"i^u' J South Auslralian Ornithological Association. -^43 



of certain swamps in tlie south-east as breeding-places for native 

 water- fowl. Mr. Meilor gave a good description of liis journey into 

 the heart of Eyre I'eninsula in quest of Mallee-Fowl for the reserva- 

 tion on Kangaroo Island, and reported having secured several pairs, 

 which he had liberated at Cape Borda (see page no). Dr. A. M. 

 Morgan reported having seen the first nest on the Adelaide plains 

 this season with a full clutch of eggs of the White-fronted Chat 

 (^Ephthianura albifrons). The president exhibited an unusually 

 large and deep nest of the Bell-Bird (Oreoica cristata). Mr. Robert 

 Zietz brought some interesting bird-skins from the Museum collection 

 for comparison, and a long discussion occurred on the probability 

 of the Double-banded Dottrel nesting on the Australian coast. He 

 showed a pair of these interesting birds in their nuptial plumage, 

 which were procured at Balaclava, and presented to the Museum 

 by Mr. S. S. Ralli. Mr. Mellor showed a small collection of bird- 

 skins from the Eyre Peninsula, some being of great interest, one or 

 two having been recorded from that locahty for the first time. 

 Among others were the skins of the Yellow-throated Miner {Myzantha 

 flavigula), White-eared Honey-eater {Ptilotis leucotis), Butcher-Bird 

 {Cracticus destructor), White-fronted Honey-eater [Glycyphila albi- 

 frons). Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater (Ptilotis cratilia). Grey-breasted 

 Robin {Eopsaltria gularis), Ch»6tnut-rumped Ground-Wren {Hylacola 

 pyrrhopygia), Spotted Scrub-Wren (Sericornis maculata), and Broad- 

 tailed Tit (Acanthiza apicalis). 



The September meeting was held in the Institute, Adelaide, on 

 Friday evening, the 8th, Dr. A. M. Morgan presiding. Mr. J. W. 

 Mellor, secretary, reported having been exceptionally vigilant with 

 reference to the better protection of birds on the islands in the 

 Coorong, which had been sadly depleted by " pot-hunters " and 

 half-caste aborigines. The Government had agreed to lease the 

 islands between Wood's Well and Salt Creek to the Association, with 

 the object of protecting the bird-life there. A number of reliable 

 people about the lakes and the Coorong had been enlisted as honorary 

 custodians to look after the bird-life on the islands and to assist the 

 Association in bringing offenders to book. A hearty vote of thanks 

 was accorded to Mr. INIellor for his successful efforts. A number of 

 letters from well-known residents of the lakes and Coorong were 

 received, and much satisfaction was expressed that the Association 

 was taking active steps to preserve the birds. The Association, in 

 conjunction with the Native Fauna and Flora Protection Society 

 has been moving towards amending the Bird Protection Act, and Mr! 

 M. Symonds Clark read a number of alterations agreed upon by the 

 joint committee. These have been sent to the Commissioner of 

 Crown Lands as recommendations for embodying in the new bill 

 Mr. E. Ashby forwarded some interesting notes on the breeding of 

 the Blue Wren, Yellow-rumped Tit, and Hooded Robin near his 

 house. W'ittunga, Blackwood. Mr. J. W. Mellor gave an account of 

 his journey to the Flinders Ranges, near Port Germein. for the 

 purpose of bird-observing. He walked 60 miles during the three 

 days he was there, and identified 68 species of native birds — a goodly 

 list. He showed two species of Wrens — the Turquoise (Malurus 

 callainus) and the Purple-backed (A/, assimilis) — the Orange-fronted 

 Chat (Ephthianura aurifyons), and the Plumed Honey-eater (Ptilotis 

 plumula), which were collected for Mr. G. M. Mathews, England, to 

 assist him in writing his elaborate history of Australian birds. 



