708 



Our party consisted of R. Lockhart Jack, B.E., F.G.S., 

 leader; S. A. White, scientist attached unofficially; J. P. 

 Rogers, S. A. White's privately-secured assistant and 

 taxidermist; W. H. Williams and R. Nicholls, prospectors; 

 J. L. Sullivan, camel man; and two aboriginals, Bob and 

 Paddy. Our transport animals consisted of sixteen cow 

 camels, mostly of a light stamp. 



Our course after leaving Oodnadatta was a north-westerly 

 one. During the first day we covered thirteen miles over 

 gently undulating courttry, the plains being covered in salt- 

 bush (Afriplexj, the bladder saltbush (A. vesicaia), and 

 in some places old-man saltbush (A. muminuhiria ). The 

 gentle slopes and ridges have a fair quantity of "mulga" 

 (Acacia antura) growing upon them, and on some of the 

 creek banks stinking acacia (A. camhaf/ei) grew; but 

 the latter was soon lost sight of, and v/as only seen once or 

 twice afterwards. A few unimportant birds were collected 

 the first day. 



Next day was a red-letter one, for we obtained several 

 specimens of the long-lost "Banded Whiteface" ( Xer 02)1111 a 

 pectoralis). This bird was named from a single specimen by 

 Gould in 1871. The type was taken near Port Augusta, but 

 has long since been lost. The weather became threatening, 

 thunder rolled all around us, so our leader went into camp 

 near a creek, the banks of which were lined with gidya, or 

 stinking acacia, about fourteen miles from our last camp. 



Next day travelling was very unpleasant, for a few 

 points of rain fell in the early morning which just wetted 

 the surface of the ground, and man and beast carried a big 

 wad of clay at every step. Cotton bush (Koch/a villosa) 

 was very conspicuous on this part of the journey. W^e passed 

 the Murdarinna Waterhole on the Wooldridge at noon, and 

 went into camp about 4.30, after travelling fourtsen miles. 

 The "Banded Whiteface" was again met with during 

 the day. 



Next day, July 1, a pair of the only lately described 

 ""Desert Bushchat" (Ashhyia lovensis) was taken, and at 

 4 p.m. we reached Todmorden Station, and were heartily wel- 

 comed by Mrs. Breaden (Mr. Breaden having passed us on his 

 way to Oodnadatta). Leaving Todmorden late in the day 

 we struck out in a westerly direction, following the dry sandy 

 course of the Alberga River, and camped at 6 p.m. in thick 

 mulga at seven miles. Weather quite hot in the daytime, 

 but bitterly cold at night. 



On the following day we met with the "White-browed 

 Treecreeper" (CUmacteru erythrnps siiperciliosa ) for the first 

 time. The mulga round this camp was much larger than 



