The Emu. 
135 
Fairy Martin, but I saw none of the birds about. Further down 
the river we saw, one evening, a flock of Pelicans, which had 
formed a complete bar across the shallow end of a waterhole, 
here about 80 yards wide. A few Red-backed Kingfishers 
were seen, but were not numerous. One notable absentee was 
the Great Brown Kingfisher, or Laughing Jackass, for neither 
did we see him in person nor enjoy his familiar and hilarious 
cachinnation. Towards the end of the journey the Chestnut- 
eared Finch, familiar to readers of the Horn expedition report, 
became more abundant, but we did not find them in such great 
numbers as they did further to the north. Near Poonaranni 
and Oanna the Warbling Grass-Parrakeet became more 
abundant. Crossing the sand-hills to the Macumba few birds 
were seen, but along the valley of the latter they were again 
fairly plentiful. We saw numbers of Wild Turkeys and Wedge- 
tailed Eagles. Water being scarce Pigeons were absent, as 
they do not appear to travel far from water. Round the 
deserted native " soakages," near the confluence with the 
Nardubuckina, were numerous Chestnut-eared Finches, Wrens, 
and a single Pipit. I also flushed a Quail, and saw a small 
Wren-like bird with a pure white back, and searched carefully 
among the bushes, but it had disappeared. 
Going along the Macumba and Nardubuckina small birds 
again became scarce, but Turkeys were abundant. On striking 
across the gibber " plains, birds, as usual, vanished, but on 
reaching some small holes, which appeared to have been recently 
filled with rain water, our old friends the Chestnut-eared P'inches 
and the Crows reappeared. From here to the Peake head 
station I saw no more birds, excepting a small flock of Teal on 
the Neale River. 
I must mention my indebtedness to Mr. D. Le Souef, 
C.M.Z S., &c., for his kind advice and help in examining the 
specimens brought back ; and also to Dr. Gregory and the 
other members of the party for assistance rendered during the 
journey. 
The following specimens were obtained : — 
(i.) Black-tailed Native Hen (yMicrotriboiiyx ventralis). — Great mobs 
of these frequented the banks, and at daylight and dark the edges of the 
holes were black with them. 
(2.) Mountain Duck, or Shieldrake {Casarca /adenwidcs).—\t 
every waterhole a pair or more of these birds were seen, while single birds 
were often met with. 
(3.) Silver Gulls [Lanes novce-holhmdice). — These were fairly plentiful 
along all the rivers, but especially so at the saltwater holes at Malkuni, on 
the Cooper. I was struck not so much with their distance inland — 300 
miles from the head of Spencer Gulf — but with the fact that there is 
absolutely no connection between these rivers and the sea, as Lake Eyre, 
into which they flow, is itself 39 feet below sea level. 
(4.) White- FRONTED Heron {Notophoyx nova:-hollandi(x).—T\\\s speci- 
men was shot at Kalamurina. Others were occasionally seen along the rivers. 
