Vol.XIl. 



I9I2 



1 Whitk, Field Oynilholui^y in South Aust'/alia. I25 



the Calamanthus collected during our last trip on Eyre Peninsula 

 was certainly not C. cainpestns.) =■= These birds were very shy, and 

 passed from bush to bush as quickly' as mice. Their plumage 

 harmonized with their surroundings so closely that it was very 

 difficult to detect them when still. The Rufous-vented Shrike- 

 Thrush {Collyriocincla rufiventris) was met with, but not in 

 numbers. We discovered a nest with the female bird on it. She 

 sat very closely, and almost allowed herself to be touched by the 

 hand before she flew off. The nest was neatly built of sticks, 

 lined with rootlets and strips of bark ; it contained one fresh egg, 

 and was situated in a myall tree, about 15 feet from the ground. 

 On one occasion we came upon a small party of White-shouldered 

 Caterpillar-eaters {Lalage tricolor) in a clump of myall trees which 

 were in fijwer. The birds seemed to be feeding upon some species 

 of winged insects which had been attracted by the blossoms. The 

 Bell-Birds [Oreoica cristata) were fairly numerous, and their clear, 

 liquid calls were pleasant to hear. We found a nest in an old 

 Babbler's {Pomalorhinns superciliosns) nest one evening just at 

 dusk, in a myall tree. The old nest appeared weather-beaten and 

 torn ; but the tail of a bird was protruding over the side, and 

 attracted our attention. A brown bird darted off and came to 

 the ground, where it hopped about. We mistook it for a Thrush 

 before examining the eggs, which were two in number. Next 

 morning we paid this nest another visit, and found the Oreoica's 

 nest inside the old one. It contained a great number of hairy 

 caterpillars, as usual. Two species of Wood-Swallows {Artamus 

 inelanops and A. superciliosiis) were found nesting. Many nests 

 containing eggs or young were observed. The birds had a great 

 liking for the large bunches of mistletoe which hung from the 

 myall trees as nesting-sites. Although we did not see any mistle- 

 toe in fruit, we saw several Mistletoe-Birds [Dicceum hirnndin- 

 aceum). Yellow-throated Miners [Myzantha ftavigula) were very 

 plentiful in places. We saw many nests which contained from 

 two to four eggs, varying much in markings and colouration. The 

 White-browed Babbler [Pomatorhinus superciliosns) was common 

 throughout this country. The Red-capped Robin [Petrccca 

 goodenovii) was sparingly dispersed. The Freckled Frogmouth 

 {PodargHS strigoides) was also met with. 



One of the commonest and most widely distributed birds which 

 we met with on our trip was the Whiteface {Xerophila 

 leucopsi'i). They were everywhere, and their little clucking note 

 was heard from daylight till dark. They were ever on the move, 

 on the ground hopping about in a great hurry, or in the low bushes 

 peering under every leaf and twig. They seemed to be a great 

 enemy of all insect life. Cuckoos were not numerous. Only a 

 few specimens of the Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx 

 basalts) came under our notice, and these seemed to be following 

 the Xerophilas around — an attention which was strongly resented. 

 Wherever there was a patch of scrub the noisy Spiny-cheeked 

 Honey-eater [Acanthogenys rufigiilaris) was to be found. Many 



