J"'>^] Keartland, Bird Life on Fraser Island. 45 



numerous. In the scrub three species of Robins were noted 

 — the Yellow-breasted, Eopsaltria aiistralis. Flame-breasted, 

 PetrcBca pha-nicea, and Scarlet-breasted, P. leggii. Brown 

 Tree-creepers, Climacteris scandens, were busy searching for 

 insects in the crevices in the bark of the large timber. As 

 mistletoes were fairly plentiful, it was no surprise to find the 

 Swallow Dicaeum, Diccemn hirundinaceum, feasting on the 

 blossom of that parasite, whilst several Spinebill Honey-eaters, 

 Acanthorhynchus ienuirostris, paid frequent visits to the Banksia 

 trees. The loud notes of the Noisy Minah, Myzantha garrula, 

 were heard all over the island, whilst its cousin, the Bell-bird, 

 Manorhina melanophrys, came over from the mainland. 

 Crows, Corvtts coronoides, uttered their usual croak as they passed 

 overhead, no doubt regretting the absence of a carcass on 

 which they might regale themselves. 



Each evening a Boobook Owl, Ninox boobook, repeated his 

 mournful notes near the house. Brown Hawks, Hieracidea 

 berigora, soared overhead, and a Kestrel, Cerchneis cenchroides, 

 visited the stables in quest of mice. Three Night-Herons, 

 Nycticorax caledonicus, were perched on the dead tea-tree near 

 the water, but, although nocturnal birds, were too wary to 

 permit a near approach, whilst a fine Pacific Heron, Notophoyx 

 pacifica, was wading in a small patch of swamp. In my 

 endeavour to approach the latter I disturbed a solitary Snipe, 

 Gallinago australis, which flew off to the next island. On the 

 flat amongst the Mesembryanthemum four pairs of Spur-winged 

 Plover, Lohivanelliis lobatus, undoubtedly had their broods 

 running about, as the old birds kept flying around us. screaming 

 loudly whenever we were near certain spots ; but, notwith- 

 standing a diligent search, we were unable to find the little 

 ones, as they lie close whenever they hear their parents' warning 

 cry. The note of the male Stubble Quail, Coturnix pectoralis, 

 was heard in some long grass near the boat-house, and in 

 trying to find it I disturbed three Brown Quail, Synoicus 

 australis. A Bronzewing Pigeon, Phaps chalcoptera, passed 

 swiftly towards the mainland. Watei'fowl were numerous, 

 especially Black Swans, Cygnus atrata, a flock of which, 

 embracing several thousands of birds, took thirty-three seconds 

 to pass a given point. Pacific Gulls, Gabianus pacificus. Silver 

 Gulls, Lariis novce-hollandice, and Bass Strait Terns, Sterna 

 bergii, were constantly flying over the water. Three Pelicans, 

 Pelecanus conspicillatus, were pluming their feathers or sleeping 

 on the .sand every day. Of cormorants (Phalacrocorax), four 

 species were seen either in the water or flying past — viz., large 

 and small black and large and small black and white. Many 

 Musk Ducks, Bizinra lobata, were swimming placidly on the 

 water, whilst Black Duck, Anas superciliosa, and Teal, Nettion 



