126 



White, Field Ornithology iii South Australia. 



U 



Emu 

 Oct. 



of their notes were very pleasing to the ear, hquid and gurghng, 

 Uke the sound of running or falling water. These Honey-eaters 

 were very ])ugnacious : two or three males were often seen in 

 fierce conflict. The Butcher-Bird {Cracticus destritctor) was met 

 with in pairs. Ravens {Corone aiislralis) were seen each day. 

 They were very cunning, and seemed to recognize a gun at sight, 

 as well as a human being. Directly we struck camp and moved 

 on numbers of Ravens would assemble and light over the morsels 

 left behind. 



We moved on slowly till a very severe heat wave came up from 

 the Australian Bight, drying up water and feed. This was fol- 



Part of Flinders Range. 



PHOTO. BY S. A. WHITE. 



lowed by a two days' sand storm. The wind blew with great 

 violence, sweeping over the open plains with nothing to check it. 

 The eyelet-holes were torn out of the tent, and there was nothing 

 for it but to lie down and roll up in the tent fly. Everything was 

 covered inches deep in a red sandy loam. When we did manage 

 to light a fire it was blown away. The wind slackened at sunset 

 each day, but next morning became violent again. We were com- 

 pelled to return to Port Augusta, feeling very disappointed, for we 

 had hoped to get into the Gawler Ranges. Had our transport 

 man pushed on with a good team this might have been accom- 

 plished. 



After a day in Port Augusta we made arrangements with 



