MORGAN— The Birds of Eallioota, 11 



Magpies are very commonly pinioned, and kept in captivity 

 in gardens, making very useful, though mischievous, pets. 

 They seldom get really tame and often become very vicious, 

 and will always attack a stranger. When planting bulbs or 

 seedlings the tame magpie is always carefully watching pro- 

 ceedings, and as soon as the back is turned they are all speedily 

 uprooted. 



They get very expert at catching in their beaks worms, 

 small stones, or grubs when thrown to them. If taken young 

 they can be taught to whistle and talk, but the enunciation is 

 never very distinct. In recent years they have greatly in- 

 creased in numbers, owing to more land being cleared for the 

 plough, and to their being totally protected. Several pairs 

 have nested in the Park Lands surrounding Adelaide. 



The Birds of Kallioota. 



By A. M. Morgan. 



Kallioota is a cattle depot belonging to the estate of the 

 late Mr. W, T. Mortlock. By the courtesy of Mr. R. Smith, 

 the general manager, my wife and myself were enabled to 

 spend the month of August, 1912, in observing the birds 

 there. The station is upon the alluvial plain situated between 

 the Flinders Range and the south end of Lake Torrens. It is 

 crossed from east to west by the Willochra Creek, a dry or 

 salt watercourse in the summer, but at the time of our visit a 

 Mowing stream of fresh water. The plain is crossed at inter- 

 vals by sandhills running roughly east and west; between the 

 sandhills are saltbush and samphire flats. Along the creek 

 and neighbouring flats, which are subject to floods, are many 

 fine old red gums; elsewhere the sandhills are covered with 

 wattle bush, myall, bullock bush, mulga (all species of acacia), 

 and here and there pines and black oaks. 1912 was a splendid 

 season, j>rass, annual saltbush, and wild spinach were growing 

 luxuriantly, and the sandhills and flats were covered with 

 flowers, mostly white and yellow everlastings. We were hos- 

 pitably entertained at the head station by the manager and 

 assistant manager, Messrs. Gilbert Smith and J. M. Merry - 

 field, who did everything in their power to assist us in our pur- 

 suits. 



