McGILP—HahitH of rntoJujas AnnimliH. 15;") 



lit^i^ towards the end of November in ex(eedin<>-ly hot weather, 

 losino- two of his horses, and found that his party left in charge 

 had fallen back on the oi-i^inal depot near ^lili)arinka. Xt 

 ('oo])er's Creek he found a " new^ and l)eautiful little INj^eon 

 with a loni>- crest, which never ])erched on trees, but on the 

 highest and most exposed rocks, a[)pearin2,' to like the intense 

 heat of sncli situations. Its tli_i»-ht was sliorl, like that of a 

 (^uail " [(Icophu !>!< plinnifci-d — (lould). 



In our walks aiound Ihe Lake we found a marked l)ox- 

 tree with initials cut in it, but almost obliterated by ji'rowtli 

 (>f ibark. A (iOv<M'nment Surveyor had i-e-marked I he tree 

 i-ecently. There is no trace left of the stockade mack'- of slab.** 

 four and a half feet above the i;round which j^ave the name of 

 •• Fort" (irey to this dejiot. nanu'd after the then (Jovei-nor of 

 South Atistralia. There was a IMuebonnet's nest in the tree. 

 So much for this historical digression. After returning; to 

 the hut and lunchino-, we packed up and returned ten miles 

 (Ui our (mtward route and then camped. Xotliiui:; of interest 

 was noticed except a few ('innamon-l)acked (iround birds. The 

 next day we reached Vandama at 'i ]).m., after nei^ol iatin^' 

 those stee}) and numerous sandhills, which w<'re sn trying- to 

 the cars both i»oin<>- oul and coming- back. Wv lefl -limmy 

 Sit-down at the blacks' cam]), and \ fancy he was ulad to ,iivi 

 back. After tea and a, talk to ^fr. jind Mrs. A\'inton. who 

 had shown us such hospitality, we i-an on another L'l) iiiii(^s 

 in to Mount Sturt Station. 



The remainder of the journey calls for liltle comment 

 fi'om an ornitholo,nical standi)oint. When we left the Hey- 

 wood's at .Arilj)ai'iidca. after "doinj;" Depot (Jlen atid Toole's 

 <Jrave, we went on to Tibboobui-ra, and th<Mi east to the T>ul- 

 loo floodwaters, but tlu'y had dried up and f>one back tlu'(>u<i:li 

 the fence into Queensland. <')ur ol>servations of bird life 

 were barren of interest exce])! I hat I struck an Amytis — vi'vy 

 shy — in a canejirass swamp, but had no |,nin a1 ihe fiiiu'. and 

 <(>uld not j:"et a specimen. 



The Drinking Habits of Peltohyas Australis 

 (Australian Dottrel). 



l>v .1. Xkii. .M(<iii.i'. Kiv(;'s I'.MtK. 



Thon.ii,h 1 ha\<' Iiad a lonj;- acipniintance with this nscful 

 little bird, 1 ha\<' hitherto had no i-ecord of its wa1<M'in.ii at tlie 

 stock tanks and dams dnriim' lh<' heat of tlx' summer. I am 



