130 
The South Australian Naturalist. 
VISIT TO THE ISLANDS OF THE SIR JOSEPH BANKS’ 
GROUP. 
By NORAIAN B. TIN DALE. 
(Contribution from the South Australian Museum). 
During' March, .1928, a trip was made by the Avriter to 
the islands of the Sir Joseph Banks' Group, in Spencer's Gulf, 
in company Avith Messrs. P. J. Gibson and D. Ilurrell, in the 
ketch' Malcolm." A week Avas sj)ent', through the courtesy 
of Mr. Mundy, the owner, in the examination of the fauna of 
the different islands, and in fishing. 
A visit was first made to Stickney Island, which is a 
roughly L-shaped island about one square mile in area, tree- 
less except for a small group ot‘ Ioav shrubs in a partly shel- 
tered gully. Cape Barren Geese {Cercopsis novac-Jiollandiae) 
Avere observed in numbers and the ground everyAvhere gave 
evidences of their presence; in the gully several score of 
deserted nests Avere noticed, and four or five species of Sta- 
phylinid and other beetles taken by breaking up the nests, 
in a small, sandy area many penguins and their burrows 
A\^ere noticed. No signs of native animal life were evident 
around the semi-permanent spring, the locatioji of which Avas 
indicated by tracks of the geese. About thia'e hours Avere 
spent ashore and about 40 species of insects, .mostly beetles, 
Avere taken, the decayed carcase of a goose proAung a fruitful 
hunting ground. 
Tavo days Avere spent at Spilsl)y Island. About two miles 
lojig a.nd a mile Avide, the greater part of the island has 
been under cultiAmtion for several years. The Cape Barren 
geese are plentiful, at times proAung a nuisance l^y their depre- 
dations on the ei'ops. They nest on the outlying islets and 
.fly from island to island in large flocks, in search of food 
and Avater. Birds Avere not A^ery numerous, but a single 
magpie Avas seen and also many Rock Parrots {Ncophema 
petrophila) flying ai'ound in the scrub behind the beach. A 
small Avell in a depression at the back of the beach is the 
only permanent Avater on the island, and the BroAvn Butter- 
fly (Heteronympha meropc) was noticed fluttering about and 
settling on damp ground near the water. The only other 
butterfly seen was the Common Blue {Zizina lahradus). 
Among llie other insects collected Avere si:)ecimens of a ucav 
earwig since named Anisolabis australis, and a winged cock- 
roach (Calolampra irrorafa). Beating Avattles produced 
among others, a green l)ug (Sextius virescens) one of the 
