iVESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 94^ 



miles, I availed myself of the oppoituuity to pay another visit to the 

 breeding places of the Spoonbills, ;uid as I felt siu-e in the event of 

 the heronry being still occupied, I should tliis time be successful in 

 obtaining eggs, 1 took a small bag in which to stow my spoil. 

 On arrival at the place I found that, owing to the recent 

 heavy rains, the whole swamp was converted into a lake, but, to 

 my great satisfaction, I saw the elimip of trees was still tenanted by 

 the Spoonbills. To tie up my horse and strip off my clothes was but 

 the work of a few minutes, and taking my bag I stai-ted. For some 

 distance the water was shallow, reacliing to my waist, but this was 

 decidedly the worst of the trip, for the ground was covered with a 

 dense growth of terribly thorny plant, known in the district a* ' roley- 

 poley ' bushes, which it was imixissible to avoid, and of which I still 

 retain a Uvely recollection. As the water deepened, I took to swim- 

 ming, and thus got clear of the ' roley-poleys,' and with the exception 

 of encountering a few snags and stumps, made a rapid and uneventful 

 voyage to within a short disUuice of my destination. Here again 

 troubles commenced ; the water shallowed and the di-eaded ' roley- 

 poleys ' were as thick as ever. My naturahst's spu-it, however, 

 triumphed, and I made my way to the nearest tree, which contained 

 three nests, from each of which a Spoonbill flew as I approached. 

 Eager to secure my prize, I commenced cUmbing the tree ; but numbers 

 of the large ' bull-dog ' ant had taken refuge in the branches, and of 

 their presence I was soon painfully aware by numerous stings ; but the 

 Spoonbills' eggs I was determined to have in spite of the ants, and wtli 

 an occasionally muttered imprecation at each additional sting, I at last 

 had the satisfaction of beholding my first Spoonbills' eggs, which were 

 rather long and pointed, the colour white. Each nest contained foiu' 

 eggs, and from where I stood I could see several other nests, none of 

 wluch contained more than four eggs. The Herons I noticed were 

 also breeding, their nests containing the same number of eggs. 



" Having any quantity to choose from, I contented myself witl: 

 some half-dozen of the best looking eggs of botli Heron and Spoonbill, 

 taken from various nests. Whilst taking these nests I discovered the 

 nest of a Whistling Eagle in a tree a short distance away, and on which 

 the female bird was sitting, doubtless with the idea of reaping a rich 

 harvest for herself and young in the not far distant future. In this, 

 so far as her present embryo family were concerned, she was mistaken, 

 for I soon had her fine pair of eggs transferred to my bag, and as there 

 was nothing else to be obtained just then, I continvied my exploration 

 by visiting other parts of the lake, which resulted in my discovering 

 several other species of nests and eggs, amongst which were two nests 

 of the Nankeen Heron ( Nycticurax caledonirux), each containing four 

 eggs, about the same size and colour as those of the Ardea pacified, 

 but of a paler tint. The nests were similar in construction and position 

 to those of A. parifica. By this time my bag was prettj' well full, so 

 I made my way shorewards, and returned home well pleased with the 

 result of my day's labours, though smarting cheadfully from the com- 

 bined effects of the ' roley-poley ' thorns and the stinging of the ants, 

 to say nothing of sun-burnt shoulders." 



