Vol. XII. 

 1912 



Wilson, Oologists in the Mallee. QQ 



Anthus australis. Pipit. — Common in the open country. 



Corone australis. Raven. — This scavenger was always with us, and we 

 often disturbed them from a repast of dead rabbit. Several nests, some 

 containing eggs, were observed. 



Strepera melanoptera. Black-winged Crow-Shrike. — This splendid bird 

 was not often encountered, and its timidity rendered it exceedingly difficult 

 to approach. A nest in course of construction was found near the bore by 

 Mr. H. Scarce, but was not ready for eggs before we left camp. 



Corcorax melanorhamphus. White-winged Chough.— A common bird 

 through the Mallee, where it is usually known as the Black Magpie. 



Kangaroo Island Reserve. 



By J. W. Mellor, R.A.O.U., Adelaide. 



Kangaroo Island, in South Australia, is an ideal place on which 

 to form a national reserve, but the State Government appears to 

 be unwilling to set aside a large area at the extreme western end 

 of the island, at Cape Borda, where the native fauna and flora 

 could be protected. A small reserve has been made, but the larger 

 area is necessary. 



The South Australian Ornithological Association procured 

 several pairs of Mallee-Fowl {Lipoa ocellata), which were liberated 

 by me at Cape Borda on 23rd February, 1912. While engaged in 

 this work I was enabled to make interesting observations on the 

 avifauna of the country immediately surrounding the Cape Borda 

 lighthouse. The locality is wild and rugged ; precipitous cliffs 

 stretch for miles along the coast, and the summits support trees 

 and plants whose appearance illustrates the force of the gales 

 which at times beat upon the shore. Further inland there are 

 sheltered spots where the timber is larger. But, on the whole, the 

 area is rocky and rugged, and unfit for agricultural purposes. 



The first bird I saw after landing from a boat belonging to the 

 Governor Musgrave, the departmental steamer which conveyed me 

 to the island, was the Kangaroo Island form of the Crescent 

 Honey-eater, designated by Mr. A. G. Campbell as Meliornis 

 halmatiirina. Its loud, clear note rang through the early morning 

 air from some thick scrub in a sheltered ravine to the east of 

 Harvey's Return, which is the landing-place for Cape Borda. On 

 the open land above I made the acquaintance of the Red-rumped 

 Ground-Wren [Hylacola cauta), which was threading its way 

 through the low, stunted bushes. Ever and anon, half hopping, 

 half flying, it crossed an intervening piece of bare ground. 



On arrival at the lighthouse quarters, some 3 or 4 miles distant, 

 my attention was directed to a number of imported Sparrows which 

 were falling, almost helplessly, into a thick bush. I soon 

 discovered the cause. A Sparrow-Hawk {Acci-piter cirrhocephahis) 

 had flown on to the high pole of a bush fence, and in a flash it 

 swooped down into the bush and carried off a SpaiTow. 



Through the kindness of Mr. W. 0. Wood, the head light- 

 keeper, and his wife, I was accommodated at their cottage for 



