no Mellor, Mallee-Foivl for a Sanctuary. [^ 



Emu 



Mallee'Fowl for a Sanctuary. 



By J. W. :\Iellor, R.A.O.U.. Adelaide. 

 One of the most interesting trips that I have made in South Aus- 

 traha was the outcome of a communication from Eyre Peninsula, 

 from Messrs. Henry R. Perry and Frank P. Perry; These two 

 old prospectors, who have settled in the back-blocks of the penin- 

 sula, stated that a number of Mallee-Fowl {Leipoa ocellata) came 

 every day and picked up the scraps about their dwelling, and if 



I could make it convenient to go over and catch them they would 

 be willing to let me have the birds for the South Australian 

 Ornithological Association to place on the National Reserve at 

 Cape Borda, Kangaroo Island. They had no desire to get rid 

 of the birds ; but, as they wished to sell a part or the whole of 

 their land, consisting of between 6,000 and 7,000 acres, the 

 tameness of the Mallee-Fowl, in all probabiUty, would lead to 

 their destruction. I was sceptical at first, knowing that some 

 bushmen are far from accurate when giving their notes and ex- 

 periences on natural history subjects. Then the Cleve Ranges 

 are far from Adelaide and general communication, and it looked 

 like a " wild goose chase." However, deciding to take all the 

 chances, I boarded the Adelaide Steamship Company's s.s. 

 Ruparit on the afternoon of 13th June, 1911, and arrived at Port 

 Lincoln at 6.30 a.m. next day. I made acquaintance once more 

 with interesting birds, and was much pleased to see how tame 

 the Silver Gulls (Lams novcB-hollandicB) had become, owing to the 

 protection afforded them. They were in the streets amongst the 

 traffic, and on the houses and fences of the town. A pretty 

 scene was noted — a long row of the Gulls perched on the ridge- 

 cap of the local church. 



Leaving Port Lincoln at noon, we arrived at Tumby Bay at 

 3 p.m., and, after a stay of several hours, the steamer once more 

 went ploughing through the waters of Spencer Gulf. At 10.30 

 o'clock anchor was dropped in Arno Bay, where I landed, after 

 a row of over a mile to the jetty. The water here is too shallow 

 to allow of large vessels coming alongside. The night was 

 beautifully calm, but we could imagine what it would be like 

 when the sea was rough, with a strong wind blowing. The night 

 was spent at the local hotel, kept by Mr. Michael Leonard. I 

 was early astir next morning, so as to catch the mail " coach " 

 inland to Cleve, a distance of about 20 miles. The mail " coaches " 

 are somewhat primitive conveyances, and it was all that we could 

 do to get on the mail matter, the passengers, and the luggage, 

 and I was thankful for having a small travelling kit. The roads 

 are but country tracks, and not too good at that ; however, by 



II o'clock we had safely accomplished the journey, and the mail- 

 man. Mr. F. H. Gillings, arranged to drive me to my destina- 

 tion in the Cleve Hills, 10 miles further on. The track was 

 rougher than ever, but finally we reached the summit of the 

 range, and saw the ele\'ated table-land stretching away in a 



