AQ Mellor, Kangaroo Island Reserve. [isf July 



the night. Next morning I explored the country. Near a small 

 water catchment and trough I observed a number of species of 

 small birds ; they were principally of the honey-eating family. 

 A conspicuous form was the White-bearded Honey-eater 

 {Meliornis novcB-hollandicB), commonly known as the " Yellow- 

 wing." A bird of quick flight and sprightly motion was the 

 Kangaroo Island form of the Spine-bill Honey-eater (Acantho- 

 rhynchus halmaturina. Like a dart from an air-gun it would 

 come upon the scene, dip into the water and out again, then 

 perch upon some convenient twig for a few seconds to plume its 

 feathers before flying again into the scrub. The Crescent Honey- 

 eater was also there, having its bath, with several of the local 

 form of the White-eye {Zosterops halmaUtrina). In some trees 

 close by I noted the Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater (Ptilotis cratitia), 

 which came from its cover now and again, but was not so tame 

 and confiding as the other species. A eucalypt was in flower, 

 and in this a number of Honey-eaters had congregated, but upon 

 the approach of two Wattle-Birds {Acanthocha>ra carunculata), 

 which were in a quarrelsome mood, the smaller birds flew 

 off. 



From a neighbouring scrub came the loud, ringing call—" Cling- 

 cling-cling " — of the Black-winged Crow-Shrike {Strepera melanop- 

 tera). I was able to get a good view of them, one coming close 

 to me and perching on a dry limb of a tree, where it called to 

 its mate in the scrub a few hundred yards away. On the 

 "black-boy" country — and there was plenty of this arid-looking 

 land in the reserve — I came across the Tawny-crowned Honey- 

 eater {Glycyphila melanops). This solitary bird delighted to perch 

 on the top of a grass-tree flower [Xanthorrhcea) or some dry twig. 

 In some low bushes the twitter of a Wren (Maluriis) caught my 

 ear, and soon several sombre-coloured females came hopping 

 along. Their identity was not clear until the bright blue and 

 black uniform of the male bird was seen a few minutes later. 

 The species was M alums cyaneus of the mainland, whose useful 

 and confiding habits are so well known in the rural districts. 

 Other birds were present, but, the time being short, only a hurried 

 inspection was possible, and I was reluctantly compelled to return 

 to the lighthouse quarters, where my kind host and his wife 

 again attended to my needs. I was driven to Harvey's Return, 

 where I caught the Governor Musgrave on her homeward voyage to 

 Port Adelaide. 



While on the reserve I was impressed by the fact that the 

 coast-line appeared to be ideal for sea-birds. Gulls of several 

 species, Penguins, Terns, and Skuas were seen in numbers ; also 

 other familiar species. I was highly pleased at having had the 

 opportunity of inspecting the reserve, if only for a brief time, and 

 my thanks are due to the President of the Marine Board, Mr. 

 Arthur Searcy, for courteously granting a passage and assisting me 

 in every possible way. 



