22 White, Field Ornithology in South Australia. [isf'juiy 



skins were tanned red, like the colour of the country we had 

 passed over. This we counted as nothing when we looked back 

 on our interesting trip and the work we had accomplished.* 



The following is a list f of 75 species of birds (with notes) taken 

 during the two months' (August and September) trip, which, by 

 the way, included much ground not previously worked by an 

 ornithologist : — 



Dromaius novae -hollandiae. Emu. — Emus have been almost wiped 

 out by the natives (aborigines), who are nearly all armed with rifles. 

 Now and then a small party was seen, which consisted of 8 or 9 birds, 

 on the plains to the extreme western end of the ranges. 



Coturnix pectoralis. Stubble Quail. — Were not plentiful ; the only 

 place we saw them was near East Well, where a fair number was 

 located in the big salt-bush. They were calling loudly in the early 

 mornings, and iust before sundown. 



Podiceps gularis. Black-throated Grebe. — A few of these birds 

 met with on the water-holes. 



Podiceps poliocephalus. Hoary-headed Grebe. — These Grebes were 

 more numerous than the Black-throated variety. Parties of 8 or 10 

 were observed at nearly all water-holes. 



Zonifer pectoralis. Black-breasted Plover. — These handsome 

 Plovers were met with on all the plains near water. At water-holes 

 and dams we were sure of finding a pair or more, and on many 

 occasions discovered their nests ; clutch, four eggs invariably, and 

 all heavily incubated. At some places the birds had hatched out 

 their young. 



Ochthodromus veredus. Oriental Dottrel. — ^One bird came under 

 notice (a female). It was on a wide plain between two ranges. She 

 was flushed from a bare patch of ground (red clay). The great extent 

 of tapering wing arrested attention at once. The bird flew a few 

 hundred yards and alighted again ; it ran over the bare clay-pan 

 with great rapidity, 



ffigialitis nigrifrons. Black-fronted Dottrel. — One specimen was 

 procured near a water-hole at Donald's Plain, western end of the 

 ranges. 



^gialitis ruficapilla. Red-capped Dottrel. — An odd bird or two 

 seen near water-holes, clay-pans, or dams. 



(Edicnemus grallarius. Southern Stone-Curlew. — These birds were 

 heard at night, but not often. It is too evident that the fo:c is 

 exterminating these interesting birds. 



Notophoyx novae-hollandiae. White-fronted Heron. — Single birds or 

 pairs were seen near water-holes, dams, &c. 



Nettium gibberifrons. Grey Teal. — Met with a few Teal on dams 

 and water-holes. 



* I am indebted to Mr. II. II. D. Griffith for identification of bolanical specimens. 

 Four have been described as new to science by our well-known botanist, Mr. J. M. 

 Black. Also to .Mr. A. M. Lea, F.E..S., for working out stomach-contents of birds. 



tThe names are in accordance with those of the R.A.O.U. "Check-list," as 

 specially requested in 7 he Emu, vol. xii., p. 290. I wish, however, to state that I 

 believe the strict law of priority should pi-evail, and that trinomials should be 

 admissible. 



