270 White, Field Ornithology in South Australia. [ist^A^rii 



feebler and less discordant. (From all appearances these birds 

 are becoming rare, and they seem to keep to the western end of 

 the island.) Here we saw a fair number of the Kangaroo Island 

 Scarlet-breasted Robin {Petroeca samueli, Mathews, Austral 

 Avian Record, vol. i., part 4, p. 89).* 



One evening we watched a party of Honey-eaters hunting 

 winged insects. They proved to be Ptilotis cratitia, but, strange 

 to say, more than one of the mature birds was adorned with 

 wattles that were nearly white. A fair number of Island White- 

 backed Magpies {Cracticus leuconotus) were seen, and a few 

 specimens of the Kangaroo Island Raven {Corvus halmaturinus, 

 Mathews, " Reference-list Birds of Australia," p. 443). 

 Nearly all the Honey-eaters already mentioned were found in 

 this spot. We worked on towards Rocky River, examining much 

 of the country on each side ; but, as the season seemed to 

 be breaking, and rain setting in, we turned our horses' heads 

 homewards. This time we followed the south coast, and passed 

 through much poor country. We camped at the Eleanor River, 

 which proved unproductive. On we went, passing Lake Ada, 

 a pretty pond of water fringed with dark tea-tree. We made a 

 camp at Birchmore's Lagoon and met with a few interesting 

 birds, amongst them being the Kangaroo Island Grass-Bird 

 {M. halmaturinus, Mathews, Austral Avian Record, vol. i., 

 part 2, p. 43). These birds were in large parties (many being 

 immature), and were hopping about on the shores of the lagoon, 

 some distance from any cover. Close to the edge of the water 

 we saw large parties of the White-eye which Mr. A. G. Campbell 

 named some time ago Zoster ops halmaturina. In the low 

 scrub, a short distance from the lagoon, we observed a 

 number of Kangaroo Island Scrub-Wrens {Sericornis ashbyi, vide 

 Mathews, " Reference-list Birds of Australia," p. 356). We 

 passed through poor sandy country till the Cygnet River was 

 reached, when a change came over the scene ; comfortable home- 

 steads, with neat gardens, eucalyptus oil factories, and a mac- 

 adamized road were features. 



Mounting the rise over the township of Kingscote, a lovely 

 evening view presented itself. Nepean Bay lay stretched out 

 below, blue and placid, and far out the little steamer was moving 

 landward. It was not long before we were comfortably lodged 

 in the Ozone Hotel. 



Exchange. — Mr. E. D. Barnard, R.A.O.U., Kurrajong, via Glad- 

 stone, Queensland, is anxious to add to his oological collection the 

 eggs of migrants and foreign Accipitres. 



* According to the law of priority, which Mr. Mathews has apparently 

 overlooked in this instance, likewise in the case of the Island Meliornis 

 nov(B-hollandi(B , these birds were provisionally named halmaturina, in 1906, 

 by Mr. A. G. Campbell — see Emu, vol. v., p. 140, fifth paragraph. — Eds. 



