50 Mr. A. H. Evans : with the [Ibis, 



levels. Many otiier trees and shrubs were quite new to 

 ns, among thera tlie curious " ^nis^-tree '' {Xanthorrhea) y 

 ■which was pretty common on tbe barer slopes. Birds were 

 not particularly abundant, but we had splendid views of 

 three fine " Robins/' as they are termed in Australia — 

 the Scarlet-breasted (^Pein^ca lerff/ei), the Flame-breasted 

 (P. phcerdcea), and the Blaclc-and-white or Hooded [P. hi- 

 color). 1'hey were seen sittinoj singly on low branclie>!, 

 after the fashion of the English Robin, and permitted a 

 fairly close approach, but were very quiet and hardly 

 nttei-ed a sound. We also observed the " Yellow Robin " 

 [luypsaltria austi'alis) in similar situations, but it also was 

 mute, and evidently the "Robins" as a whole did not 

 believe that spring had fully arrived. The track along 

 the waterside was very rough and strewn with boulders, 

 while little caves, of no gr.at depth, occurred here and 

 there in the low rocks on the rio;ht hand. In one of these 

 we discovered a numl)er of old nests of the Fairy Martin 

 [Petiochelidon ariel), also called " Rottlc-Swallow " from 

 its retort-shaped mud nests, which are built in colonies 

 under shelter. The Martins tliemselves had arrived, but 

 had not yet begun breeding ; so we did not see them till 

 later. As Ave struggled through the rough ground above 

 the ravine whicii we finally ascended, we flushed a couple 

 of Little Quails {Turnix velox) from the low vegetation, 

 largely composed of a Grcvillea and a heath-like Epacris in 

 full flower, while a solitary Bush-Lark (Mirafra horsfieldi) 

 rose at still closer quarters. We then made for the road 

 to Blackwood, and reached that station without further 

 . adventures, though we added to the list of birds identified 

 the South Australian form of the Rosella Parrot. 



The next day we accompanied a large party which 

 visited the Tanunda Company's brandy manufactory, and 

 had little opportunity for ornithological work, though we 

 heard for the first time the fine song of the Rufous-breasted 

 , Whistler or "Thickhead.'' Here I was lucky enough to 

 . meet that well-known bird-lover, Mr. Edwin Ashby, who 

 gave me a most cordial invitation to visit him at his 



