MELLUii — Nal.ive Cuntpauionf- on Kioujarov island. -9 



MELLOE — Notes on the Frogmouth. 



Native Companions on Kangaroo Island. 



By .]. \\. Mellor. K.A.O.U. 



Tilt' iiiosi interestiuii- record tliat I liave received for a 

 loiii;- I inic v:\mv from Mr. M. L. Buick of American River, Kan- 

 garoo Island. Under date of October 2G he states 

 inter alia: — "On my way to Kinfjscote a few weeks 

 agro 1 saw twelve Native C^ompanions. the first that 

 I have seen on the island." This is indeed good news, 

 iind shows ihe great need, for a large protection area on the 

 Island. These birds, usually so shy and wary, seem to have 

 gone to one of the busiest spots on Kangaroo Island, and it is 

 to be hoped that they will be left unmolested there, as on the 

 mainland they are fast becoming rare. The birds being so large 

 their two eggs, which are laid on the ground, are easily found 

 by foxes, and eaten, and even if the young manage to hatch out 

 ii is more llian likely that they will fall a prey to Keynard. 



Notes on the Frogmouth. 



Forwarded by .1. W. Mellor. 



Some interesting notes upon the Mallee Frogmouth [Fwl- 

 (irg-;s .^Iriyoitlrs: ro.s-.s/ Mathews), have come under my notice, 

 whicli fnither bear out my contention that this bird does not 

 say "more pork." Miss K. X. Powell of the Woodville High 

 School, .states: — "We had a rather uncommon bird, a podar- 

 gus. or fiogmonth, for about seven years. It was queer-looking 

 in a way. had large yellow eyes, and soft feathers like those of 

 an owl. It loved company, and at night would often sit on 

 our dining-room window-sill. Twice when w(» had left it alone, 

 and were sitting in another room, it came up the hall, and 

 joined us. If alarmed he would stretcli out his feathers, or 

 rather llatten iliem along his body, so tliat be looked like a 

 dead biaricli of a tree. Soinetinu's he would tlutf himself 

 tuit full, and \\u- cails he made were somewhat similar to 

 !he noise of a motor bicycl<'. Occasionally we put a hand mir- 

 ror down and h-t him stand on it. ami he would ])erch and gaze 

 down at himself for abont iwcntv minutes at a time." 



