Official Organ of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 



liiMJii^/;?:;-, 



Birds of a featijer." 



Vol. XVI.j ist JULY, 1916. [Part i. 



An Ornithological Cruise Among the Islands of 

 St. Vincent and Spencer Gulfs, S.A. 



By (Capt.) S. a. White, M.B.O.U., President R.A.O.U. 



For some time past I had been anxious to procure specimens of 

 a Skua, which had been often seen by ornithologists passing up 

 and down the Gulf, but, owing to passenger steamers not being 

 able to stop on the voyage, specimens had never been handled ; 

 it had been thought desirable for some time that " The Pages." 

 two large rocks at the entrance of Backstairs Passage, should be 

 investigated, there being no record of any ornithologist having 

 landed on them ; a strange White-breasted Petrel had been seen 

 by Dr. A. M. Morgan and the writer, but never identified ; and, 

 lastly, we had been anxious to carry out research work among 

 the Cormorants of our seaboard. 



It can be well understood that when Messrs. A. G. and E. S. 

 Rymill invited us to join them in a cruise through some of the 

 islands off our coast-line, we were exceedingly pleased at the 

 prospect of carrying out our desires, as stated above. The Messrs. 

 Rymill's yacht, the Avocet, was an ideal boat for our purpose, 

 being a well-appointed craft 52 feet in length, driven by powerful 

 motor engines, and also well equipped with sailing power. Above 

 all, our kind friends practically placed their yacht at our disposal, 

 and did everything in their power to assist ornithological research. 



The Avocet left her moorings at Port Adelaide on ist January, 

 1916, and anchored for the night at the Outer Harbour. Here 

 our research work began, for many Cormorants (all Hypoleucus 

 varius hypokiicus) were returning from their fishing grounds to 

 the mangroves in the Port River. Several specimens were 

 obtained ; temperatures, measurements, and notes upon the soft 

 parts were taken ; stomach contents were investigated and listed. 

 The results will be found in the list which follows this narrative. 



An early start was made next morning down the Gulf, and we 

 coasted fairly closely inshore. A shimmering heat haze could be 

 seen over the mainland, and, although the day was very j^leasant 

 with us, we heard later that it had been 106° F. in the shade in 

 the city. After roimding Rapid Head, we sighted Cape Jervis 

 lighthouse. Cape Jervis is the extreme southern end of the 



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