300 AsHBV, Birds of Mount Compass District, S.A. [,J'Tpr{\ 



than 30 years ago, although Capt. White and others had met 

 with the birds in a swamp at Myponga, a continuation of some- 

 what similar country to the west, but on the other water- 

 shed. 



In the afternoon we went a few miles further on and searched 

 in a patch of swampy ground, with tussocks of Cutting Grass 

 buried in Tea-tree. Almost immediately Emu-Wrens were " spot- 

 ted," and, during the afternoon, several specimens were obtained. 

 The ability of this diminutive bird to keep cover and, in spite 

 of its long tail, to pass through the densest bushes and cutting 

 grass at a rapid rate, makes it extremely difficult to shoot them. 

 While after the Emu-Wrens we flushed a small dark-coloured 

 Quail, which I felt confident was the King Quail — a bird I had 

 not met with in this State, and last saw alive in 1886 near 

 Cranbourne, Victoria — for, although a not uncommon bird in that 

 State, it is an extremely rare bird in South Australia. All three 

 of us were so astonished at the occurrence of this lovely quail 

 that none of us attempted to shoot it. 



After tea we made skins of our specimens by lamp-light, and 

 before getting-up time we were driven from our couches to the 

 shelter of the verandah near by heavy rain. So effectually wetted 

 was the scrub that collecting was out of the question, and an 

 early start was made for home. We learned from local residents 

 that the King Quail, later in the season, come into the settlers' 

 vegetable gardens to feed on the seeds of chickweed, and our 

 informant promised to send us word when they put in an ap- 

 pearance. Early in February a message reached Mr. Parsons 

 that the little Quail, that we believed to be King Quail, had 

 turned up. 



We decided at once to go in search of them, and left Black- 

 wood on the 6th by motor, in time to do some work before dark. 

 We inspected a different swamp from that visited before, and dis- 

 covwed a place where there must have been scores of Emu- 

 Wrens ; for, while now I have not the least power of hearing 

 their feeble call, Mr. Parsons' ears were very alert, he hearing 

 the call notes of these little birds on every side — they were never 

 far from the tussocks of cutting grass. On our return we flushed 

 several Pigeons which, from their colour and small size, we took 

 to be Phaps elcgans (Brush Bronzewings). 



Next morning we were out in the swamp almost at daybreak, 

 but did not meet with much success before breakfast. After this 

 meal .we went after a Snipe, under the guidance of a young 

 man who knew the spots it frequented ; we flushed it twice, 

 but its rapid flight was too good for us. We concluded it was 

 Rostratula australis, the Australian Painted Snipe. 



Another locality where Emu-Wrens were very plentiful was 

 discovered, and several specimens were shot in the dense Tea-tree 

 growing in water. 



We learned that the King Quail had not yet come into the 

 gardens as we supposed, but our informant had seen three ])irds 



