Vol. XII 



1913 



1 White, Field Ornithology in South Australia. 1 83 



We took up our moorings under a reedy bank and went ashore 

 to stretch our legs, as we had been several days in a small boat. 

 We visited an aborigines' burial ground, and noted a few birds, 

 including the Black Cormorant (P. carbo). These birds were 

 extremely shy, no doubt owing to the fact that they are shot at 

 by persons on boats and steamers. While ashore we saw the 

 Blue Wren {Mai urns cyaneus). Up to this time we had seen 

 few Ducks. In the channel one or two Mountain Ducks {Tadorna 

 tadornoides) were observed. Black Ducks {Anas snperciliosa) 

 were not at all plentiful. The Grey Teal {Nettion gibherifrons) 

 was more abundant, and there was a fair number of Australian 

 Shovellers {Spatula rhynchotis) and White-eyed Ducks {Nyroca 

 anstralis). A good many Musk Ducks {Biziura lobata) were seen 

 floating along the edge of the reed-beds, the majority being 

 immature. 



A stiff breeze blew at night from the south-west, and brought 

 a nasty choppy sea out of the lake into the mouth of the channel. 

 Our little craft, which was light in the water, pitched a good deal. 

 Towards morning the wind slackened and the sea went down. 

 A fine flock of Pelicans was seen coming up the channel. The 

 birds were in line, and as they glided along, with the sun shining 

 on their plumage, they resembled a squadron of boats with all 

 sail set. After leaving the channel we threaded our way through 

 innumerable mud-banks and sand-bars. It was here that we 

 first came in touch with the Tippet Grebe {Podiceps cristattis). 

 The birds were wary, and dived cleverly. As we crossed the 

 north-west corner of Lake Albert, Tippet Grebes, Hoary-headed 

 Grebes {P. poliocephalus). Pied Cormorants, and Black Swans 

 {Chenopsis atrata) scuttled out of our way. Reaching our 

 anchorage under Rumply Point, we did little that evening except 

 watch the thousands of waterfowl flying off to their feeding- 

 grounds for the night. Next morning, after breakfast, we boarded 

 the duck-boat and paddled and poled into a deep inlet. On a 

 long, sandy spit, within a short distance of our boat, was a vast 

 flock of Shieldrakes {Tadorna tadornoides), from 3,000 to 4,000 

 birds. We drifted closer and closer, until, at last, a sentinel gave 

 the alarm, and in a moment the birds were on the wing. Pro- 

 ceeding up the inlet, we sighted some Yellow-legged Spoonbills 

 {Platalea flavipes) in the company of a few Royal or Black-billed 

 Spoonbills {P. regia). Through the field-glass we could plainly 

 see the Spoonbills walking in line, with the water nearly up to 

 their knees. As they moved along they swept their bills through 

 the water, from side to side, in search of food. The birds were 

 shy. Numbers of White Ibis {Ibis molucca) were seen, and Ducks 

 were plentiful. One spot was frequented by thousands of White- 

 eyed Ducks. These birds were diving in deep water for their 

 food. The stomachs of specimens shot contained great quantities 

 of small fresh-water molluscs. A Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo 

 {Chalcococcyx basalis) was taken from the high reeds on the edge 

 of the water ; it was being fed by a Reed- Warbler, which, no 



