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Lawson, Glance at the Birds of the Moore River (W.A.)
[ Emu 5th Jan.

Collyriocincla Rufiventris (Buff-bellied Shrike-Thrush).—Frequent on the upper portions of the river, but naturally absent in the region of the extensive sand-plains.


Pteropodocys phasianella (Ground Cuckoo-Shrike).—Observed at Mogumber, but distinctly uncommon.


Graucalus melanops (Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike).—Fairly common in suitable country.


Micrœca assimilis (Lesser Brown Flycatcher).—Fairly common all along the course of the river. A nest found with three fresh eggs on the limb of a dead bush, about six miles east of Mogumber.


Petrœca goodenovii (Red-capped Robin).—This beautiful species only met with at the sources of the river. Even there it appeared to be extremely local. A nest found containing three eggs. I quite expected to meet with it again on the sand plains west of Mogumber, but the only Robin I encountered was the next species, which occurred in the oases of banksia and other trees. It is a curious fact that P. goodenovii should breed commonly on Rottnest Island, but at present is not known to occur in the intervening country between the latter locality and the Upper Moore River.


Petrœca campbelli (Western Scarlet-breasted Robin).—Fairly common near Mogumber, and as far down the river as I explored. I found it nesting in the banksias quite 15 feet from the ground. It is a much more silent species than P. goodenovii.


Sericornis brevirostris (Short-billed Tree-Tit).—Common amongst the various eucalpyts.


Pseudogerygone culicivora (Southern Fly-eater).—Fairly distributed throughout the course of the river.


Malurus leucopterus (White-winged Wren).—This species occurs, very sparingly and locally, on the sand plains west of Mogumber, where the latter are clothed with patches of rather thicker vegetation than the general rule. Probably this is the extent of its range westward. The further south and the nearer the coast one proceeds the rarer does this species become. Its headquarters in Western Australia are probably the Murchison, Peak Hill, and Gascoyne goldfields.


Malurus splendens (Banded Wren).—Apparently absent from the upper Moore River, but moderately common round Mogumber and lower down the valley. I found it breeding in several places.


Rhipidura tricolor (Black-and-white Fantail).—Scattered pairs encountered both up and down the river.


Sisura inquieta (Restless Flycatcher).—Rather more common and equally well distributed with the last species.


Acanthiza apicalis (Broad-tailed Tit).—Only met with near the source of the river.


Acanthiza inornata (Plain-coloured Tit).—Fairly common near Mogumber, and met with at intervals further west.


Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (Yellow-rumped Tit).—Much more common around Mogumber and the lower portions of the river than near the source.


Cinclorhamphus rufescens (Brown Song-Lark).—Only encountered once; this was near a small lake at the head of the river.