Emu 



182 White, Field Ornithology in South Australia. fisf'"}" 



Next morning we were early astir. Many species of birds which 

 had fed around us on the previous night were taking their 

 departure for a more secluded spot. After breakfast we started 

 our work in earnest. Making for the flats, we pushed our way 

 among the aquatic plants and soft mud. Skirting a thicket of 

 tall reeds, the first bird to attract our attention was the Spotless 

 Crake {Porzana pluinhea). These little birds were in unusual 

 numbers, feeding close to the reeds. There were many im- 

 mature birds among them, proving that they had nested in this 

 locality in numbers during the last season. Mr. Ayres informed 

 me that he had not seen this bird before on the lakes. (He wrote 

 a few weeks after our return stating that all these birds had 

 disappeared from the district.) Their food seemed to consist of 

 particles of aquatic plants and water insects. In company with 

 the Spotless Crakes were Spotted Crakes {Porzana fltiminea), but 

 they were not so numerous. Their habits and food seemed to be 

 the same. The Bald-Coot {Porphyrio melanotus) was in great 

 numbers, strutting about among the weedy shallows. Black 

 Moor-Hens {Gallinula tenehrosa) were present in small flocks of 

 from five to a dozen, in deep water, close to the reeds, into which 

 they darted at the slightest sound. (These birds, apparently, do 

 not develop the bright colouration on the legs before the second 

 or third year.) We met with the common Coot {Fulica 

 australis) in great numbers. They were swimming about and 

 feeding with Ducks. A few White Egrets {Egretta syrmatophora) 

 were seen feeding on the inud-banks. The White-fronted 

 Heron {Notophoyx novcB-hollandica) was not plentiful, and few 

 Bitterns {Botaurus pceciloptilus) were seen. The Sharp-tailed 

 Stint {Heteropygia aurita (acuminata) ) had congregated in immense 

 flocks. When startled by a Hawk the birds rose in one dense 

 cloud, which darkened the sky. Only one Banded Stilt [Clado- 

 rhynchus leucocephalus) was observed ; but the White-headed Stilts 

 {Hiniantopus leucocephalus) were in numbers, many being im- 

 mature birds. They kept up their barking call day and night. 

 Reed- Warblers [Acrocephalus australis) were plentiful, and their 

 notes floated over the water from the dense mass of reeds and 

 flags the livelong day, and often at night. Many Grass-Birds 

 {Megalurus gramineus) were seen. 



The glass began to fall rapidly, and our skipper deemed it 

 advisable to shift our berth. The boat moved a short distance 

 up the channel, and entered a narrow bay, between an arm of 

 the mainland and a small island, covered with dense reeds from 

 10 to 12 feet high. Dropping anchor here, we continued our bird 

 observations in comfort. We saw a few Pelicans [Pelecanus 

 conspicillatus) sunning themselves on the edge of a mud-bank. 

 Red-capped Dottrels [Mgialitis ruficapilla) were present in 

 numbers, feeding with Tringas on the mud-bank. A few Pied 

 Cormorants {Phalacrocorax hypoleucus) were seen, also the Little 

 Black (P. siilcirostris). After working the channel on both sides 

 we travelled to the mouth, where it opens out into Lake Albert. 



