^'°'' iVs'^^l L-E SovisF, Qtieensland Notes. 47 



avoid passing underneath these trees. Several fell into the water, 

 and, although they could swim and dive well even at that early 

 age, they often got entangled in the water weeds at the bottom, 

 and so were drowned. We saw several dead ones floating on the 

 water. The Spoonbills were much quieter. 



The water was mostly thickly covered with floating water-fern 

 (Azolla), of a reddish hue, and only patches, so to speak, were 

 clear, and in these were seen small flocks of White-headed 

 Shieldrakes or Burdekin Ducks {Tadorna rufitergum). When we 

 stood still they came quite close to us ; the male uttered a deep 

 note and the female a much higher key. They had evidently 

 finished nesting. Mr. Barnard stated that they usually nest in 

 trees. Not far off, among the bulrushes, and perched on trees, 

 was a flock of about one hundred Pied or Magpie Geese (Anseranas 

 meJanoleiica). As we approached them they all flew up, and the 

 loud noise made by their wings as these heavy birds rose in the air 

 could he heard a long way off. They also were not nesting. Black 

 Moor-Hens {Gallimda tenehrosa) were plentiful, and a few Coots 

 {Fulica anstralis) were seen. Not far from the trees, and on the 

 ground, were congregated a large body of White Ibis, probably 

 feeding on frogs, &c. Further away we saw many — fully one 

 hundred, if not more — Native Companions. These interesting 

 birds were often bowing one to the other, and taking jumps into 

 the air with the aid of their outstretched wings and going on with 

 various similar antics. We saw many Black-throated Grebes 

 {Podiceps gnlaris) on the clear water. 



Whistling-Eagles {Haliastur sphennnis) were nearly always 

 visible, and their cry was constantly heard. We saw one roosting 

 on a tree, just above some Spoonbills' and Cormorants' nests ; 

 the latter birds did not seem to mind him in the least. Allied 

 Swamp- Hawks {Circus goiildi) were often seen ; they frequently 

 disturb the Egrets when they are feeding on the plains. Wedge- 

 tailed {Uroaetus aiidax) and the White-bellied Sea-Eagle {Haliceetns 

 leucogaster) were occasionally seen soaring high overhead. Crows, 

 as before stated, were also much in evidence, and must be truly 

 hated by the nesting birds on account of their thieving pro- 

 pensities, always noticeable should any eggs or very young birds 

 be left unguarded. A flock of about sixty Pelicans {Pelecaniis 

 conspicillatus) were resting on a drier portion of ground, and they 

 looked very conspicuous against the dark background. The 

 birds here had been late in nesting, as the heavy rain and cyclone 

 in January had destroyed practically all the Ducks' eggs, as well 

 as many nests of tree-building birds, as the swamp was a sea of 

 water. Mr. Broome, the manager, informed us that shortly 

 after the cyclone was over he went round the flood-marks of the 

 swamp, where the debris had been deposited, and found many 

 dead Coots — these, being weak-flying birds, would naturally 

 suffer ; also a few Native Companions — -these birds are apt to get 

 their wings broken by heavy weather ; many thousands of drowned 

 native rats (in one spot he counted 32 in one square yard), plenty 



