14 WHITM — -Hints occurring at the Feedbeds, Adelaide Plains, 



In company with the above we have the Red Wattle Bird 

 (Anthochaera carunculata tregellasi) with us this season. Their 

 strange note is often 'heard in the pear trees, where they cer- 

 tainly eat a little fruit, but nothing to warrant their destruc- 

 tion. 



During the month of January attention was called by their 

 strange gurgling note of the Spring-checked Honey Eater 

 (Acantftagehys rufogulaHs cygnus). These birds come down 

 upon the plains some summers but not regularly, and I have 

 never known them to nest here. 



The Southern White-bearded Honey Eater (Meliornis novae- 

 hollandiae subassimilis) is plentiful at times in the garden,. 

 where they occasionally build their nests, then for two or 

 three seasons they will almost (disappear. It is during the- 

 dry seasons that these birds are most numerous on the plains. 

 The meliornis are much persecuted by Ptilotis pinicillata. In 

 the summer evenings they are very fond of hawking for in- 

 sects when many 'of their aerial movements are very neat and 

 graceful. 



The \graceful little Spinebill (Acanthorhynelms tenuirostris 

 loftyi) visits the plains nearly every summer. One or two re- 

 main in the gardens for a few inionths, then return to the 

 ranges. They spend the day visiting one flowering plant after- 

 another, thrusting their slender bills into each blossom in 

 search of nectar and insects. They become very quiet and 

 trustful after a time. I have never known these' birds to nest 

 here. 



Wood Swallow (Artamus cyqnopterus). — These birds (which, 

 we have known up to lately in Gould's works as A. sordidus} 

 visit the Adelaide Plains nearly every year in the late autumn. 

 A pair (presumably the same) have remained in the well- 

 timbered grounds near the house all through the year, and 

 have nested for three years running. Two seasons they 

 brought out a second clutch, and the nest has been placed al- 

 most in the same spot each year. They have become very 

 quiet and trustful, and will often fly down for insects from 

 their nesting place right to the pathway and in front of our 

 feet and pick up crickets and other insects. It is not at all 

 uncommon to see them perched upon the chimney tops or 

 towers. They are often seen hanging to the water taps 

 catching the drips. Their first broods were three in num- 

 ber and second two birds were hatched. The young re- 



