Vol. XII. 

 1913 



J White, Field Ornithology in South Australia. 263 



The first bird to attract our attention was the Kangaroo Island 

 Black Cockatoo {Calypiorhynchtis whitea^, Mathews, vide Austral 

 Avian Record, vol. i., part 2, p. 35). A pair had selected a hollow 

 in the bole of a high gum growing in the bed of the creek. The 

 birds flew to and from their feeding ground with much noise, and 

 when the nesting-place was approached they swooped down, 

 uttering fiendish screams. Some fair-sized timber along the river 

 afforded shelter for many birds. Coming from the topmost 

 branches of the trees were the sharp call-notes, " Be quick, be 

 quick," of a Pardalote {Pardalotus subaffinis, Mathews, vide 

 " Reference-list Australian Birds," p. 388). These birds, although 

 not numerous, we subsequently found to be dispersed over the 

 whole of the island. A far more numerous bird was the Kan- 

 garoo Island Crescent Honey-eater (Meliornis halmaturina, A. G. 

 Campbell). The liquid call of this bird came from the brush- 

 wood, wherever it was dense enough to conceal them. When 

 alarmed it mounted to the highest twig of the thicket at intervals, 

 to dart down again with lightning speed, calling loudly the while. 

 In similar localities we found the South Australian White-bearded 

 Honey-eater {Meliornis suhassimilis, Mathews, " Reference-list 

 Australian Birds," p. 415). We met with the Kangaroo Island 

 Crow-Shrike {Strepera halmaturina, Mathews, " Reference-list 

 Australian Birds," p. 444). Here they were in pairs and very shy, 

 showing the greatest cunning in keeping out of our way. The 

 graceful little Kangaroo Island Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus 

 halmaturina, Campbell) was often observed probing the heath- 

 like flowers with its long, slender bill, hanging sometimes by one 

 foot, with head stretched downwards, to reach some blossoms, or 

 clinging to the large spike-like flower-heads of the yacca trees. 

 The harsh cry of the Kangaroo Island Red Wattle-Bird {Anellohia 

 halmaturina, Mathews, Austral Avian Record, vol. i., part 4, 

 p. loi) was heard, and we noticed that these birds were not nearly 

 so numerous as on the mainland. 



After working the country round for some distance we harnessed 

 the horses, and moved on to Bark Hut, a pretty valley sloping 

 towards the river, clothed with bushes and trees. It was here 

 that we came in touch with that lovely bird the Kangaroo Island 

 Crimson Parrot {Platycercus melanoptera. North). These birds 

 were fairly numerous, and we often flushed them from the ground 

 in the mornings and evenings. They seemed to be hunting for 

 food among the low shrubs. From here we drove on towards 

 the north coast, passing through a desert yacca* country, poor in 

 soil and scrub. Birds were few, and those we met with were of 

 species mostly found in poor country. Just after striking the 

 track, which ran along the north coast (for we had come across 

 country after leaving the Cygnet and struck the track midway 

 between Stokes Bay and Middle River), we saw a domestic cat 

 which had become wild — an enemy to birds. After driving along 



* Grass-tree {Xanthorrhcea). 



