1^8 Australasian Ornithologists' Union. I ist "jan 



timbered in favoured parts. They thoroughly enjoyed them- 

 selves fishing, sealing, and wild goat stalking, and arrived in 

 camp on the evening of their fourth day out very well pleased 

 with their trip. They spoke very highly of the kindness of the 

 lighthouse-keepers at Cape Borda and of Messrs. Sheridan and 

 Hirst en route, the latter of whom generously gave them a horse 

 to carry home their various trophies, which included a live 

 wallaby and three live Penguins. 



The last two days were spent by all the party in traversing 

 once more the lower reaches of the Middle River and the table- 

 land and ridges on either hand. On this last visit the river 

 valley seemed more than ever filled with birds. Hundreds of 

 Blue-bellied Lorikeets were screaming and feeding on the 

 flowering " blue gum " trees {Eucalyptus leucoxylo}i) that stood in 

 one of the swampy backwaters. Beneath them a Black Duck 

 enticed her young out of harm's way, and near by a White 

 Cockatoo flew off screeching. A party of Black-winged Crow- 

 Shrikes and several Fire-tailed Finches were observed, while 

 Spinebill, Crescent Honey-eater, MelitJireptus magnirostris, 

 Scarlet-breasted Robin, van. Striated Tit, and Brown Tit, var., 

 were much in evidence. A solitary Stone-Plover was disturbed 

 from its mid-day rest, By the river side and on the flats were 

 several plants not elsewhere seen, one an iris {SisyrinchiuDi) 

 with sky-blue flowers, and a broad-leaf tea-tree {Melaleuca) just 

 breaking into pink blossom. Orchids were very plentiful, and 

 grew to some size. Thirty-six species were identified, principal 

 among them being Thclymitra aiitciiiiifera and flexuosa, 

 PrasophyUuvi elatuni, Diuris loiigifolia, Caladenia cariiea, 

 latifoiia, and lucnziesii, and Pterostylis barbata. In all 225 

 species of plants in flower were identified, and among them are 

 several that have not been previously recorded for the 

 Kangaroo Island — Ranunculu'< lappacens, Drosera peltata, 

 horoiiia piimata, Rhagodia biliardieri, Dillivy}iia hispida, 

 Myriophylluni verrucosiii/i, Cygnoglossimi australc, Hypoxis 

 glabella, Caesia vittata, Cypcrus liictd/is, Scirptts iiodosiis, and 

 Lepidosperma concaviim. 



It might be rash to forecast the future of Kangaroo Island, 

 but there is no doubt that it is a wonderful heritage awaiting 

 development. It lies asleep until the population arises to 

 exploit it. That it is well watered throughout cannot be 

 doubted on examining the plan so carefully prepared by the 

 Lands Department of South Australia. Streams are in abund- 

 ance, and, blessed with a genial climate and soil of no mean 

 potentialities, the island must have a promising future. The 

 first step towards advertisement will be taken when it is made a 

 watering place and a sanatorium for South Australia. 



[Notp:. — On the return trip from Adelaide to Melbourne three 

 of the Melbourne members, through the kindness of Dr. T. 



