Vol. xviit.j ^hCKSoii, Haunts of the Letter-winged Kite. l^t 



There appeared to be a good supply of food for the various 

 water-birds in the billabongs or narrow water-holes. A few of 

 these stretches of water were several miles long, others only half 

 a mile or so. The smaller ones, I was informed, dry up within 

 4 to 6 months after a flood, provided dry weather follows. As a 

 means of experiment, in order to ascertain what hfe really existed 

 in these watercourses, we baited an old bag with rats' intestines 

 and fastened it to a hoop made from a piece of strong green 

 lignum bush. This was weighted and lowered into the water. for 

 a few nights, with the result that many of the following were 

 caught r^Crayfish {Astacopsis hicarinatus, Gray, known to the 

 Diamantina aborigines as " Toom-ban "), long-armed prawns 

 {PalcBinon ornatus, Haswell), perch (young) {Therapon unicolor, 

 Giinther), catfish (young) {Silurichthys australis, Castelnau), 

 also large and small fresh-water beetles {HydrophilidcB and 

 Dytiscidce). In the mud large mussels {Unio) were found, and 

 the broken remains of these along the water's edge were chiefly 

 the work of the Pacific or White-necked Herons {Notophoyx 

 pacifica). 



■ I was surprised to find the remains of numerous large fresh- 

 water crabs {Telephusa transversa, V. M.) round the sides of the 

 billabongs, and from the information gathered from the aborigines 

 and others I understand that these marine-like creatures are only 

 to be seen alive at flood- time or immediately after the bulk of 

 the waters recede. Some dead ones collected measured nearly 

 3 inches across the back. They are known to the aborigines as 

 " Gour-war-ah." These crabs no doubt serve as a great food 

 for the aquatic birds, especiaUy those of the Heron family, so very 

 plentiful on the Diamantina. Their burrows were numerous in 

 the banks of the water-holes, and the crabs had buried themselves 

 deeply into the ground, where they apparently remain during a 

 dry period, coming to the surface again during heavy rains. 

 They are armed with a pair of powerful claws, which are very 

 large in proportion to the size of the body. 



We were fortunate in having fine weather during our visit, 

 only having a few wet days. To be caught in that flat and 

 extensive boggy country during heavy rains (which was always 

 our fear) would have been a calamity, and one the vital con- 

 sequences of which can only be thoroughly realized by those 

 persons who have been there. From the evidence of old nests, 

 numerous water-birds breed in the locality during one of these 

 inundations. The site of our camp was under water during last 

 February, just four months before our arrival. 



Note. — Since writing the preceding article, wherein I mention 

 about the millions of rats, and that the Letter- winged Kites destroy 

 great numbers of them. Dr. J. Burton Cleland, of Sydney, has 

 kindly forwarded me a copy of his lengthy presidential address 

 read before the Royal Society of New South VViUes (dated ist May, 

 1918), in which he deals extensively with rats, and confirms my 



