262 Hill, Ornithological Notes, Barclay Expedition. [ 



Emu 

 I si April 



sumatrana, Pelecanus conspicillatus, Tringa crassirostris. Sterna 

 sinensis. 



On 19th October a visit was paid to a low, waterless island of 

 a few acres in extent lying between Vanderlin's Island and 

 Observation Island. This island is composed almost entirely of 

 broken masses of sandstone, with just sufficient sand and broken 

 coral to afford anchorage for the roots of the stunted scrub and 

 grass. As we approached the island it became evident that 

 numbers of Terns were nesting. A brief search revealed many 

 nesting-places of Panayan Terns {Sterna ancestheta) under ledges 

 of rock. In one instance two eggs were found in one nesting- 

 place ; but in all others the usual setting, one egg, was found. 

 One egg only was found under a bush ; all the others were laid on 

 the sand or coral under ledges of rock. The number of birds in 

 this " rookery " was very roughly estimated at about 1,000. 

 Measurements of eggs : — {a) 43 x 30, (&) 51 x 33, (c) 49 x 33, 

 {d) 49 X 34.5, {e) 45 x 34, (/) 49 X 33. The following birds were 

 identified : — Stigmatops ocularis, Zosterops httea, Geopelia 

 humeralis, Centropus phasianus, Pandion leiicocephaliis, Sula 

 leucogaster, Sterna sinensis, Orthorhamphus magnirostris. The 

 presence of such birds as Megalurus, Centropus, and Geopelia on 

 this barren and inhospitable little island seems to show that they 

 work out to the northern end of Vanderlin's Island from the main- 

 land through the numerous islands to the eastward, thus accom- 

 plishing in short flights a journey that would be a severe trial for 

 the two former, at any rate, did they choose the more direct 

 course — i.e., across the strait between the southern end of the 

 island and the mainland. 



Field OrnithoIog:y in South Australia. 



By Capt. S. a. White, M.B.O.U., Adelaide. 

 Kangaroo Island. 



One very hot day in November, 1911, my wife and I landed at 

 Kingscote, Kangaroo Island. (I had promised Mr. G. M. Mathews 

 that we would work the island thoroughly.) Next morning we 

 began to travel westward. The horse feed made a big load. (The 

 country does not produce much grass, and the native scrub is 

 not fit to support horses or cattle.) Following a metal road for 

 some distance, with a species of eucalypt growing on either side, 

 we passed some mills where oil was being distilled from the gum- 

 leaves. Leaving the macadam behind, we plunged into a sandy 

 track, and soon lost sight of the eucalypts. We passed over a 

 " sour " piece of country, leaving Koh-i-noor Hill, over which 

 the telegraph-line is carried to Cape Borda, on the left. We 

 struck out for the head reaches of the Cygnet River, and came to 

 the crossing known as " Long Waterhole." We formed our camji 

 in the bend of the river, and here our observations began. 



