114 PARSONS— A Day in the Mallt 



turn to Adelaide every other day, I found that after com- 

 pleting my business, I had to wait a day for the next train. 

 My time was fully occupied in observing and collecting some 

 of the many species of birds to be found in the district. The 

 wheat stack at the siding was very dilapidated, due to the 

 ravages of mice, and a large quantity of the grain was loose 

 and strewn about; this had attracted scores of Crested 

 Bronzewing Pigeons (Ocypliaps lophotes), Mallee Parrots 

 (Barnardius bamardi), and Blue Bonnets (NortJiiella haemato- 

 gaster wanthorrhoa), which seemed to like the idea of being 

 able to secure such a feed without the necessity of fossicking 

 for it. 



A specimen of Barnardius bamardi was shot from a pine 

 tree, and while the shot holes were being plugged, great inte- 

 rest was being taken in the operation by three striped honey 

 eaters (Plectorhyncha lanceolata)', a butcher bird (Cracticus sp.), 

 and a beautifully plumed mallee parrot (Barnardius bamardi), 

 all of which were hopping about on the lower branches of the 

 pine tree over my head, while two beautiful pink cockatoos 

 (Lophochroa leadbeateri) circled aloft, evidently attracted by 

 the large piece of white cotton wool. Only eight years ago 

 I noticed flocks of many scores of these beautiful cockatoos in 

 this district, but residents inform me that it is rarely many 

 of these birds are seen now. 



An unexpected bird was met with on the more open 

 country; the chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus rufi- 

 ceps). These were present in great numbers; they are ex- 

 tremely energetic and active birds, and at once attract atten- 

 tion by their snow wiiite fronts and peculiar calls. This 

 bird is by far the most rowdy of the three species found in 

 South Australia. 



Another unexpected bird procured was the short-billed 

 crow (Corvus benneMi). These birds were plentiful in the 

 district, and are shot by the farmers whenever occasion 

 arises, because of their decided liking for fowls' eggs. 



Several magpies were seen, all of which were the black- 

 backed variety (Gymnorhina tibicen). 



Three species of tit warblers were noticed (Acanthiza 

 pusilla hamiltoni, Acanthiza uropygialis, and Geobasileus 

 chrysorrhous). These birds prefer the pine country, and fre- 

 quently all three species could be seen feeding on the ground 

 together. 



Many companies of the black-backed wrens (Malurus 

 melanotus) were met with, but unfortunately the beauty of 



