frequent.
Grallina picata (Magpie-Lark).—Distinctly rare; and only seen on the upper portions of the river, near to and beyond New Norcia.
- ↑ The "familiar call" cannot always be attributed to the Boobook Owl, because other Owls emit similar sounds. See Dr. E. A. D'Ombrain's paper in this issue.—Eds.
