Vol. xiv.-j White, Expedition to Musgrave and Everard Ranges. 185 



often travelled for many miles. Both banks were invariably 

 lined with red gmns {Eucalyptus rostyata), which wdre often of 

 line proportions. Amongst the gum- tops Tree-Tits {Smicrornis) 

 and Pardalotes were found. Amidst the low scrub on the banks, 

 mostly composed of two or three species of Acacia, a fair variety 

 of birds was met with. The third type of country, and the most 

 prohfic and interesting, was the vast masses of granite rising up, 

 as in the Musgrave Ranges, many thousands of feet into the sky. 

 In other places, sometimes in the midst -of a dense mulga scrub, 

 we found a collection of huge granite boulders piled one upon 

 the other. These granite masses, large or small, had a plant 

 and animal life of their own. Every phase of life was more 

 abundant in and around these granite ranges and outcrops, a fact 

 due, there is httle doubt, to the presence of many rock-holes, 

 which have such fine catchments that a few points of rain falhng 

 on acres of bare rock soon filled up the basin-hke holes in the sohd 

 rocks. 



It can be easily understood that, owing to the prolonged drought 

 (this country being without rain for quite nine years — that is, 

 rain to make a creek run), the collections in all branches were 

 not nearly as large or varied as they would be in, or after, a wet 

 season. Collecting was carried out under great difficulties. All 

 things taken into consideration, the work accomphshed was, 

 however, most satisfactory. The country collected over was 

 entirely a new one, and I have the honour of being the first to 

 make "an ornithological reconnaissance of the far north-west. 

 Some idea of the result may be formed from the following list of 

 birds, with a few brief notes on each. The whole of my work 

 will be published later by the Royal Society of South Australia. 

 The hst of birds, which is less than one hundred species, may 

 be considered few after travelHng considerably over 1,000 miles, 

 but the class of country and climate must be taken into con- 

 sideration. I cannot speak too highly of my assistant and 

 collector, Mr. J. P. Rogers, who was most painstaking and loyal 

 under very trying circumstances. 



Birds Observed During the Expedition. 



Dromiceius n. novaehollandise * {Dromaius nova^-Jiollandice). Emu. — 

 The bird was nol actually seen, but many tracks and feathers were 

 met with, and tlae natives had a quantity of feathers for decorative 

 purposes. 



Leipoa ocellata, sub-sp. ? (L. ocellata). Mallee-Fowl.— One old nest 

 was seen. 



Austroturnix v. velox ? (Turnix velox). Little Quail. — A bird 

 answering the description was seen on several occasions. 



* The nomenclature of this Ust is after Gregory M. Mathews, Esq., F.R.S.E., 

 "A List of the Birds of Australia," 1913- The R.A.O.U. "Check-list" 

 name is given in parentheses. 



