122 Stone, Birds of Lake Boga, Victoria. [ist^'ckt 



native tobacco bordering the shore of Round Lake. He described 

 the bird as one he had never seen before — black and beautiful yellow 

 — and his statement was corroborated by his father and one other, 

 as in all three sets were taken, each of four eggs. The eggs are smaller, 

 but resemble those of Eopsaltria australis (Yellow Robin) The 

 ground colour is medium dark green, and closely freckled and blotched 

 with ash-brown. 



Field Ornithology in South Australia. 



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



Port Augusta District. 



On 3rd October, 1911, my wife and I made a start by the early 

 morning train for Port Augusta, and, after a long and weary 

 journey, reached that north-western town at a late hour the same 

 night. Having interviewed Dr. Riddell and my transport man, 

 I retired to rest. Next day the transport man made all kinds of 

 objections in regard to supplying us with a team for travelling 

 outback. The principal one was that, owing to the dryness of 

 the season (there was no doubt that the country at that time 

 was suffering from drought), neither horses nor mules could live 

 on the country, and it was impossible to carry enough fodder for 

 an extended trip. Anyhow, we made a start that day towards 

 the Gawler Ranges. After lea\'ing Port Augusta West, with its 

 low corrugated iron houses, half-buried in the sand, we travelled 

 north-west. Beyond the first sandy ridge a small flock of Wood- 

 Swallows attracted our attention. They proved to be Artamtis 

 melanops. This species was discovered by my late father on his 

 memorable trip into the interior, which was then an unknown 

 country, the first skin being secured on 23rd August, 1863, at St. 

 a' Beckett's Pool, lat. 28° 30'. It was from this skin that Gould 

 described the species in his great work on the birds of Australia 

 (Supplement, part v.) The notes of these birds resembled those 

 of other members of the genus ; their habits and flight were also 

 similar. 



Our track took us close to Lake Dempsey. We were greatly 

 astonished to see so many Black Swans {Chenopsis atrata) upon 

 this small salt lake. We were afterwards informed that there 

 are always great numbers of these birds here. Moving on, we 

 passed over miles of drifting sand, till we entered upon the salt- 

 bush country, which appeared parched as a result of the continuous 

 dry weather. Camping that night near a dam which contained a 

 little red-coloured water, we pitched our tent between two myall 

 trees. Next morning we were up early, and walked down to the 

 dam to watch the birds come in to drink. It was an interesting 

 sight. A great flock of Warbling Grass-Parrakeets [Melopsittacns 

 nndulatus) swept round in a circle several times, making the air 

 vibrate with the swift movement of their wings. The rich green 

 and yellow of their plumage was displayed to perfection as they 



