I08 Correspondence. [ist^"oct. 



the Cape Barren Geese leave the mainland of Australia for the 

 islands. Possibly the flock seen on the Tamar were migrating. 

 Stone-Plover also flock in autumn, and have been previously 

 recorded in Tasmania. However, Mr. Littler may enjoy the 

 comfortable reflection that the unexpected often happens, even 

 in one's own neighbourhood. For instance, take the discovery 

 of the new Fig-Bird ( SpJiecotlieres) shot by Mr. Stalker (collector 

 for Mr. Collingwood Ingram) from a flock of 68 at the rear of 

 Townsville,* with its 15,000 inhabitants, and where every ornith- 

 ologist of note visiting Queensland has collected.] 



South Australian Ornithological Association. 



A MEETING of this Association was held at the residence of Mr. A. H. C. 

 Zietz, F.L. S., on 6th August, the host being in the chair. A letter was read 

 from Dr. A. M. Morgan, London, stating that he was urging upon kindred 

 scientific societies in England the necessity of the extended " National 

 Reserve" on Kangaroo Island, with the result that the leading authorities in 

 natural history were unanimous that if certain fauna and flora were to be 

 preserved from extinction the larger the area reserved the better. A letter 

 was read from Mr. John Bagot, taking exception to the theory that the 

 Flame-breasted Robin {Pcfnvca phanicca) does not breed on the mainland, 

 but departs to Tasmania to lay and rear its young, as he had known it to 

 breed freely in his garden at Mount Lofty. Captain S. A. White and other 

 members pointed out that this was erroneous, as the species inhabiting the 

 hills was the Scarlet-breasted Robin {Pe/nvca leggii). Mr. J. W. Mellor drew 

 attention to the work upon Australian birds, with coloured plates, being- 

 compiled by Mr. Gregory M. Mathews, F.Z.S., &c., England, who desired 

 that all local bird observers would assist him with notes. Mr. J. W. Mellor 

 gave extracts from a paper written by Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., 

 Melbourne, upon " Cormorants in Relation to our Fisheries," in which the 

 writer mentioned why the much-abused Cormorant should not be destroyed, 

 as by close observation he had found that these birds do much good by 

 keeping down the enemies of the fish and their ova. It was agreed that 

 Mr. Mattingley's notes and observations were of great importance. The 

 subject of study was the family Artaniidcc, commonly known as Wood- 

 Swallows, of which 10 or 12 members are found in Australia. These birds, 

 it was pointed out, were totally insectivorous, and for this reason were of 

 extreme usefulness, and had consequently been protected in this State. 

 Mr. A. H. C. Zietz showed a number of these birds, six species being from 

 Australia. Captain S. A. White exhibited several species, notably the 

 Little Wood-Swallow {Artanius ;/«>?(9;-), collected in the interior in the early 

 days by his father, the late Mr. Samuel White, of the Reedbeds ; also the 

 Rlack-faced Wood-Swallow {A. vielaiwps), discovered by the same 

 naturalist at St. A'Beckett's Pool, lat. 28 deg. 30 min., on 23rd August, 1863. 

 Captain White also showed the historic record and coloured plate of the bird 

 described by Gould from the original specimen, which stated that the birds 

 cling in bunches to the branches like bees, and were also seen at Chambers 

 Creek and Mount Margaret. Mr. J. W. Mellor stated that the common 

 kind of Wood-Swallow {A. sordidus) had been frequenting the Adelaide 

 plains lately, and had been noted at the Reedbeds. 



* See Ibis (July), 1908, p. 480 ; also Emu, this issue, p. 106. 



