^A Chandler, Bird-Life of Kow Plains. [i^fTliy 



white sand ; the Murray pine degenerates into a dwarf scrub-pine ; 

 and tea-tree and species of heath take the place of the turpentine- 

 bush. The mallee (Eucalyptus) here is stunted in growth, but in 

 places the porcupine grass (Triodia) grows luxuriantly, both on 

 the sand-ridges and in the valleys. 



By 24th August we had a supply of provisions from Murrayville, 

 a township nearer the South Australian border, and the next 

 day our belongings were carted to a bore, 4^ miles south-east 

 of Kow Plains. The tent was soon pitched in a snug position, 

 and everything made comfortable for the night. Our intention 

 was to stay here for a week onl}', but a few days' investigation 

 proved bird-life to be so abundant and varied that we decided 

 to make a permanent camp. The first morning's ramble in the 

 Mallee is one that will linger pleasantly in my memorj^ for years. 

 The mallee was in blossom, and consequently the honey-eating 

 birds were present in thousands. The music of the birds was 

 wonderful. Our camp was situated on a pine ridge in virgin 

 country, and every morning we were awakened by the singing 

 of the birds. 



I will now proceed to deal in order with the habits of the birds 

 noted during the trip. J have included only those species which 

 were met with in the Kow Plains district. 



Dromaius novae-hollandiae. Emu. — Although this bird was not 

 seen, fresh tracks were noticed at Kow Plains, and also further south, 

 on the desert. A resident told me that his dog had chased two Emus 

 off the plains only half an hour before I met him. 



Leipoa ocellata. Mallee-Fowl. — Judging by the large number of 

 old nesting-mounds which were found, these birds must have been 

 exceedingly numerous at one time in the district. About a dozen 

 new mounds were examined, but, as the season was late, no eggs had 

 been laid bj^ the birds up to the time of our departure (i6th October). 

 The first six mounds were situated thus • — No. i — In " broom-bush " 

 and mallee, on sand-ridge, partly open on south side , acacia leaves 

 had been swept up in straight Une from beneath a bush which was 

 fully 22 yards from mound. No. 2. — In " broom-bush " on top of 

 sand-ridge, and open on west side ; noticed a large amount of the 

 bird's droppings in the mound. No. 3.- — Mound among " broom- 

 bush " and turpentine, on slope of sand-ridge ; closed in all round ; 

 " broom-bush " and mallee principal debris in mound. No. 4 — 

 Situated on slope of sand-ridge among stunted pine, mallee, and 

 turpentine-bush ; open on east side. No. 5. — In dense tea-tree and 

 "broom-bush" thicket, on slope of sand-ridge; open on south-east 

 and south-west sides. Drbris swept up from a distance of 25 yards 

 in one narrow track when first seen ; later, the birds added vegetable 

 matter from all around the mound ; acacia leaves largely used. 

 No. 6. — Very poor mound, in stunted mallee and porcupine grass 

 (Triodia'), on slope of sand-ridge. Open on south side. Clump of 

 porcupine grass growing alongside mound : mallee leaves and bark 

 largely used. Both birds were disturbed from this mound one wet 

 afternoon. 



We frequently saw these birds in our daily rambles, and in many 

 cases one would feed, while walking away from the intruder in a 



