SOUTH AND CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 195 



Map 84, B, shows the habitat of the Corella to be 

 extended to the Dampier Archipelago. It associ- 

 ates in flocks of thousands on Cooper Creek and 

 the great northern plains, even to the number of 

 fifty thousand at a time. If there is any preference 

 it is for the damp fields of Coolibar or Flooded Box 

 (Eucalyptus). A horseman travelling through the 

 desert towards evening will watch the gleam of 

 wings and eventually find the water hole. In one 

 tree near that hole quite 1500 birds will settle: in 

 the other trees the grand total of 75,000. Drought 

 is the reason of such a vast congregation round one 

 water hole; probably the last drinking hole in that 

 district. It feeds on roots using its splendid bill 

 for this purpose. 



C, in map 84, includes the area of distribution 

 of the race Ashbyi, north of the silver lead Barrier 

 Range. 



SCRUB WRENS (Sericornis) 

 (Plate 3, Fig. 84) 



Scrub Wrens are local with a love of tangle and 

 a dislike of the open. Rank vegetation appeals to 

 them. The two kinds in this part of Australia are 

 the Spotted and the White-browed. Then follow 

 innumerable differences in plumage according to 

 the type of forest and its locality, and these geo- 

 graphical differences make races. 



In South Australia we certainly have three races 



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