28 The South Ausiralian Naturalist. 



native flowers gathered were buttercups, brunonia, scaevola, 

 wahlenbergia, daviesia, and grevillea, which are rarely found so 

 late in the year. Another pause was made at Mr. Lindo's resi- 

 dence at Gilles Plains, to inspect a complete collection of native 

 weapons and other implements, mainly obtained from the tribes 

 of Central Australia, near Oodnadatta. 



Excursion, December 4, 1920. — A visit was paid to the Ade- 

 laide Zoological Gardens. In the absence of the director (Mr. 

 Minchin), Dr. Fenner and Mr. Bradshaw conducted the party. 

 Attention was called to the fact that each of the southern con- 

 tinents possesses a living example of wingless birds, which are 

 found only in a fossil state north of the line, namely, the rhea 

 of South America, the ostrich of South Africa, the emu of Aus- 

 tralia, to which may be added the extinct moa of New Zealand. 

 Several varieties of handsome pheasants were admired, includ- 

 ing the peacock pheasant, Swinhoe's pheasant (Mongolia), Grax 

 alector (Guiana). Reference was made to the peculiar habits 

 of the mound builders — the mallee hen and the brush turkey. 

 A discussion as to the origin of the dingo elicited the fact that 

 the bones of this animal are found with those of the diprotodon, 

 and with human teeth in fossil remains in certain parts of Aus- 

 tralia. Two graceful little marmots are credited with powers 

 of burrowin^^ which greatly surpass those of the rabbit. For- 

 tunately, these little "prairie dogs" are secured against escap- 

 ing from their enclosure by burrowing, otherwise these jiretty 

 little animals ) night become a more common sight throughout 

 the State than is at all desirable. 



Excursion, December 28, 1920. — A large party journeyed to 

 Humbug Scrub, to Mr. Bellchambers' Native Fauna Propaga- 

 tion area, in the ranges near Onetree Hill. At the time of our 

 visit there were ducks and swans at home on the waters of the 

 lake. The kangaroos, in their enclosures, attracted much atten- 

 tion. Mr. Bellchambers has several varieties, and one of them 

 would stand quite six feet high. They were wonderfully quiet 

 when their owner took food to them, and would eat from his 

 hand; the same applied to the wallabies, one of which was 

 specially tame. The animals are well cared for, and appear 

 quite contented with their surroundings. The mallee fowls at- 

 tracted the most attention, and were seen at work on the 

 mounds. The mounds were about seven feet across and about 

 two feet high, and they were made uj) of loose scrub, litter and 

 sand. The birds wei-e not very shy, as tliey went on with their 

 work of scratching while the party Avas watching them. Mrs. 

 Bellchambers and her daughters very kindly provided after- 

 noon tea for the party, and were heartily thanked. Mr. Bell- 



