Offinal ©rgan of the ^ustralaeian ©rnithologists' Enion. 



" Bir«Is of a feather.' 



Vol. v.] 1ST JULY, 1905. [Part i. 



A Visit to the Tuggerah Lakes (N.S.W.) 



By J. W. Mellor, A.O.U., Adelaide. 



As an extension to the fourth Congress of the Australasian Orni- 

 thologists' Union, held in Sydney during November and December, 

 a party of the visiting members made an excursion to the Tuggerah 

 Lakes, situated about 60 miles north of Sydney. This made a 

 pleasant and profitable sequel to the trip to the N.S.W. National 

 Park, an account of which appeared in the last issue of The Emu 

 (vol. iv., p. 157). 



The party caught the early Newcastle train, which proceeds via 

 Hawkesbury, where some charming water and landscape scenery 

 is to be observed as the train wends its way along narrow, low 

 embankments, with water on either side — ideal spots for waterfowl 

 and waders. Our destination was reached at noon. We made 

 our headquarters at Mr. Legge's house of accommodation — a very 

 suitable position, with thick bush country near, and moderately 

 timbered land with settlers' clearings here and there, and only 

 a few miles from some of the sub-tropical virgin scrub, intermixed 

 with palms, various fruit-bearing trees and berry-bearing bushes. 

 The Legge family made excellent hosts, and forwarded the objects 

 of our party in every way. Mr. Legge's three younger sons, who 

 are thoroughly observant, and inclined towards natural history, 

 rendered valuable assistance in locating the various birds, and 

 so saved us much valuable time. They are also expert boatmen, 

 and so, immediately after refreshing the "inner man," two of the 

 party sailed with Mr. H. W. Legge in his small boat on a Ifying 

 trip across the big lake, which is comparatively shallow and salt, 

 being a large inlet, land-locked, with a very narrow and shallow 

 entrance from the sea. Waterfowl were plentiful, especially the 

 Black Swan {Chenopis atrata), which were congregated in thousands 

 on the weedy shallows, where an abundance of food is procurable. 

 Several species of Cormorants were seen, including the Black 

 {Phalacrocorax carbo). Pied (P. hypoleucus), and the Little Cor- 

 morant (P. melanoleucus). The Silver Gull {Larus novcB-hollandia') 

 graced the scene with its silvery plumage, while the Black Duck 

 {Anas siiperciliosa) and the Grey Teal {Nettion gibherijrons) were 

 fairly j)lentiful. Up a sluggish and brackish river that empties 

 itself into the lake the Darter {Plolus novcB-hollandicc) was seen ; 



