124 White, Field Ornithology in South Australia. [^ ^^ 



the plain here and there, but they were only isolated blocks. It 

 was round one of these, called " Tent Hill," that we put in most 

 of our work. We found the Crimson-bellied Parrakeet {Psephotus 

 hamatorrhous) plentiful in the clumps of low timber during the 

 heat of the day (and it can be hot in this country). They were 

 amid the thick foliage of the myall trees, where they often ])erched 

 motionless, without uttering a sound, for hours, coming out to feed 

 in the late afternoon and in the early morning, when they made 

 up for lost time. In company with this species we often found 

 the Many-coloured Parrakeet (P. niulticolor). Of Ephthiamira 

 we found three species rather plentiful. On several occasions we 

 saw E. alhifrons and E. aiirifrons mingling in large flocks, there 

 being many immature birds amongst them These two species 

 were found invariably out on the open plains, but the Tricoloured 

 Chat {E. tricolor) showed a strong liking for open timbered 

 country, and when pursued would not leave the myall scrub for 

 any length of time. The males, when adorned in their beautiful 

 scarlet livery, seemed conscious that they were conspicuous, and 

 were difhcult to approach. 



We found two species of Wrens in the salt-bush. The White- 

 winged Wren {Malunis leitcopterus) was plentiful : each day 

 we saw one or two small parties hopping about among the low 

 bushes. The Purple-backed Wren {M . assimilis) was not nearly 

 so plentiful. We saw very few, and there seemed to be many more 

 females and immature males than mature males than was the 

 case with the former species. Hawks were not numerous, owing, 

 no doubt, to the drought. A few specimens of the Wedge-tailed 

 Eagle {Uroactus audax) were observed in the north-west. The 

 Little Eagle [Nisaetus morphnoides) was seen on several occasions. 

 On 6th October, 191 1, we found two nests of the Little Eagle. 

 One was built in a leaning myall tree about 15 feet from the 

 ground ; it was composed of large sticks, and contained two white 

 eggs bearing a few faint markings and almost round in shape. 

 The second nest also was placed in a myall, about 20 feet from 

 the earth, and contained one young bird covered in thick white 

 down. It had been recently fed upon small particles of rabbit- 

 flesh. A few days later we located another nest, which was 

 about 40 feet above the ground. As we approached the tree the 

 parent bird flew off the nest, which contained one young bird 

 covered in a thick, soft down. About this time we found a nest 

 of the Brown Hawk {Hieracidea berigora). containing two large 

 fledglings clad in down of a dirty yellow colour. The pin feathers 

 were just developing in wings and tail. 



During our journey over the everlasting salt-bush we met with 

 a Calamanthiis of a very rufous-brown colour. (On comparing this 

 bird after our return, we found it to be identical with a skin 

 collected by Dr. Morgan at Mt. Gunson, now in the Adelaide 

 Museum, and labelled C. campestris. Should this be correct, 



* C. ethelce, Mathews' " Refereuce-List," p. :iT,j. 



