The South Australian Ornithological Association. 55 



April 30th, 1915. The following unusual birds have been 

 recorded on the Adelaide Plains during the month : — 



Packycephala pectoralis fuliginosa — South Australian yel- 

 low-breasted thickhead. 



BMpidura flabellifera whitei — South Australian fantail, 

 both at the Reedbeds by Mr. J. W. Mellor. 



Also the first appearance for this season of Littlera chrysop- 

 tera phoenicea — White-fronted robin (Flame-breasted robin), 

 April 21st, at Kingswood and at the Reedbeds. 



Capt. White drew attention to a list of English birds in 

 the "Jftw," showing that eighty -two English genera are repre- 

 sented in Australia. 



Mr. Mellor drew attention to Mr. Mathews's splitting of 

 genera, and asked if the members thought he was right in 

 making a genus on external appearance only. Dr. Morgan 

 thought it was a chance for an individual worker, who has the 

 opportunity, to upset some of them, but it was no use the Asso- 

 ciation trying to do it by resolution. 



Mr. Zietz reported that a resident of the Lakes district 

 had recently described Podiceps cristatus christiani (Australian 

 tippet grebe) as the feather-eater. An article on this subject 

 appears in this issue. 



Mr. E. Ashby, M.B.O.U., exhibited a collection of speci- 

 mens taken by Mr. C. E. May at Pine Creek, Northern Terri- 

 tory. This is dealt with in a separate article. 



May 28th, 1915— Specimens of the swallow family (Eirun- 

 dinidue) from the Museum and Capt. White's collections were 

 tabled for discussion. 



Hirundo rustica (European swallow) — Two specimens 

 collected near Colesberg, South Africa, by Capt. White. 

 This is a much larger bird than any Australian 

 species. It has also a more pronounced forked tail. 

 Members thought that our welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena) 

 had been rightly kept in the same genus, but considered that 

 many genera had been made on more slender differences. 



Hypurolepis javanica frontalis (Eastern swallow) — Only one 

 specimen to hand. Compared with the welcome swallow it 

 was smaller, had a slightly less forked tail, and was richer in 

 colour. . It was considered to be a good species. 



