Vol. XII, 



1913 



J White, Field Ornithology in South Australia. 



181 



On the Lakes. 



Soon after our return to Adelaide we made arrangements with 

 Mr. Fred. Ayres, J. P., of Narrung, to hire his motor boat, and also 

 engaged the owner's services. Leaving Adelaide by the early 

 morning train to Milang, we reached the township, situated on 

 the shore of the lake, by noon of the same day, 21st February, 

 1912. The list of stores was completed, and we left by steamer 

 soon afterwards for Narrung. On arrival we transferred our 

 baggage to the motor boat, which then steamed down the channel 

 which connects Lakes Albert and Alexandrina. Near a small 

 island (covered with reeds) we dropped anchor. Between our 



Bird-observing in Duck-Boat. 



FROM A PHOTO. BY S. A. WHITE. 



little boat and the shore lay a vast mud-bank, on which grew a 

 tangled mass of aquatic plants covered by a few inches of water. 

 This spot was the feeding-ground for thousands of water-birds 

 of many species. The flags and reeds which surrounded the 

 bank were found to be the home of many more species. Towards 

 evening we put a small duck-boat over the side, and spent an 

 hour or two paddling about. We were able to approach close to 

 the birds by lying flat down in the boat with eyes level with the 

 gunwale. After tea that night we sat on deck till a late hour. 

 Many hundreds of birds had been seen before the light of a hot 

 summer's day faded, but flocks continued to arrive as we sat 

 there, till a perfect Babel of bird-calls sounded around us. 



