
ABORIGINES OF THE SOUTH-EasT oF South AUSTRALIA 481 
Little Penguin or Cormorants, I have myself eaten the Australian Pelican 
(Pelicanus consmeitllatus—it does not breed in the district) and found ita dark 
mest good. Angas (p, 156) near Rivoli Bay noted a fine parrot, not yet cooked, 
suspended to a stick, Even the smallest birds if accidentally canght or knocked 
over might be loosely plucked and put on the embers and eaten as a bon bouche, 
especially by the children. Without exception, the eggs of all birds would be 
eaten and young birds in the ezg would not. be discarded. 
Snares for Birds. G. French Angas (p, 148) says, ‘‘ At Ross’s Creek near 
Lacepede Bay, we began to find various indications of natives; the most. remark- 
able being wickerwork snares for bird-catching, about four feet high, erected on 
the flats. Near these snares were formed small covered places, just large enough 
. for one person to squat in; the native, concesling himself in this ambush, with his 
snaring rod protruded from 4 small aperture in the side, imitates the voice of the 
birds, and, as they alight upon the wicker work, dexterously slips the noose 
around their necks, and snares them into his retreat,’’ 
Method. of Catching Ducks. Mrs, James Smith in The Booandik Tribe 
(p. 41) gives the following deseription of haw the natives killed ducks, ‘‘Hach 
native made up a bundle of sticks and. disappeared in the dark, among the bushes, 
to the lagoons (Orumbel swamp), where the ducks had ‘turned in’ for the night, 
The drual (men) made a great noise; and as the game rose on the wing, the 
hunters threw the sticks at them and brought them down.’’ Mrs, Smith was 
given a waddy to kill them when down. 
The following list comprises the larger birds and eggs which are likely to have 
contributed definitely to the food supply; the eggs, however, only from late win- 
ter to midsutomer. The number of eggs in the clutches are also given and the 
weights of the eggs when known. The native names are from Mrs. Smith’s account, 
Tuman tuman, birds, 
Emu (Dromaius novae-hollandiae), Kower or kowber. W. 130 1b. (Brough 
Smyth). Usually 7 to 12 eggs, occasionally 16. Average weight of eggs 224 
oz, (weight of shell, 8 oz.). 
Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor), Moo-nera, Perhaps eaten occasionally when 
washed ashore, Hees and young would be eaten when accessible. 
Stubble Quail (Coturmia pectoralis), Birm-birm, meadow quail. Pea-na-wir-ter, 
the high ground quail (Penewurter, brim-brim. Quails). Common, 7 eggs, 
Common Bronzewing (Phaps chaleoptera). Koo-ren, a pigeon, 2 eggs. 
Brush Bronzewing (P, élegans), Still very common; 2 eggs, 
Lewin Water-rail (Rallus pectorulis), 4 eggs, 
Banded Land-rail (Hypotaenidia philippensis). W. 125 grms. (S.A, Museum). 
6 eggs. 
Dusky Moorben (Gallinula tenebrosa). Keil, a water hen, coot. Common, 11 aggs, 
Eastern Swamp-hen (Porphyrio melanotus). Common. 5 to 7 eggs. 
Black Cormorant (Phalacrocoraz carbo). Minam-minam, 4 shag, Kro-an-dum, a 
cormorant. Nest on the islands, 3 to 5 eggs, ; 
Pied Cormorant (Ph. varius). Nest on the islands, 2 to 4 eggs. 
Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucus).. 4 ta 5 eggs. 
Australian Pelican (Peleconus consmoillatus). Par-ang-all. 2 to 8 eggs, 
Crested Tern (Sterna bergi). Common, Nests on the islands. W, 227 grms. 1 
egg 
Silver Gull (Larus novae-hollandiae). Ping-ang-ool, large gulls. Tar-oo-ki, a 
seagull, Common, Nestson theislands, 2to 4 eggs, uaually 3. 
Pied Oyster-Catcher (Haematopus ostralequs), Bir-wir, the red-hill, Rare, 3 
eggs. 
