Vol. xilLi White, Field Ornithology in South Australia. 23 



Spatula rhynchotis. Australian Shoveller. — A fine male of this 

 species was found in a deep dam, and had apparently mated with 

 two female Nyroca australis. Stomach contained quantities of very 

 small insects found near the margin of the water. 



Nyroca australis. White-eyed Duck. — Two females were found in 

 dam with the preceding species. Stomachs contained great quantities 

 of a species of large water-beetle, procured by diving. 



Uroaetus audax. Wedge-tailed Eagle. — Eagles were very few ; 

 poison has nearly cleared these noble birds out of the district. 



Hieracidea berigora. Brown Hawk. — Met with these Hawks on 

 many occasions. They seem to be thinly dispersed through the 

 ranges, as well as over the surrounding plains. On the 21st of 

 August, 1912, we discovered the first pair nesting; they had taken 

 possession of a Crow's nest, placed in a gum-tree growing in a dry 

 water-course, and about 60 feet from the ground. The male was 

 upon the nest, and allowed us to walk round the tree and throw 

 sticks and stones at the nest before being dislodged. Nest contained 

 three eggs, slightly incubated. On i6th September found a nest in 

 a myall tree, about 15 feet from the ground ; the female sat very 

 closely on three eggs, heavily incubated. Insects play a large part 

 in the diet of these birds ; many small lizards were also found in their 

 stomachs. They are rapid of flight, and utter a harsh and dis- 

 cordant cry. 



Ninox (? sp.) Owl. — A bird of this family came under notice one 

 day in a tliick myall. It seemed to differ from N. boohook in having 

 much more white upon the breast. Unfortunately, we were unable to 

 secure the bird, so the doubt of its identity was not cleared up. 



Cacatua leadbeateri. Pink Cockatoo. — We did not observe these birds 

 till we reached the south-western end of the ranges, although we had 

 seen their crests in the head decorations of the natives. They were 

 feeding in large flocks on bare ground, and when alarmed they took 

 flight with great screeching, but alighted again soon. They often 

 alighted on a dead tree, which they covered in such a mass as to give 

 the appearance of cotton wool. Strangely, many of these birds were 

 in the worst possible stage of moulting, yet some birds in fine 

 plumage had paired prior to nesting. One nest was taken in a white 

 gum growing on a flat amidst the mallee belt. The hollow was 40 

 to 50 feet from the ground, and contained three fresh eggs. 



Barnardius zonarius. Yellow-banded Parrot. — We were much 

 surprised to meet with these Parrots just after passing through 

 Lincoln Gap, for we had no idea that this bird had worked as far 

 north. Reliable old residents assured us that it was only within 

 the last few years that these Parrots had been seen in the district ; 

 yet it has come to my knowledge that Mr. J. W. Mellor procured this 

 bird in the same year, and somewhere about the same time, at Port 

 Germein, showing that the bird must have flown over the Gulf and 

 is pushing northward. We found these birds rare amongst the ranges, 

 but, when we entered the mallee belt, which extends from the Western 

 Australian border and ends abruptly at the south-western end of the 

 ranges, the birds were seen assembled in numbers amidst the large 

 mallee to nest. We were rather early, and just before we left this 

 interesting piece of country they had started to clean out their 

 nesting-hollows, making a great fuss the while. The male would 

 pose in all attitudes — hang head downwards, swing from under the 



