CM KNOWS 53 



collections formed there by Mr. E. Cairn, the late Mr. T. M. Bowyer-Bower and Mr. G. A. 

 Keartland. Undoubtedly the southern portion of the Australian Continent and Tasmania 

 is its stronf^hold, over which it is generally distributed. listuarine areas, bays, inlets and 

 brackish marshes of the coast are alike tenanted by it, as are the reed-beds, lagoons, swamps, 

 ri\ers, lakes and flooded country inland. Although unquestionably decreased in numbers since the 

 early days of settlement, it still inhabits the neighbourhood of Sydney, and flocks may be seen in the 

 western suburbs just about dusk, or on bright moonlight nights, as they pass over from one 

 feeding ground to another. It was at one time common, too, near Melbourne, and I have seen 

 specimens obtained in Hobson Bay, but since the drainage of the low-lying lands around the 

 city, it has disappeared from these haunts. Probably, too, it is far less plentiful on the waters 

 of Western Port Bay than it was in my early collecting days. Flocks of " moulters," unable 

 to fly, used to congregate there, and on many occasions I have been present when they were 

 run down and captured by means of a fast sailing yacht. How they turned and dived many 

 times though before they were ultimately caught. During November, 191 1, while on the 

 steamer, I noticed a few scattered flocks between Sandy Point and Khyll. 



The following instance of a Black Swan breeding on the outskirts of Sydney is taken from 

 a metropolitan newspaper : — " During the past few days a considerable amount of interest has 

 been evinced by visitors to the Centennial Park, owing to the fact that one of the Black Swans 

 on the lake there has succeeded in hatching a brood of cygnets. The item is much more 

 interesting, owing to the fact that the bird in ([uestion is one of a number of wild ones which 

 took up their habitation in the park some time ago. It was generally understood that wild 

 Swans would not hatch their young under such conditions and in so public a place." ■■' 



While resident at Ripple Creek, Herbert River, North-eastern Queensland, Mr. J. A. Boyd 

 wrote me : — " A Black Swan was seen some four miles from here on the 30th July, 1S92 ; it is 

 indeed a luu-a avis. About 1S.S5 three came to the river, and these are the only examples I have 

 seen here." 



From Copmanhurst, Clarence River, New South Wales, Mr. George Savidge sends me 

 the following notes : — "The Black S\va.n (C/unopis atrata) is plentifully dispersed in the large 

 bays and watercourses of the Lower Clarence River ; also on the swamps and reaches of the 

 river above Copmanhurst. I have seen it in flocks of many hundreds near Iluka, close to the 

 Clarence Heads, also on the large lake that runs south from Yamba, where it may always be 

 seen. In flight it has a very pleasing appearance, the white of its wings showing in marked 

 contrast to its black body. It breeds about the Ulmarra Swamp, also the upper reaches of the 

 Clarence, in June, constructing a large nest of rushes and aquatic herbage ; my friend Mr. 

 Collet informs me it is a splendid weather indicator of what rains may be expected. After the 

 nesting season he tells me no matter how much water may be in the swamp at breeding time, 

 the birds do not construct their nest if the season is to be a dry one, on the contrary, if the 

 swamps are low the nest is built, and rain is sure to follow. I was witness to an incident one 

 moonlight night at Copmanhurst ; a small flock passed close to my house, and as they flew 

 across the open flat I heard one strike a tree and fall ; next morning I pick-ed it up with its neck 

 broken ; it had evidently struck a dead limb of a tree." 



From Cobborah Station, Cobbora, New South Wales, Mr. Thos. P. Austin sent me the 

 following notes under date 19th November, 1909 : — "The Black Swan (Chcnopis atvata) is very 

 seldom seen in this district ; a few, however, visit us in a favourable season, but always depart 

 for the breeding period. On the north side of Corio Bay, Victoria, they are to be seen in very 

 large flocks, sometimes in thousands, in fact throughout the western district of \'ictoria they are 

 very numerous, but as a rule only breed in certain places, although in a wet spring they may be 

 found nesting in any suitable swamp, but owing to the fo.xes I am afraid few young birds are 



* Justralian Star, Sydney, 31st August, iSgS. 



