82 NiCHOLLs, A Trip to the West. [ 



Emu 

 2nd Oct. 



flat sheet of rock studded with small sharp pieces of stone, which 

 project above the surface of the water. Thinking that the lap of a 

 wave striking against one of the miniature pinnacles containing a 

 blow-hole might in some way account for the sound, we stopped, 

 and after marking down the precise spot whence it next arose, 

 waded out a few steps, little more than ankle deep, and as we 

 stooped to examine the rock the note sounded again, but there was 

 no blow-hole. Time after time we were baffled. In sheer despera- 

 tion my friend tried to attribute the cause to the shoals of fish fry 

 which darted before us in the shallow pools as we splashed along. 

 At last we noticed a flock of Musk-Ducks [Bizuira lobata) fully 

 half a mile out. From these the notes undoubtedly came. After 

 listening for a while we could distinguish the deeper " ponk " of 

 the male bird. The smooth liquid surface acting as a perfect 

 conductor and sounding board, it appeared as though the call- 

 notes of the birds originated at the water's edge at our feet. 

 Hastening along we soon rounded the corner of the bay into the next. 

 Off the point of land lay the island, with a strip of sand between, 

 and further out a few scattered rocky outcrops with long lines of 

 connecting reefs. On the still waters flocks of Black Swans 

 {Chcnopis atrata), their red bills conspicuous against the black 

 bodies, hundreds of Ducks {Anas siipcrciJiosa and Nyroca aiistralis) 

 and a few Silver Gulls {Lams novcv-hollandicr) fed or lazily preened 

 their feathers in the welcome glow of the winter's afternoon sun- 

 shine. Upon the reefs, in silent contemplation or asleep, sat 

 numberless Black and Pied Cormorants {Phalacrocorax carbo and 

 hypoleucus), and on one particular eminence a family of Pelicans 

 {Pelecanus conspicillatus) gravely conferred together. Beyond, the 

 eye followed the stretch of blue sea to the coastline of the opposite 

 shore, where the low-lying, scrub-covered sandhills intercepted the 

 horizon. All was peaceful and quiet in this far-away bird sanctuary, 

 and for many minutes we stood silently watching the scene. Then 

 I fired the gun. In an instant the air was full of birds. They rose 

 in a cloud, the white-tipped wings of the Swans flashing like streaks 

 of lightning throughout the dark mass. For a few minutes the 

 birds wheeled and circled in wild disorder, then, gathering in 

 families, flew away in all directions till the neighbouring points of 

 land and the distant hills hid them from view. 



Stray Feathers. 



The Painted Finch in North Queensland.— Mr. F. C. Berney 

 has sent for verification a skin of Emblema pida. It was secured 

 about the middle of last July, at Homestead, by Mr. J. H. Smedley, 

 who reported that he observed two or three small flocks — first two 

 birds, then four, and then eight together. The Painted Finch has 

 once previously been reported for North Queensland, having been 

 seen in the Gulf country by Dr. \V. Macgillivray. See "Nests and 

 Eggs," p. 1082.— A. J. C. 



