^'"'igi^' J Whitk, On Yorke Peninsula. 33 



undergrowth. The ground was covered with long dry grass, 

 showing the splendid season that had been enjoyed last year in 

 this district. Pomatorhimis superciliosns was met with in parties 

 of from 10 to 12, hopping over the ground with great rapidity. 

 I often stood and watched the birds turn over a piece of bark or 

 dry manure in search of insects. Numbers of Spotted-sided 

 Finches {Staganopleura guttata) were flushed from the grass. 

 Hooded Robins {Peirceca bicolor) were very plentiful in the open 

 scrub. The Bell-Bird's (Oreoica cristata) clear note was heard. 

 The Graceful Honey-eater {Ptilotis ornata) was very numerous, 

 and P. sonora was seen. A solitary specimen of the Owlet-Night- 

 jar {^Egotheles novcs-hollandicB) was observed on a bare limb of a 

 box-tree gazing round in a terrified way. We returned to the 

 township in the dark. 



Next morning, after an early breakfast, we left by an express 

 waggon and pair, taking a more northerly route this time. As 

 soon as we were outside the township my wife drove the horses, 

 and the other members of the party scoured the country on either 

 side of the track in search of bird-life, plants, and insects. The 

 first bird to attract us was the Many-coloured Parrakeet {Psephotus 

 multicolor). This was the only Parrot which was met with on 

 the trip. The birds seem to frequent farm-yards, and search in 

 stock -yards and round haystacks for fallen grain. The Bush- 

 Lark [Mirajra seciinda) was seen among the grass in open glades 

 in the scrub, and, when flushed, flitted with jerky movements a 

 few yards, then dropped into the grass, where they lay as quiet 

 as possible, depending on their protective colouration to escape 

 observation, and allowing one to almost walk on them. Leaving 

 the open peppermint-gum country, where P. ornata was very 

 plentiful, we entered an undulating area covered with low scrub, 

 broom-bush {Melaleuca uncinata), also a pink-flowering variety 

 (il/ deciissata), and many species of low, heath-like bushes, am.ong 

 which was a very prickly Hakea. Here the bird-life changed. 

 We had left the Parrots, Graceful Honey-eaters, Hooded Robins, 

 &c., behind us, and in their place appeared, but very sparingly, 

 P. sonora, Oreoica cristata, the Tawny-crowned Honey-eater 

 (Glycyphila fulvifrons), Brown-headed Honey-eater {Melithreptus 

 brevirostris), and Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater (Ptilotis cratitia). 

 We called a halt and took the horses out about half-way across 

 the peninsula. After boiling the billy and taking refreshment we 

 scoured the country round, but found it to be poor in bird-life, 

 with the exception of the species I have mentioned. There was 

 a solitary specimen of the Butcher-Bird (Cracticus destructor), and 

 Mr. Mellor recorded the Blue-breasted Wren (Malurus assirnilis) 

 and Hylacola pyrrhopygia. 



Next day we drove south, and camped in a country of bigger 

 timber. The Many-coloured Parrakeet was found in numbers 

 round an uninhabited homestead. Hooded Robins were 

 numerous, also the Graceful Honey-eaters, many old birds being 

 busy feeding late broods. The strange call of the Restless Fly- 



