745 



■out in the thick mulga, as well as in the ranges. Specimens 

 examined do not show any variation to those collected north of 

 ■Oodnadatta the previous year. They are a much lighter bird 

 to those found further south. 



Cerchneis c. cenchroides, Vigors and Horsfield 



(Nankeen Kestrel). 



This very useful bird was not plentiful ; still it was widely 

 distributed, and seldom many days passed without meeting 

 with a pair. Habits seem the same as those found south, and 

 food consists chiefly of small reptiles, mice, and insects. 



Order STRIGIFORMES. 



Family STRIGIDAE. 



Spiloglaux boobook marmorata, Gould (Marbled Owl). 



These owls were often met with in thick-foliaged trees near 

 the water-coures, also among the big masses of rock in the 

 Tanges. All species handled show a great deal more white in 

 'Comparison to those found in the coastal area. 



Order PSITTACIFORMES. 



Family CAG'ATOIDAE. 



EoLOPHUs R. ROSEiCAPiLLus, Vieillot (Rose-breasted Cockatoo). 



These birds w^ere in great numbers about the township of 

 Oodnadatta. All day long they were hunting about in the 

 stockyards and sand and stony streets for food. When dis- 

 turbed they would rise in a great flock and alight a few yards 

 further on. They were not seen again until the Oflicer Creek 

 ^as reached, when a few birds came under notice. 



Leptolophus a. auricomis, Swainson (Cockatoo Parrot). 

 One or two small parties of these birds were seen on the 

 ^ing while the Expedition followed up the Alberga River, and 

 ^fter leaving the dry water-course they were not met with. 



Barnardius zonarius myrtae, ^2) subsp. nov. 

 (Central Australian Yellow-banded Parrot). 

 Head and upper part of the neck black ; feathers on the 

 'cheeks tipped with bright-blue ; a broad crescent of bright 

 yellow across the back of the neck ; chest and back bright 

 green, rump and upper tail-coverts bright yellowish-green ; 

 primaries brownish-black ; the basal half external margin 



(2) Named after Mrs. Morgan, the wife of Dr. A. M. Morgan, 

 of Adelaide. 



