220 A.SHBY, Birds in Neighbourhood of Pungonda. [isf April 



Myzantha flavigula, Gld. (the Yellow-throated Miner), was very 

 numerous ; nests with eggs were found. It was rather re- 

 markable the Black-eared Miner (M. melanotis) was not to 

 be seen ; neither was the Southern Black-headed Miner (M. 

 melanocephala whitei, Mat.) present, though this latter was 

 common along the river a few miles away, near Loxton. Cer- 

 tainly, the Black-eared Miner would be met with a few miles 

 further south ; it was the only species I noticed near Ka- 

 roonda. I would suggest that the respective habitats of these 

 three species are determined by the vegetation ; thus, the Black- 

 headed Miner is not found any distance away from the large red 

 gums along the River Murray, the Yellow-throated Miner in the 

 pine and large mallee country, and the Black-eared Miner in the 

 small mallee. 



Ocyphaps lophotes, Tem. (Crested Pigeon), were most numerous. 

 Their habit of flying to some dead branch and erecting their crest 

 was most taking. Often three or four would lodge in the same 

 tree, forming a very effective picture silhouetted against the 

 skyline. 



Mahiriis vielanotiis, Gould (Black-backed Wren) were most 

 numerous on the flats. They seldom went far from the clumps 

 of dense bushes, 3 or 4 feet high, being met with but sparingly 

 amongst the smaller salt-bush. The habits of this lovely bird 

 seem identical with those of the White-winged Wren. We did 

 not find any nests during our brief stay, but think had we had more 

 time we should have done so. 



Myzomela nigra {Cissoniela nigra ashhyi, Mat.), Black Honey- 

 eater, were not uncommon. One's attention was usually called 

 to them by hearing their warning call — a low but strangely 

 penetrating whistle ; at a little distance this whistle so closely 

 resembles the call of the Scrub- Robin that at first I thought I was 

 listening to that species. This was in large mallee, on the Vic- 

 torian side of the boundary. During our stay we neither saw nor 

 heard this bird. One nest with eggs of Myzomela nigra was found 

 placed in a fork of dead mallee about 3 feet from the ground. 



Corviis bennetti, North (Small-billed Crow). — Two nests of this 

 bird were found, both with young ; it seems the Crow of the 

 district. 



My companions on the trip were Messrs. F. E. Parsons and 

 M. E. Saunders, both members of the R.A.O.U. The foregoing 

 brief notes are only a few of the results of our mutual work. We 

 were evidently too far north for the typical Mallee forms ; only 

 one Hylacola was noted, and that was in smaller mallee a few 

 miles to the south. No Nightjars were either seen or heard. 



Eggs of Corella. — 8/8/16.— A Corella {Licmetis nasica) laid one 

 egg in captivity. 19/8/16, a second egg laid. 23/8/16, a third 

 egg laid (double yolk). — ^A. F. D'Ombrain. Sydney. 



