[ 2)0 Australasiafi Ornithologists' Union. \ ^^^U-n 



dusk that the steamer anchored in a snug cove on the north 

 coast of Kangaroo Island, known as Middle River (Snelling's 

 Beach), which had been selected as the site of the camp. 

 It was moonlight, but it was not advisable to attempt landing 

 until the morning, so Capt. Weir thoughtfully arranged for 

 impromptu bunks on board, where the party rested after the 

 somewhat discomforting trip down. Three of the party, how- 

 ever, more impetuous than the rest, went ashore in the dinghy to 

 prospect, and got wet in the surf for their pains. They 

 disturbed from the adjacent rocks a Sooty Oyster-catcher, which 

 went wheeling around in the night uttering its weird, piping 

 whistle. 



In the morning everyone was early astir. The first view of 

 our hunting ground from the steamer's deck was very pleasing. 

 The vessel lay between two rocky points half a mile apart. In 

 the bight is a long half-circle of sandy beach backed by scrub- 

 covered sand dunes ; beyond are higher ridges, clothed in 

 places with light gum forests, but in the main cleared and with 

 a good mat of grass. The roof of a house could be seen just 

 beyond the sandhills. A narrow stream enters the sea on the 

 extreme left. Four boatloads of camp baggage were transferred 

 from the ship, the rolling breakers inshore were negotiated, and 

 all passengers and paraphernalia safely landed on the sandy 

 beach. Then came the hard work of hauling the baggage 

 inland, at which all worked with a will. Behind the sand dunes 

 and nestling at the foot of the higher hills is an unoccupied 

 house, kindly placed at the disposal of the expedition by Mr. B. 

 H. Bell, sheep farmer. (Mr. Bell journeyed thither from another 

 part of the island to meet the members. His advice, together 

 with that of his friend, Mr. E. J. Clark, was often of great 

 service to the expedition.) This was made the headquarters of 

 the party. Tents were erected for the ladies (of whom there 

 were six) in a grassy glade not far away. Two other tents were 

 erected, one as an overflow for the house party and the other 

 for museum purposes. Meals were served at a rough table in a 

 lean-to beside the house. 



Camp discipline was strictly observed, and reveille was 

 sounded at six o'clock each morning by the cook, whose 

 manipulation of the bugle showed him to be of some military 

 training, and lent an air of briskness and importance to the 

 camp. Breakfast call sounded at 7 a.m., lunch at i, and dinner 

 at 7 p.m. 



The first impressions of this pleasant place, from an ornitholo- 

 gist's point of view, were that it was a land of Crimson Parra- 

 keets and brilliant Blue Wrens, from the numbers of these 

 beautiful birds seen while the camp was being put in order. 

 But other birds were soon discovered. A Black Magpie 

 {Strepera) had its nest with young in a tree close by. A 



