Q2 White, Field Oynithology in South Australia. [ ist''"iuiv 



salt-bush plain. The nests contained from two to three eggs, all 

 fresh. Although this bird's ordinary call is melodious, it has also 

 some short harsh and discordant notes. It is very inquisitive, and 

 when its curiosity is aroused the antics it goes through at times are 

 very ludicrous. 



Ptilotis ornata. Yellow-plumed Honey-eater. — This graceful little 

 bird was met with at Valley Well and on Donald's Plain — at the 

 former place in some stunted gums growing in the dry water-course, 

 and at the latter in the mallee, where it was very plentiful. 



Ptilotis plumuia. Yellow-fronted Honey-eater. — Mr. Mathews has 

 made this bird from the Flinders and Gawler Ranges a new sub- 

 species. I agree with him. We met with these birds on many 

 occasions in the ranges. They are very silent birds, and unlike many 

 other members (I may say nearly all) of the genus in their quiet, silent, 

 and retiring habits. They seem sociable, and were often observed in 

 parties of from 8 to lo. They apparently keep to the ranges ; never 

 once were they seen in the mallee or away from the hilly country. 



Myzantha flavigula. Yellow-throated Miner.— Wherever a few 

 eucalypts grew this Miner was found, and in places numerous. We 

 found it breeding in many localities in the ranges. 



Anthochaera carunculata. Red Wattle-Bird. — The Wattle-Bird 

 was seen first on Donald's Plain. We discovered a few trees of the 

 gorgeous " bottle-brush " {Hakea multilineata) growing on a sandy 

 ridge, and amongst other birds frequenting their lovely pink blossoms 

 was the Red Wattle-Bird. 



Acanthogenys ruflgularis. Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater. — This is 

 one of the most (if not the most) familiar bird of the vast northern 

 country. Wherever a bit of scrub is found surely these birds are 

 there. How often is the death-like silence which reigns amidst the 

 hills broken by the strange guttural and gurgling notes of these 

 birds ! Stomach contents, one bird : — Fragments of at least two 

 kinds of weevils, and 8 seeds, of the same kind. 



Anthus australis. Ground-Lark. — Met with this bird during the 

 whole of the trip. 



Corvus coronoides. Australian Crow. — Crows seen in many places, 

 but were very difficult to approach. A few specimens were procured ; 

 one had the base of feathers perfectly white. 



Cracticus destructor. Collared Butcher-Bird. — A few Butcher- 

 Birds were noted, but they were not at all numerous. 



Gymnorhina leuconota. White-backed Magpie. — Quite a number 

 of Magpies were seen all through the ranges. Some are of the opinion 

 that these birds were introduced of late years into the Gawler Ranges. 

 I do not believe this possible, for they are too numerous and widely 

 distributed. 



New Cuckoo Foster-Parent. — During last season I received from 

 my friend Mr. R. Walton a set of two eggs of Eopsaltria australis, 

 and one egg of Chalcococcyx plagosus, which were taken during 

 November at Ringwood, Victoria. Eopsaltria australis is, I believe, 

 a hitherto unrecorded foster-parent for this Cuckoo. — F. Erasmus 

 Wilson. Melbourne, 2/6/13. 



