MORG AN— Birds on the River Murray. 



103 



PsepJwtus liaematonotus (Red Humped Parrot).— Common 

 in the big gums of the river bank throughout the trip. 

 They do not go far back from the river. 



"Psephotus varius (Many-coloured Parrot).— Seen only in 

 the big mallee near Paringa. Not common. 



Aegotheles cristata (Owlet Nightjar).— A single bird was 

 flushed from a hollow stump in the mallee near Paringa and 



was shot. . .„ 



Measurements:— ^Spread, 35.5 cm.; wing, 11.2& cm.; bill 



(culmen), 0.80 cm.; tarsus, 1.80 cm. Total length, 20.5 cm. 



Sex,?. Iris, dark brown; feet, pale grey; inside of mouth, 



flesh colour. The stomach contained the remains of a beetle. 



This bird was moulting. 



Dacelo gigas (Laughing Jackass).— Very common m the 



gums of the river bank. It does not leave the big timbered 



country. 



Sauropatis sancta (Sacred Kingfisher).— Seen once at 

 Renmark and once crossing the river near Ned's Corner. 



Neoclialcites basalts mellori (Narrow-billed Bronze 

 Cuckoo). — A single bird seen on a box gum flat near Ren- 

 mark. 



Hirundo neoxena (Welcome Swallow).— Common througn- 

 out the trip. A pair or two were always to be seen skim- 

 ming the river in front of the steamer. 



Ghcramoeca leucosternum (White-breasted Swallow). — A 

 few birds «een on the telegraph wires between Renmark and 

 Morgan on the overland journey. Mr. Shields informed us 

 that they bred in the banks of the river at Goat Island. 



Hyiochelidon nigricans (Tree Swallow).— Only seen twice 

 —once in the big gums of a bend, near Ned's Corner and 

 once .on the overland journey to Morgan. They were never 

 seen skimming the water like the welcome swallow. 



Lagenoplastes arid (Bottle Swallow). — Every cliff, 

 throughout the journey, had groups of the nests of these 

 birds upon it, but no birds were seen. 



Microcca fascinans (Brown Flycatcher). — Common both 

 in the big timbered river flats and in the mallee. 



Whitcornis goodenovi (Red-capped Robin). — Common on 

 the box flats and in the mallee. It does not come into the 

 big gum country. 



Mclanodryas cucullata vigor si (Hooded Robin). — Seen twice 

 near Renmark on a box flat, and a dry polygonum swamp. 



Smicrornis brcvirostris viridescens (Short-billed Tree Tit). 

 — Very Common in all classes of country. Two nests were 



