ASllBY—rhe liinh of the MalLee. 13 



^^'e noted three species of Acanthlza, the mallee form of past- 

 illa, named by Mr. Mathews hamiltoni, or the Red-rumped tit, 

 and iiropi/gialis, the Chestniit-rumped Tit; but whether to as- 

 cribe this hitter to the race called by Mathews, augiifita, from 

 the Port Augusta District, or to the Mctorian nifhcrglcni. one 

 can hardly judge — ^ihe differences air- so slight. The third 

 sj)ecies Ave Avere unable to identify. Legyconih huiibci-fi inor- 

 gani (Southern Blue-breasted Wren) was fairly common. Mr. 

 Parsons Avas successful in shooting a A'ery nice male Little Fal- 

 con {Falro loit</i))enius) Avhich was ])erched on a tall gum tree 

 a.bout half a mile from the mallee. The flute-like whistle of the 

 Mallee Butcher-Bird (BKlestcs torquatus colei) were heard con- 

 tinuallA" and a nest AAith two fresh eggs was found. The 

 whistle of another characteristic mallee bird Avas heard from 

 time to time — that of the Crested Bell-Bird {Orcoica cristafa 

 clelandi. I stood for some time listening to the ventriloquial 

 powers of one of them. The little YelloAA'-rumped Pardalote 

 [Pardalotvs .rcnitliopt/giis). as aa'cH as its more common relatiA^e, 

 Pardulotvnus striatuf^ f^nhaffinifi were noted. Altogether 41 

 species were identified. a{)art fi'om the birds whose habitat is 

 more properly the hills, which were seen in going and coming. 



The belt of country visited is rich in Mallee flora, two 

 possibly three, species of Boronia; several Prostanthera; the 

 Scarlet Coceinea. and a niauA'e one that would be an ornament 

 to any garden; many interesting and beautiful shrubs, in- 

 cluding scA-eral species of Acacia, which were "mounds of 

 golden glory-'; a very fine series of Orchids (Caladenia tenia- 

 culata); the still more local G. Caiviisiana; and the little 

 Pterosti/Iis mutica— besides, a great many others that are fami- 

 liar to those of us that dAvell in the hills. 



We hope that this brief account will open what is al- 

 most a new hunting ground, both for the Ornithologist and the 

 Botanist. The nearest extensive belt of Virgine Mallee coun- 

 try to the City of Adelaide, is easily reached and penetrated 

 by motor car. Enough has l)een said to show that the fauna 

 and flora are typical of first-class mallee country and it may 

 be that some of the rarer forms still exist in this large block 

 of mallee. comparitively near our bounds, that have been 

 driAcn back elsewhere to the more distant parts of the State, 

 by the encroachment of the farmers. 



I should like to urge in the Covernment the desirability 

 of making a ''Fauna and Flora" ReserA-e of several square 

 miles of this mallee. At present it is held. I believe, umlor 

 lea.'^es that are of little pvofil to ihose llinr b.old them — a few 



