264 White, Field Ornithology in South Australia. [,sf'Aprii 



a high ridge, from which we obtained a view of the sea, for some 

 time, we descended a steep hill into the valley through which Middle 

 River flowed. After driving along the track, which followed the 

 river almost to its mouth, for some distance, we called a halt, and 

 took up our abode at Snelling's Cove. This was the old camping- 

 ground of the Union expedition in igo6, and it was here that 

 members did so much good work. We soon began tramping over 

 the steep, rugged hills in quest of l)irds. We followed the river 

 where it flowed through the flat, and still further up, through a 

 wild and rocky country, till the renowned Strepera Falls (named 

 by a member of the Union in 1906) were reached. Among the 

 bracken and tangled vegetation the dainty little Kangaroo Island 

 Blue Wren {Maliiriis ashbyi, Mathews, vide " Reference-Hst 

 Australian Birds," p. 358) was fairly numerous. They were 

 often seen hopping over the dead leaves and stones amidst the 

 undergrowth, in search of insects. At times the male birds hopped 

 on to a dead twig and uttered a pleasing song. 



The bright plumage of the Kangaroo Island Crimson Parrot 

 (Platycerciis melanoptera. North) was again met with. The loud 

 and clear note of the Kangaroo Island Crow-Shrike, Strepera 

 halmatiirina, Mathews) went echoing up the deep ravine through 

 which the river passed. The habits of this bird seemed to 

 resemble those of other members of the genus. They hunted 

 among the leaves and fallen timber for worms, grubs, and insects. 

 They were shy, and on the least alarm flew off to a distance, 

 uttering the loud piping call so famihar to those who have spent 

 much of their time in the bush. Among the timber an occasional 

 ghmpse was obtained of the Kangaroo Island Scarlet-breasted 

 Robin {Petroeca samiieli, Mathews, vide Austral Avian Record, 

 vol. i., part 4, p. 89). I thought that this bird differed from the 

 mainland species directly I procured a specimen. (One cannot 

 say that these little birds are numerous on the island, but this is 

 owing, no doubt, to their being short-flighted and local. Many 

 must be destroyed by the disastrous fires which sweep from coast 

 to coast only too frequently.) A Pardalote (Pardalotus affinis) 

 was met with here among the timber. The Wedge-tailed Eagle 

 {Aqtdla atidax) was also seen soaring high above the trees. At' 

 the river mouth both the Little Black Cormorant {Carbo sitlci- 

 rostris) and the Little Cormorant {Carbo melanoleucus) were 

 observed perched on dead trees where they could get a good 

 view of the deep reaches. We met with the Southern White 

 Cockatoo {Cacatoes rosince, Mathews, vide Austral Avian Record, 

 vol. i., part 2, p. 36) here, but not in numbers. 



We climbed the high range and followed the track (which leads 

 to Cape Borda) for a considerable distance, then struck into the 

 interior, and returned to headquarters through the thick scrub, 

 of stunted oak and Melaleuca. Amidst this stunted vegetation 

 we met with the Southern Tawny-crowned Honey-eater [Glyciphila 

 braba, Mathews, vide Austral Avian Record, vol. i., part 2, 

 p. 49). Their mournful call was often heard, but the birds 



