GKOMPTON — Observation of Laughing Jackass. 23 



approaches, and some doubt existed amongst ornithologists as 

 to whether it bred here or not. but all doubts have been dis- 

 pelled this season when I was successful in finding the egg of 

 this bird in the nest of Acanthisa pksilla, it being discovered at 

 Mount Lofty, S.A., on the 10th October, 1913, there being three 

 eggs of tketit, which was sitting on the nest; this was built 

 in a prickly furze bush, about 3 feet from the ground, being 

 domed, and roughly constructed of grass and shreaded bark 

 from the stringy bark, gums, roughly woven, and little pieces 

 of moss stuck outside, lined with a few small feathers, and a 

 little animal's fur, being partly suspended. Measuring outside 

 4 inches wide, by 7 inches deep, and inside 2 inches wide, by 2£ 

 inches deep, the entrance was somewhat large for the size of 

 the little bird, being H inches in diameter, and may have been 

 enlarged by the cuckoo in depositing the egg. 



From H. E. Laffer, Roseworthv Agricultural College. 



The Black-tailed native hen is making its appearance here 

 once again after an interval of several years, and quite a num- 

 ber of them are to be seen in small flocks. 



In September I obtained a specimen of the Marsh Tern, a 

 bird most unusual in these parts. Also about the same time 

 I obtained a Brush Wattle Bird (Annelobia chrysoptera) the 

 only one of its kind I have ever noted here. 



The Bee Eater (Merops ornatus) is now appearing and may be 

 found on the sandy pine ridges. 



There are several pairs of the Rufous-breasted thickhead in 

 one portion of the pine scrub raising their young broods and 

 making the bush ring with their beautiful notes. Another un 

 usual bird for this district I noted several times recently and 

 that was a Bronze Wing Pigeon. 



Observation of Laughing Jackass (Dacelo gigas). 



By C. L. Grompton. 



On Monday 1st September, my sister and I were sitting in 

 the front verandah at Stonyfell, in the early afternoon, our at 

 tention was attracted to a large leafless tree close by, by a tap 

 tapping, which we at once saw was made b& a laughing jackass 



