1917-] British Association in Australia. 49 



and forming camps : the patriotism of the Southern 

 Ct)ntinent is a lesson we may well take to heart, and for 

 wliich we must never fail to be unceasingly grateful to 

 •our kinsmen across the seas. 



The arrangements for our comfort at Adelaide were as 

 complete as elsewhere, and we were personally indebted 

 to the unvarying kindness of our host, Mr. F, A. Simpson, 

 and his wile, who had ev^n corresponded with us in 

 England with a view to furthering our scientific explora- 

 tions. Business meetings occupied a good deal of time 

 during the four days of our stay, but Mr. Simpson 

 had made all preparations for a day on the Upper Sturt 

 River, and had invited Dr. Morgan, the well-kaown 

 oologist, to accompany us. Captain White was absent on 

 an ornithological expedition, so we had not the pleasure of 

 making his acquaintance. Early on August 9 we took 

 train for the station nearest to the river, and were almost 

 •at once descending the scrub-covered slopes that led to 

 the water. Here we renewed our acquaintance with the 

 commoner birds seen at Camden, but did not meet with 

 •any new Aleliphagine species, which our experience of the 

 next two days shewed to be common at that time of year 

 on the flats above. Diamond-Birds were flitting aljout the 

 tree-tops, and we soon fell in with small companies of Grey- 

 crowned Babblers [Pomutorhiniis frlvolus), the " Twelve 

 Apostles'' of the country-tollv — so called from the usual 

 size of the flocks. They were common and tame., though 

 somewhat local, and were presumably preparing to breed, as 

 they were busy about tke low bushes, and some of the 

 many nests we found seemed to be made of fresh materials. 

 This was, however, difficult to prove — firstly, because the 

 sticks and leaves which enter largely into their composition 

 are dry and not green ; secondly, because we found no 

 eggs. Eacli pair builds several large domeil nests, but 

 •only uses one for its nursery. On reaching the river 

 we had our lunch among the tea-tree scrub that fringes it, 

 and were able to admire at leisure the splendid growth 

 of the huge red gums, which tlour^sh best at damp low 



SEK. X. — VOL. V. JS 



