172 Jackson, Haunts of the Letter-winged Kite. [,.f"j!i,i. 



remarks by including this Kite as one of the useful species in 

 destroying these vermin. He also confirms what I state about 

 the vast numbers of rats in Western Queensland, and records an 

 instance when an indigenous species covered the North-Western 

 Plain country of Queensland in 1869 and 1870 (a few hundred 

 miles due north of where I camped on the Diamantina in 

 1918) in vast numbers impossible to estimate, and states : — " It 

 would be impossible to estimate numbers ; for hundreds of miles 

 along the Flinders River and its tributaries traces of these rats 

 were to be seen. Fifty thousand square miles of country occupied 

 by these vermin, and one rat to every ten square yards in each 

 mile, would not represent anything like their numbers. The 

 large plains seemed to be their favourite resort. When camping 

 out, every article had to be hung in a tree, and the hobbles, made 

 of greenhide, have been known to be gnawed off the horses' feet 

 during the night." Dr. Cleland also mentions (on page 126 in 

 his address) that in the year 1887 there was an enormous migration 

 of rats — thousands of millions — near Lake Eyre, in South Aus- 

 tralia, the information being communicated to the Doctor by Mr. 

 John M. Bagot, who was witness to it all. — S. W. J. 



[In view of the importance of Letter-winged Kites as vermin- 

 destroyers, with the kind permission of Mr. J. A. Kershaw, 

 F.E.S., Mr. J. E. Chubb, R.A.O.U. (of the National Museum), 

 has, with his usual skill, mounted and posed a pair of these useful 

 birds (see coloured plate). The plate will enhance the value of 

 Mr. White's and Mr. Jackson's articles, and at the same time be 

 much appreciated by members of the R.A.O.U. Mr. White has 

 been good enough to defray the expenses of the coloured block, 

 as well as of the excellent half-tone blocks accompanying Mr. 

 Jackson's article. — Eds.] 



Notes on Birds from the Gouldian-Gilbert Type^ 

 locality, North Australia. 



(Based on Material in the " H. L. White Collection," 

 National Museum, Melbourne.) 



By A. J. Campbell, C.M.B.O.U. 



Introductory. 



It is a matter of history how many of Gould's types of Australian 

 birds, including those collected liy Gilbert at Port Essington, 

 Arnhem Land, went to Washington. Wliat was Australia's loss 

 was America's gain, and we do not altogether regret wliat friends 

 obtain. 



Mr. H. L. White conceived llie far-reaching idea of sending Mr. 

 William M'Lennan to explore the northern coast, witli instructions 

 to establish a collecting camp at some suitable place on Arnhem 



