Vol. XII. 

 1913 



1 White, Field Oryiitliology in South Australia. 26q 



were between Mounts Stockdale and Taylor, so we took a more 

 south-westerly course, and it was not long before we came out on 

 a patch of country which had been lately cleared by fire. It 

 was here that we came upon the Kangaroo Island Ground- 

 Wren {Hylacola halmaturina, Mathews, " Reference-list of 

 Australian Birds," p. 333). These shy little birds were fairly 

 plentiful, and specimens were often seen darting over the open 

 ground between the bushes, uttering a chattering call. Few 

 other birds were seen. Fires had cleared much of the country. 

 We now found ourselves amid innumerable swamps and soft 

 patches. This was the watershed of the upper North-East River. 

 After making progress through a rough locality, where no birds 

 were to be seen, we crossed with great difiiculty (owing to the soft 

 nature of the ground) a branch of the North-East River, and 

 plunged into a thick scrub of desert oak (this was on our second day 

 amidst this wild country) and other shrubs, from 8 to 10 feet high. 

 It was with the greatest trouble that we induced our horses to 

 crash through this mass of vegetation. After a few miles of 

 steering by the sun (we were shut in all round by this dense scrub), 

 we at last came out upon more open ground, which at some time 

 had been swept by fire. We traced the course of the river, marked 

 by the dark foliage of the sugar gums. A few birds now came 

 under notice. The shy Kangaroo Island Scrub-Wren (Hylacola 

 halmaturina) was seen. The Large-billed Brown-headed Honey- 

 eater iMelithreptus magnirostris. North) was moving about in large 

 parties of from 20 to 30 individuals. Among the shoots of the 

 gum-trees Large-billed Honey-eaters were moving with great 

 animation in search of insects. When one bird broke away from 

 a party and flew to a neighbouring sapling, calling loudly, the others 

 would follow in quick succession. Mr. Robert Zietz, of Adelaide 

 Museum, brought this bird to light some few years ago, when 

 visiting Kangaroo Island in company with the late Dr. Angove. 



We reached the track on the south coast not a mile from the 

 spot for which we were heading. Here we picked up fresh 

 supplies, which had been sent on from Kingscote. Crossing the 

 river beyond Karatta, we pitched our tent on the slope of a hill, 

 and, fortunately, had things snug when a steady rain set in. The 

 rain continued all night and part of the next day. When the sky 

 cleared we moved afield, and it was not long before we found that 

 this was a favoured spot for bird-life. In open patches of the 

 valley through which the river flowed, and among the fallen 

 timber where the grass had flourished, we found small parties of 

 Crimson Parrots [Platycercus melanoptera) feeding on the grass 

 seeds. A few Black Cockatoos {Cacatoes whitece) were heard 

 screeching, and for the first time we saw the Kangaroo Island 

 Glossy Cockatoo {Calyptorhynchus halmatiirinus, Mathews, 

 " Reference-list Birds of Australia," p. 263). Only a pair was 

 observed. The birds came into the timber one evening to roost. 

 They were easily identified on the wing by their small size in com- 

 parison with the commoner species, and their cry was much 



