The South Australian Naturalist. 93 



extending south and west from Northgate Street, Unley Park, 

 part of which is now Heywood Park. Of the birds the most 

 numerous was the smaller green parakeet. These at some 

 seasons of the year existed in thousands, the peppermint gum 

 being their favorite tree. There was a larger variety with 

 a harsher note and more brilliantly colored. Both these 

 species are now much reduced in numbers. The blue moun- 

 tain lory, the shell parrot, and the rosella were occasionally 

 seen, but not in large numbers till one went up higher in the 

 hills. The rosella is remarkable for the time it takes develop- 

 ing its full coloration, viz., from six to eight years. It thrives 

 in captivity, and is one of the few birds that is increasmg in 

 numbers, though unfortunately it is destructive to fruit. 

 Some of the other birds seen in the locality and period men- 

 tioned were: — 



Silver Eye or White Eye. — Formerly very numerous ; at- 

 tacked fruit, such as figs, plums, and pears, but did far more 

 good than harm. Probably it had decreased in numbers. 



Yeliow-rumped Tit. — Also very numerous, but now much 

 less common. Nested in both the trees and hedges, and built 

 a rather elaborate nest with a cavity at the top. 



Red Wattle Bird. — This bird was always fairly numerous. 

 It did not appear to have increased or decreased. 



New Holland Honey-eater. — This beautifully colored bird 

 appears to have held its own in numbers. It sometimes at- 

 tacks fruit, especially apricots and peaches, but he did not 

 thing it did any appreciable damage. 



Sparrow Hawk. — This name was applied to a kestrel at 

 one time quite numerous. When the fields where Malvern 

 now is were under hay, he had seen these birds following the 

 hay carts as they gathered the hay, and they dealt very effec- 

 tively with the mice, which the forks uncovered as the stooks 

 were lifted. 



Brown Song Lark. — This was called the " Scotch- witch-a- 

 wheeler" by boys in allusion to its notes. It was quite nume- 

 rous in the paddocks between Malvern and Fullarton and 

 south of those places, where it also nested, the nest being very 

 skilfully concealed. It was very cunning in never rising from 

 the immediate vicinity of the nest. One would have to go 

 further afield to hear many nowadays. The higher it went 

 the more beautifully it sung, the note resembling ** wheeler" 

 being expelled in a final triumph of melody. 



Black Cockatoo. — At that time a few of these still re- 

 mained amongst the highest trees near Aldgate. They would 

 not be seen now much nearer than Kuitpo or Glenburn, 



