Vol. XIII. 

 1913 



1 White, Field Ornithology in SoutJi Atistralia. 20 



procure an adult specimen and two young birds walking through the 

 salt-bush near the dry water-course. Two brown birds scuttled awav 

 from under our feet, and after searching for some time they were 

 found sitting closely together, and quite motionless, under a bush ; 

 they were fully fledged young. On making a squeaking noise one 

 of the parent birds answered, and after some time was lured from cover 

 into the open and procured. These birds so resemble their sur- 

 roundings in colouration, are so cunning and such skulkers, that it is 

 the greatest difficulty to sight them. They will almost let you crush 

 them underfoot before they will betray their presence. 



Artamus personatus. Masked Wood-Swallow. — On one occasion 

 only did we meet with these birds ; that was in the centre of the ranges 

 on 15th September, 1912 — a day to be remembered, for the wind had 

 been blowing with great force for many days, but on that day it 

 seemed to excel in energy. Although we were camped under the 

 lee of a steep spur in thick mulga scrub, it was almost impossible to 

 light a fire or keep a duck tent from tearing to pieces. In a gully 

 close to our camp we came upon a vast host of these birds, sitting on 

 the ground or holding tightly to the lower branches of the mulga to 

 try and escape the terrific wind as much as possible. No doubt they 

 were migrating prior to nesting, and had been forced to take shelter 

 from the elements. 



Artamus meianops. Black-faced Wood-Swallow — This Artamus, 

 which my father, the late Samuel White, discovered at St. A'Becket's 

 Pool in August, T863, was not found to the south-east or south of the 

 Gaw^er Ranges. After passing through Lincoln Gap, which is to 

 the south of Port Augusta, this species disappeared, and A. sordidus 

 became more plentiful. I doubt very much if this bird has a wide 

 range south-west, and w^ould put the south-west end of the ranges 

 as its extreme limit. We came upon these birds about 40 miles west 

 of Port Augusta, in the low ranges, where they had iust commenced 

 to nest, for on 17th September w^e took a nest with three fresh eggs ■ 

 nest constructed of loose sticks, and placed in the thickly-forked 

 branches of a shrub, about 4 feet from the ground. In habits this 

 species resembles the other members of the genus ; call also is the 

 same, and the characteristic wagging of the tail from side to side 

 while uttering their plaintive note is very pronounced. Contents of 

 one stomach were — one larva of moth, remains of grasshopper, 

 remains of beetle, two ants (? sp.), one ant (? sp.), ant (Odoniomachus 

 corearius — this ant was never found before in South Australia), one 

 ant (Camponotus nigriceps), 10 seeds (? sp.) of one kind. 



Artamus sordidus. Wood-Swallow. — The common Wood-Swallow 

 has a great range. We met with them all through the trip. On 

 13th September we noticed the first nest, which contained three 

 fresh eggs ; they had just started to build. Occasionally these birds 

 surprised us with their sweet twittering song, not unlike that of the 

 Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), only louder. 



Colluricincia rufiventris. Buff-bellied Shrike-Thrush. — Wherever 

 there was sufficient -scrub for shelter we met with this fine bird. 

 Observations proved that they procure much of their food on the 

 ground, over which they hop in an exceedingly sprightly manner. 

 The call does not compare vnVn. that of C. harmonica for body or 

 melody. 



Corcorax melanorhamphus. White-winged Chough. — The curious 



