MARCH,1986 5

THE DECLINE AND PRESENT STATUS OF THE BLACK-EARED MINER IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA LEO JOSEPH

SUMMARY favours dense mallee and probably requires an The Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis may be close understorey of plants such as Triodia, Prostan­ to extinction in South Australia. Clearing of the Murray thera, Cassia and Grevillea spp. This is to be Mallee has led to a largely unnoticed process of extensive contrasted withflavigula, which, in the Murray hybridization between the Black-eared Miner, which Mallee, is often found in roadside verges, open favours dense mallee, and the 'dominant' Yellow-throated Miner M. flavigula, which favours more open habitats. mallee, stands of native pine Callitris and black Despite this hybridization, it is argued that under natural oak Casuarina cristata, habitats that are all conditions these different habitat preferences acted as a quite open (pers. obs., Chandler 1913, Ashby most effective pre-mating isolating mechanism and that it is 1918, Favaloro 1966). Very little has been therefore reasonable to accord melanotis specific rank. The differences in plumage between melanotis andflavigula are recorded on the behaviour and calls of more numerous than previously realised and involve subtle melanotis. Compared withflavigula, melanotis characters not readily discerned under field conditions, It is shyer and its small flocks feed quietly as they may well be too late to stop the progress of the Black-eared move through the scrub (pers. obs., Chandler Miner towards extinction but a cessation of clearing in the Murray Mallee is essential. 1913, Jones 1952). Cox (1973) felt that hawking for insects above the canopies of mallee trees INTRODUCTION was a favoured method of feeding by The Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis melanotis, Sutton (1929) noted that the calls of was described by Wilson (1911) from a melanotis are distinctive but provided no fur­ specimen collected in north-western Victoria ther details. (= ca 32 km N of Cowingie - Jones 1952). The occurrence of birds intermediate bet­ Subsequent work has shown that the bird is rare ween melanotis and flavigula in plumage and and that it is confined to the Murray Mallee within the geographical range of melanotis has around the junction of the borders of New been discussed by Schodde (1981) and Ford South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. (1981). Schodde (1981) proposed that in­ Figure 1 summarizes data on distribution. termediates have arisen through hybridization Soon after its discovery, melanotis was between melanotis and flavigula following the treated as an eastern race of the so-called Dusky extensive clearing of the Murray Mallee for Miner M. obscura of southern Western agriculture. Ford (1981) hypothesized that the Australia (e.g, Ashby 1922). Interest in the rela­ intermediate birds may simply reflect en­ tionship between these two birds and the vironmental gradients (which he did not Yellow-throated Miner M. flavigula, specify) and that melanotis is a stage in a cline widespread in inland Australia, continued for within flavigula. He also noted that one may some years (e.g. Serventy 1953). The classifica­ not be able to differentiate melanotis from tion currently used is that of Condon (1951) flavigula by plumage characters alone, these and Schodde (1975) whereby obscura is con­ two birds possibly having reached an 'evolu­ sidered conspecific with flavigula 'into which it tionarily stable state of incomplete speciation'. grades' (Schodde 1975) while melanotis is main­ Initially, the aims of the present study were tained as a species. This will be examined fur­ to determine the distribution of melanotis in ther below. South Australia and to gather biological data At this point, brief notes on the comparative on this obviously rare bird so as to contribute to ecology and behaviour of melanotis and its successful management and conservation. flavigula will facilitate the reader's understan­ As the work progressed, the emphasis ding of the problems addressed in the present necessarily shifted to determining the full extent study. A synthesis of the scattered data on the of the differences between melanotis and habitat preferences and food of melanotis flavigula and the origin, significance and (Chandler 1913, Howe & Tregellas 1914, Ashby distribution of birds intermediate between 1918, Rix 1937, Sutton 1929, Mack 1961, flavigula and melanotis. The overall aims ofthe Favaloro 1966, Cox 1973, Dow in Reader's study thus shifted to assess the relative merits of Digest 1976, pers, obs.) clearly suggests that it the hypotheses of Schodde (1981) and Ford 6 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGIST, 30

(1981) summarized above and so to make 1983, primarily to visit Hattah-Kulkyne NP assessments of the taxonomic status of where melanotis had been recently reported (see melanotis and the case for its conservation. below). MATERIALS AND METHODS In all, 38 days were spent in the field. Museum Studies Other sources Twenty specimens of melanotis and 53 of Requests for details of unpublished sightings Murray Mallee flavigula or flavigula-ess: in­ of melanotis were circulated in ornithological termediates were examined from the following newsletters and data from Blakers et al. (1984) collections: South Australian Museum (SAM), pertaining to melanotis were obtained. This Museum of Victoria (MY), Australian Museum also broadened the study to include data from (AM) and Australian National Wildlife Collec­ Victoria and New South Wales. A search of the tion at CSIRO Division of Wildlife and literature was also conducted. Rangelands Research (ANWC). In addition, I RESULTS collected six specimens of intermediate birds. Differences between melanotis and flavigula Diagnosis of melanotis were noted. Although melanotis is smaller than Table 1 and Plates 1-3 set out the differences flavigula, I did not take measurements of in plumage between melanotis and flavigula specimens because I was concerned with most of which have been hitherto unap­ characters of use in identifying melanotis une­ preciated. The characters of flavigula listed in quivocally in the field. There was sufficient Table 1 were also found in specimens and live .material to examine qualitatively the changing individuals from arid areas beyond the range of frequency of melanotis in samples from the melanotis. Under field conditions the shade of Karoonda area, which is of interest because the rump is the most readily assessed character: numerous early records of melanotis come if it is seen to contrast with the back and the from there (Rix 1937, White 1913, specimens in tail, the bird is not melanotis but may be either SAM). This chronological analysis correlated flavigula or intermediate. If it is concolorous the frequency of melanotis with the history of with the back and tail, a closer examination is vegetation clearance in the Murray Mallee, data still necessary before the bird can be identified. on the latter point being extracted from Sutton Diagnosis ofintermediates (1929), Rix (1937), Harris (1976) and Barritt & Mowling (1979). Plates 4 and 5 together indicate the phenotypic range of intermediate birds. Some Field Studies closely resemble either flavigula or melanotis I conducted surveys in South Australia along while others, particularly those from the routes shown in Figure 1 in May-June and Calperum, are more readily seen to be part of November 1983 and October-November 1984. the continuum between these two extremes. For Tape-recordings of either Noisy Miner M. example, the malar stripe ui flavigula is sharply melanocephala contact calls or M. flavigula demarcated and is a clean white. In in­ juvenile distress calls were played for ca 30 termediate birds it can be any of a number of seconds at 5 km intervals along most main creamy or grey shades while in true melanotis it survey routes or at one kilometre intervals in is indiscernible. Also, the white rump and ter­ the more closely studied areas e.g. Pooginook minal tail band of flavigula are creamy grey and Conservation Park. They were also played not sharply demarcated in intermediate birds. when, after seeing miners from a moving vehi­ Geographical range ofintermediates cle, the birds had to be enticed closer for obser­ vation. Miners were thus frequently attracted Figure 1 shows that intermediate birds have even when none were initially evident, to within been recorded throughout but not beyond the 20 m. I then attempted to identify miners as far recorded range of melanotis. as possible as either melanotis or flavigula or Chronological analysis intermediate and to make observations on ecology and behaviour. Plate 4 shows specimens from the Karoonda area aligned in chronological sequence. The As the true scarcity of melanotis became eight collected between 1920 and 1937 show lit­ clear, I visited north-western Victoria and tle variation and are all melanotis. The five col­ south-western New South Wales in May-June lected in 1977 mostly tend to flavigula but one BLACK· EARED MINER 'I S.A. I N.S.W. f • Published reports, specimens I I ~ Intermediate specimens i • I -..... Survey routes ~ Q Milb - ; ::J~.",..,F'"'~.s>.q",R. l:/ENTWOl.!TH_,.. ~ I ~~ , c# ~~ I)' o Localities \,. REtlMARKI ~ i ~ , \\ I e 'il "" I II II 1\ I VIC. \\ .8JSTOO f ~(> ~ • (L~ ~ :;c I

Figure 1. Map of the Murray Mallee region of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales showing survey routes taken during the present study and localities of published records (except those of Blakers et al. 1984)and specimens of melanotis and birds intermediate between it and f1avigula. CP - Conservation Park. Note: the extralimital record of melanotis from near Wangaratta (Cheney 1915) has been omitted due to lack of supporting evidence. -..l 8 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGIST, 30

1972 1945 Clea red 0 Cleared 0

Uncleared _ Uncleared _

Scale. \:\000000 a \JplOl. Figure 2. The progress of vegetation clearance south an? east of t~e River .M.urray in South Australia. Left: 1945; right: 1972. Reproduced from Hams (1976), with permission.

PLATES 1 to 3. Lateral (Plate 1), dorsal (Plate 2) and ventral (Plate 3) views of typical specimens of, left in each Plate, Black-eared Miner M. melanotis (SAM B 18761, near Perponda, 16 May, 1937) and, right in each Plate, Yellow-throated Miner M. flavigula,(SAM B 37427,12 km NW of Blyth, 7 July 1983.). The specimen of flavigula is not from the Murray Mallee and was chosen so that it is unlikely to have been influenced by hybridization with melanotis on one hand and the clinally increasing pallor one sees in flavigula as one moves to populations in more arid areas on the other. Note that the sheen about the auriculars of the melanotis specimen in Plate 1 is due to reflection and is not a post-auricular spot. MARCH, 1986 9

1920-1937 1977 1983 PLATE 4. Miners collected in the Karoonda district from three time periods. Left: 1920-1937 (left to right: SAM B4317, B4316, B23166, B23165, B4315, B23164, BI8761); centre: 1977 (left to right: ANWC 37083, 37082, 37113, 37114, 37115); right: 1983 (left to right: SAM B37362, B37365, B37364, B37363). See text for discussion.

very closely resembles melanotis. The four col­ lected in 1983, which include one collected within a few kilometres of where Rix (1937) noted melanotis as common and collected one, are almost pure flavigula. Although fewer specimens are available, the same trend is sug­ gested in specimens collected in 1910 and 1977 from Underbool. The earliest clearly. intermediate specimens were collected in 1951 (e.g, MV B5958, B5959). Figure 2 shows the progress of vegetation clearance in the Murray mallee north of Karoonda (Harris 1976). Most clearing was conducted post-1945 and removed vast tracts of mallee. This was a general trend in the South Australian Murray Mallee (Harris 1976). In the Karoonda area in particular, much mallee had been cleared by 1937 (Sutton 1929, Rix 1937). Harris (1976)noted that by 1976, 94.83070 of the County Buccleuch, in the centre of which Karoonda is situated, had been cleared. By 1978, mallee there was almost confined to road­ sides (pers, obs., Barritt & Mowling 1979). Field Studies I did not positively record melanotis in South Australia. One very dark individual was seen . - amongst a flock of flavigula and intermediates PLATE 5. Four intermediate miners collected ca 25 km NW of Lake Merreti on 16 May 1983. on Calperum station north of the River Murray It lacked a post-auricular spot and pale ter­ in 1977, 1979 and 1983, flanked by represen­ minal tail band and had no noticeable facial tative melanotis (far left) and flavigula (far markings. It was sooty grey dorsally but had a right) as in Plates 1 to 3. Left to right : SAM rump slightly paler than the back. Another bird B37336, B37337, B32411 , B31298. Above ­ that I saw in Hattah-Kulkyne NP on 1 June ventral view; Below - dorsal view. 1~83 was similarly dark grey overall, lacked a 10 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGIST, 30 post-auricular spot but had a grey malar stripe reply described four presumed melanotis at 15 and a yellow spot at the base of the bill. Its km W of Annuello. The two replies from South rump was paler than the back and the bird had Australia described presumed melanotis from a slight but noticeable pale terminal tail band. near Pooginook CP. The only recent records Miners were almost always found when tapes from New South Wales were incorporated in were played at regular survey stops. Given the Blakers et al. (1984). I have examined what difficulty of making accurate identifications of details are available concerning all records of flavigula or melanotis (Table 1) these were melanotis included in Blakers et al. (1984) and nearly all identified as being probably either have concluded that, unfortunately, they are pure flavigula or flavigula-like intermediates. with one possible exception all insufficient to The few darker and more obviously in­ permit confident identification as melanotis. termediate birds that were seen were north of The possible exception is from Springwood, the River Murray. near Wentworth. The complexity of the hither­ to unappreciated differences between melanotis An initially unseen miner (the second describ­ and flavigula is the cause of such uncertainty. ed above) was heard calling in Hattah-Kulkyne NP at a distance of ca 80 m. It responded im­ I did not find melanotis in either Peebinga mediately to the taped calls and flew to a perch CP or Pooginook CP in the course of foot directly above me and called animatedly. There traverses around and into both Parks. I did find is thus no suggestion of differential responses flavigula once at the northern edge of by melanotis-like birds, flavigula or in­ Pooginook CP and P. Bird (pers. comm.) has termediate birds to the taped calls. So, despite seen flavigula and flavigula-like intermediates the admittedly small amount of field work, the there on numerous occasions. frequent and widespread occurrence of flavigula or intermediates in response to the DISCUSSION tapes can be taken to suggest a genuine absence Identification ofmelanotis of melanotis in the areas studied. Most of the plumage characters by which Eight replies to requests for information were melanotis and flavigula differ (Table 1) are received and five of these described sightings of subtle and not readily discerned in the field. For birds identified by observers as melanotis at a these reasons, recent sight records of either single site in Hattah-Kulkyne NP. One of these melanotis or, indeed, Murray Mallee flavigula replies, that from the Victorian National Parks (e.g, SAOA 1977, Blakers et al. 1984) should, Service, further indicated that that organization strictly speaking, be considered ambiguous and has recorded melanotis in but one other locality unreliable. I stress that that conclusion is not a in Victoria: Wyperfeld NP in 1952. A further rejection of the great value of records of CHARACTER M. flavigula M. melanotis Rump colour White Dark grey Terminal tail band Present, white Absent or very slight Post-auricular spot White or yellow Absent Spot on underside of base of Yellow Grey bill Malar stripe White Absent or dark grey Throat Pale grey Dark grey Frons Yellow Grey, concolorous with crown or faint yellow-olive. Breast patch Yellow Absent Tibial feathers Light grey Brown-grey Gape spot Yellow Absent Ground colour of breast Light grey Dark grey Ground colour of dorsum Light grey Dark grey Barring on hind-neck Present, variable in extent Absent TABLE 1. Differences in plumage between the Black-eared Miner M. melanotis and the Yellow­ throated Miner M. ftavigula. MARCH, 1986 11 presumed melanotis in indicating specific areas Plate 4 indicates a genuine decline in melanotis in which the bird may occur. I also point out post-ca 1940 and a simultaneous increase of that illustrations of melanotis and flavigula in flavigula-like birds. some recent books (Officer 1968; Slater 1974, 1978; Pizzey 1980; Simpson 1984) do not em­ The data on the history of vegetation phasize the differences between the two birds clearance in the South Australian Murray with respect to most of the characters in Table 1 Mallee show that most clearing took place there and may in some cases have been based on in­ post-ca 1945. This correlates well with the ap­ termediate specimens. Finally, the gular skin in pearance of intermediate birds. I therefore pro­ flavigula-like intemediates that I collected was pose that pre-ca 1945 melanotis and flavigula bright yellow immediately after death. This in­ were reproductively isolated by a delicately vites speculation as to the colour of the same balanced ecological barrier of their different skin in melanotis. habitat preferences, which acted as a pre­ mating isolating mechanism. Given the now widespread occurrence of flavigula or flavigula­ like intermediates that this study has revealed, I Taxonomy further propose that the clearing of the mallee Although the taxonomic arrangement of for agriculture has not only completely treating melanotis as a species distinct from the disrupted any such ecological balance but also conspecificflavigula and obscura is entrenched, created vast areas suitable for flavigula at the the existence of so many birds intermediate bet­ expense of melanotis. ween melanotis and flavigula begs a re­ examination of the situation. To do this, one Mayr (1963) cited three parallel examples in must first establish the origin and significance which reproductive isolation maintained under of the intermediate birds. natural conditions by differing habitat preferences has broken down due to man's Three variables may be examined in deter­ agricultural activities: paradise flycatchers mining the origin of the variation: sex, age of Terpsiphone spp in Africa, towhees Pipilo spp the birds and time. Specimens of both sexes are in Mexico and honeyeaters Melidectes spp in represented in Plates 4 and 5 and all the New Guinea (see Mayr 1964 for references to specimens are adults. The occurrence of in­ studies on these cases). termediate birds cannot therefore, be due to age-or sex-related factors. With regard to Plate Ford's (1981) hypothesis concerning in­ 4 and the variable of time, one must address the termediate birds cannot be fully tested because question of whether collectors preferentially he did not specify environmental gradients with avoided flavigula in the Murray Mallee pre-ca which such birds would correlate. The 1940 and melanotis thereafter. I see no reason hypothesis does, however, predict that in­ to assume either case. For example, Rix (1937), termediate birds would always have occurred who listed all bird species that he saw in the yet I have argued that this plainly has not been Karoonda district in two days in May 1937, so: intermediate birds were not collected prior simply did not findflavigula where I, in several to ca 1950. The non-random breeding systems visits in 1983 and 1984, could only find it or of miners, while perhaps a factor in determin­ flavigula-like intermediates; nor did he include ing the amount of variation between and within it among the species that he considered to be miner colonies (as mentioned by Ford) would 'notable absentees'. Rix actually noted several also be inadequate to explain the relatively sud­ parties of up to 20 melanotis over a range of 30 den appearance of intermediates and the lack of km between Chapman Bore and Perponda. variation in melanotis pre-ca 1940. Some authors who did record flavigula in the In view of the above, I therefore concur with Murray Mallee pre-ca 1940 noted that it was Schodde (1981) and consider that the best ex­ confined to stands of more open mallee or planation of intermediate birds at present is Callitris (e.g. Chandler 1913, Ashby 1918, Sut­ that they have originated through introgressive ton 1929, Favaloro 1966). Therefore, it seems hybridization between melanotis and flavigula that flavigula was present in the range of (and subsequent backcrossing and intercross­ melanotis pre-ca 1940 but that it was restricted ing), that hybridization probably having been to pockets of more open habitat. I interpret the initiated through habitat alteration. I admit higher frequency of melanotis in pre-ca 1940 that the evidence is circumstantial but I find it collections as reflecting this and consider that compelling. 12 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGIST, 30

To return now to the taxonomic relationship Allan Lees for photography; Julie Strudwick of the Royal between melanotis and flavigula, it is obvious Australasian Ornithologists Union for supplying me with data and literature held by that organization; Shane Parker that the two are not reproductively isolated by and Richard Schodde for reading and commenting on a any genetic post-mating isolating mechanisms. draft of this paper; Shane Parker for arranging loans of Although one can of course argue thatjlavigula specimens, providing facilities in which I could work and and melanotis have always been potentially helping with literature; the Curators of the collections at the Australian Museum, Museum of Victoria and Australian capable of interbreeding and therefore satisfy National Wildlife Collection for lending specimens held in an important criterion for being considered their care; the MacNaughton family of Calperum Station conspecific, I am impressed by the evidence for permission to camp and collect on their property; the suggesting that under natural conditions they Australian Army for permission to work on its Murray Bridge firing range; all landholders who granted me permis­ were effectively reproductively isolated by a sion to work on their land and all observers who kindly pre-mating isolating mechanism of their dif­ responded to my requests for information. ferent habitat preferences. Therefore, while acknowledging that the debate on this subject is by no means closed, I consider that is is reasonable to accord melanotis specific recogni­ REFERENCES tion. Those references marked with an asterisk* have been us­ ed in the preparation of Figure 1 but have not been cited in the text. Conclusion *Ashby, E. 1912. Occurrence of Myzantha melanotis, Wilson, near the Murray, S.A. Emu 12 : 46-47. Whatever one's opmion on the taxonomic Ashby, E. 1918. Notes on some birds met with in the status of melanotis may be, it is clear from the neighbourhood of Pungonda. Emu 17 : 219-220. present study that this distinctive bird is very Ashby, E. 1922. The Dusky Miner tMyzantha obscura) Gould, with its subspecies, compared with the Yellow­ nearly if not already extinct in South Australia. throated Miner (Myzantha flavigula), Gould. Emu 21 To be sure, large tracts of mallee remain in : 252-256. which the bird may occur (e.g, Burdett 3 - Et­ Barritt, M.K. and Mowling, F. 1979. The Natural trick 13, McGorrery 4 - Peebinga 2, in the Vegetation of the Murray Lands, 1978. Nature & Conservation Society of South Australia : Adelaide. nomenclature of Barritt Mowling 1979; Blakers, M., Davies, S.J.J.F., and Reilly, P. 1984. The Calperum station, Pooginook and Danggali Atlas of Australian Birds. Melbourne University Press: CPs) but the lack of melanotis coupled with the Melbourne. frequent presence of jlavigula or jlavigula-like Cade, T.J. 1983. Hybridization and gene exchange among birds in relation to conservation. In: Schonewald-Cox, intermediates in those areas does not augur well C.M., Chambers, S.A., MacBryde, B. and Larry, T. for the future of melanotis in South Australia. (eds). Genetics and Conservation. A Reference for As Schodde (1981) has proposed, it seems Managing Wild Animal and Plant Populations. Benjamin Cummings : London. that flavigula, evidently the 'dominant' form is Chandler, L.G, 1913. Bird-life of Kow Plains (Victoria). indeed genetically 'swamping' melanotis into Emu 13 : 33-45. extinction in South Australia. This process Cheney, G.M. 1915. Birds ofWangaratta district, Victoria. could easily spread through any remaining col­ Emu 14 : 199-213. Condon, H.T. 1951. Notes on the birds of South Australia: onies of melanotis in north-western Victoria occurrence, distribution and taxonomy. S. Aust, Orn. 21 and south-western New South Wales if it has : 17-27. not already done so and eliminate the bird Cox, J.B. 1973. Birds of the Mannum area. S. Aust. Orn, altogether. Other examples of virtual or com­ 26 : 103-114. Favaloro, N.J. 1966. Honeyeaters of the Sunset Country. plete extinction through genetic swamping are Proc. R. Soc. Vic. 79 : 621-626. known (e.g. some Cyanoramphus parakeets of Ford, H.A. 1981. A comment on the relationships between the New Zealand region - see Cade 1983). miners Manorina spp in South Australia. Emu 81 : 247-250. *Glover, B. 1968. Bird report, 1966-67. S. Aust, Om. 25 : 27-45. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Harris, C. (ed), 1976. Vegetation clearance in South This study was funded by a grant from the Wildlife Conser­ Australia. Report of Interdepartmental Committee on vation Fund of the South Australian Department of En­ Vegetation Clearance. South Australian Department of vironment and Planning. Specimens were collected under a Environment and Planning : Adelaide. permit from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of *Hobbs, J.N. 1961. The birds of south-west New South South Australia. It is a pleasure to thank the following for Wales. Emu 61 : 21-55. their assistance: Lynn Pedler and Harold Crouch for pro­ *Howe, F.E. and Burgess, W. 1942. Ornithologists in the viding tapes of miner calls; Lindy Dewhirst and Julian Reid mallee. Emu 42: 65-73. for accompanying me on what will surely be some of the Howe, F.E. and Tregellas, T.H. 1914. Rarer birds of the most uneventful field trips any of us will ever experience; mallee. Emu 14 : 71-84. MARCH, 1986 13

Jones, J. 1952. The Hattah Lakes camp-out, October 1951. cycles. Chapter 22 in: Mediterranean-type Shrublands. di Emu 52 : 225-254. Castri, F., Goodall, D.W. and Specht, R.L. (eds). Mack, D.B. 1961. Birds of the upper Murray of South Elsevier : Amsterdam. Australia. S. Aust, Orn, 23 : 69-79. Serventy, D.L. 1953. Some speciation problems in *Morris, A.K., McGill, A.R. and Holmes, G. 1981. Australian birds. Emu 53 : 131-145. Handlist of the Birds of New South Wales. NSW Field Simpson, K. (ed.) 1984. The Birds of Australia. A Book of Ornithologists Club: Sydney. Identification. Lloyd O'Neill: South Yarra. *Mack, K.J. 1970. Birds of the north-east of South Slater, P. 1974. A Field Guide to Australian Birds. Volume Australia. S. Aust. Orn. 25 : 126-141. 2. Passerlnes, Rigby : Adelaide. Mayr, E. 1963. Animal Species and Evolution. Belknap Slater. P. 1978. Rare and Vanishing Australian Birds. Press : Cambridge. Rigby : Adelaide. Officer, H. 1968. Australian Honeyeaters. Bird Observers Sutton, J. 1929. A trip to the Murray Mallee. S. Aust, Orn, Club : Melbourne. 10 : 23-45. *Parsons, F.E. and McGilp, J.N. 1934.Bird notes taken on. White, S.A. 1913. Field ornithology in South Australia. a trip to Panitya, Victoria. S. Aust. Orn. 12 : 192-198. Emu 12: 179-185. Pizzey, G. 1980. A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Wilson, F.E. 1911. Description of a new honeyeater, Emu Collins: Sydney. 11 : 124. Reader's Digest. 1976. Complete Book of Australian *Wilson, F.E. 1912. Oologists in the mallee. Emu 12 : Birds. Reader's Digest: Sydney. 30-39. Rix, C.E. 1837. In the fast dwindling mallee. S. Aust, Orn. 14 : 86-91. SAOA. 1977. A Bird Atlas of the Adelaide Region. South Australian Ornithological Association: Adelaide. 1 Angas Street, Kent Town, S.A. 5067. Schodde, R. 1975. Interim List of Australian Songbirds. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union: Melbourne. Schodde, R. 1981. Bird communities of the Australian Received 25 December 1984; accepted 12 malIee: composition, derivation, structure and seasonal February 1985.