The South Australian, Ornithological Association. 161 



Mr. J. W. Mellor drew attention to the numbers of 

 Purple-crowned Lorikeets (Glossopsitta porphyrocepliala), 

 that were visiting the Adelaide plains. At Lockleys they 

 were feeding upon the blossoms of the Tasmanian blue gum, 

 and from the number of dead birds seen under the trees it 

 would appear that the honey from these flowers was too 

 strong for them. 



The evening was set aside for consideration of the birds 

 as Mr. Mathews 1 hand list Nos. 550/558 (Ashbyia lovensis), 

 Desert Chat was exhibited and Capt. White gave a description 

 of the habits and habitat of these birds. 



Conopoderas australis (Southern Reed Warbler). All pre- 

 sent deplored the fact that the ranks of these lovely songsters 

 were being depleted each year. 



Cisticola espitis (grass warbler). The different sub-species 

 of this 'bird were discussed. 



Poodytes gramincus (Grass Bird). Each sulb-species was 

 debated, and Capt. White described the strange habit of 

 placing curved feathers (invariably those of the bald coot, 

 which are 'blue in colour) over their nests to keep out rain and 

 sunshine. 



Eremiornis carteri (Desert Bird); Origina soKtaria (Rock 

 Warbler); Glithomcola sugittata (Little Field Wren). Skims of 

 these birds were exhibited from the Museum Collection by Mr. 

 F. R. Zietz, and by Capt. White from his private collection. 

 Several specimens were also shown by Mr. Frank Parsons. 



Order Passeriformes, Family Campopha^idae, 

 Genus Lalage. 



Lalage tricolor — White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater. 



Description — Adult Male, Upper Surface. — Forehead to 

 the middle of the back glossy metallic black. Lower part of 

 back and upper tail coverts, light grey, faintly barred with 

 dull white. 



Under Surface. — White, the centre of the abdomen some- 

 times with a yellowish tinge. 



Wing. — First primary black, the others, outer web black, 

 narrowly edged wi'th white, inner webs white at the base, 

 black at the tips. The white mark increasing in extent from 

 the 2nd onwards, secondaries black, outwardly edged and tip- 



