405 



Results of the South Australian museum Expedition 

 to Strzelecki and Cooper Creeks. 



September and October, 1916. 



[Contribution from the South Australian Museum.] 



[Read August 9, 1917.] 

 Plates XXI. to XLITI. 



Contents. Page. 



(a J Introduction, by Edgar R. Waite ... ... 405 



(b) Narrative, by Edgar R. Waite 407 



(c) General Notes, by Edgar R. Waite ... ... 415 



Post-drought Conditions ... ... ... 415 



Effects of Stock 416 



Sand and Gibber 417 



Rotten Ground and Clay pans ... ... 418 



The Mirage 419 



Burke's and Lewis' Trees ... ... ... 420 



The Camels 421 



(d) Meteorology, by Edgar R. Waite 422 



(e) Notes on the Rainfall, by H. A. Hunt ... 424 



(f) The Natives, by Edgar R. Waite 429 



(<j) Mammalia and Ophidia, by Edgar R. Waite ... 430 



(h) Aves, by S. A. W^hite ... ... ... ... 441 



(i) Stomach Contents of Birds, by Arthur M. Lea 466 



(j) Lacertilia, by F. R. Zietz 469 



(k) Pisces, by A. R. McCulloch and Edgar R. Waite 472 



(I) Crustacea, by Dr. Charles Chilton ... ... 475 



(m) Araneidae, by W. J. Rainbow ... ... ... 482 



(n) Insecta, by Arthur M. Lea 489 



(o) Botany, by J. M. Black 631 



(a) INTRODUCTION. 



The years 1913-1915 presented one of those droughts to 

 which Australia is periodically, though happily infrequently, 

 subject. The duration and intensity of the drought will be 

 best appreciated by referring to the accompanying details 

 supplied by the Commonwealth Meteorologist. 



It was thought that the first "season" following the 

 breaking of the drought would provide an admirable oppor- 

 tunity for collecting natural history objects in the interior, 



