126 Stonk, Bird-lover in Easlern Mallee Fringe, Vic. [,sf"oct 



the White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater {Campephaga hnneralis), 

 containing three fresh eggs. This latter bird has a succession of 

 very pretty notes, and whilst incubating its eggs it is very tame, 

 and will allow itself to be touched by hand. These birds are 

 numerous every season in the Lake Boga district. The pretty 

 little nest of the smallest Victorian bird, the Short-billed Tree-Tit 

 {Smicrornis hrevirostris), was then visited, and contained three 

 dainty eggs. It was placed in the dense drooping foliage of a 

 mallee sapling. Next variety to claim attention was the large, 

 mud, bowl-shaped nest of the " Black Jay " or White- winged 

 Chough {Corcorax melanorhamphus), placed over 50 feet high on 

 the horizontal branch of a tall eucalypt. The build of the tree 

 was such as to preclude all thought of putting my limited climbing 

 powers to the test. The birds were extraordinarily tame, and 

 allowed us to get within 12 feet of them whilst on the ground. 

 There were no lack of Yellow-tailed Tit-Warblers [Acantliiza 

 chrysorrhoa) and Ravens {Corvus australis). 



We boiled the billy and had lunch on the shore of Round Lake 

 (native name, Koonat Koonat, named from the cotton-weeds 

 that grow so thickly in it, and which were fished for and used 

 extensively in the " big drought " of 1902 for feeding the stock 

 — over a dozen boats were to be seen at one time engaged in the 

 occupation). During our lunch we were favoured with visits l)y 

 the Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater, Black-and-White Fantail, Great 

 Grebe, Dottrel, Hoary-headed Grebe, Black Swan, Marsh Tern, 

 Silver Gull, Swamp Hawk, Kestrel, Little Cormorant, and Welcome. 

 Swallows, and, of course, Sparrows. We came upon many 

 traces of the Mallee porcupine (spiny ant-eater, l:chid)ia) during 

 our ramble. 



Next day I accepted an invitation extended to me by Mr. Walsh, 

 of Fairley, to visit the Ibis rookery in Reedy Lake. I arrived at 

 mid-day, and was generously entertained. After lunch we put 

 off in a fisherman's " flatty " to visit the Ibises. When nearing 

 the rookery, which is in rrality a large brd of polygonum of 

 several acres in extent in the middle of the lake, and growing in 

 8 to 10 feet of water, we were met by parties of Ibises, which got 

 larger as we approached, until the air was thick with the birds, 

 detachment after detachment flying by and over our heads, and 

 wheeling rapidly in returning. Upon clapping the hands close 

 to the island, the noist' of flapping wings was deafening. There 

 must have been 20,000 birds on the wing at one time. I saw 

 many Black-billed and Yellow-billed Spoonbills, a few White 

 Egrets and Black Ducks. The nests of the Ibises were simply 

 covering the vegetation in places, and nearly all contained eggs 

 or young ; generally there were three eggs, but in one instance 

 of the White Ibis I saw four eggs. The White and the Straw- 

 necked Ibises seemed to be nesting in small colonies of 20 or 30 

 birds, and were spread over the island like a chessboard. 1 was 

 delighted with the privilege of having been able to inspect Mich 

 a large rooker\- at such close (juartcrs. .Mr. \\'al>li lias had the 



