1^6 Berney, Birds of the Richmond District, N.Q. [ist'^Aprii 



overhead, with wings outstretched and motionless save for an occasional 

 flap, they are a decidedly interesting sight. 



Black-throated Grebe {Podicipcs nova'-/ioU(india-).~T\\& Dabchick, 

 as most natives of the old country call this diver, is a constant resident here- 

 abouts, generally seen in couples on quiet pools. They seldom congregate, 

 though one day in January, 1906, I saw ten together on a small but deep 

 hole in the bed of the river. I have watched an old bird with half-grown 

 youngsters in October, and another lot with chicks in down in February. 

 They formed a pretty sight, this last little family party, as they floated on 

 the water, the youngsters scrambling on the mother's back and pushing one 

 another off, till the old bird ended the proceedings by diving. 



Black Swan {Chenopis atrata). — I have never come across the Swan 

 on the Flinders, but Mr. H. F. Harrison, one of my neighbours, tells me 

 that a solitary bird took up its quarters last November at Tamba, a 

 pastoral property five and forty miles down the river from here, remaining 

 for some weeks. 



(jREEN Goose-Teal {Nettopus puIcJicllns). — Two birds were shot out 

 of three that were seen at Maxwelton woolshed, on Alec's Creek, in this 

 locality, during November, 1906. As the birds were strangers a wing was 

 saved for me, enabling me to include them in my local list. 



Wood-Duck {C/ienonetta jubatd). — One of our commonest Ducks 

 during the summer, but it mostly appears to avoid us during the months of 

 April to July inclusive. I have only come across a single instance of its 

 nesting in the district ; two ducklings in mottled brown down were captured 

 at the end of March, 1904, and were successfully reared by hand. They 

 are no favourite with the gunner, being very watchful and wary, besides 

 being deemed inferior eating to Black Duck or Teal. They weigh about a 

 pound and a half. They are generally rather exclusive, not mobbing with 

 other species of Duck. Fifty or sixty would be the most I ever saw 

 together, but this is not a favourable locality for this class of bird ; we have 

 no large sheets of water or swamps to attract them. 



Whistling Duck {Dcndrocycna arcuata). — A rare visitant, of whose 

 visits I have only three records — February, June, and December. Doubtless 

 it is at times overlooked, and put down as D. eytoni^ but it is undoubtedly 

 rare. 



Plumed Whisiling-Duck {Dcndrocycua lytoni). — The Whistler, as it 

 is always called, is to be seen commonly during the summer, and less so 

 from May to September. Although other Ducks may be seen more 

 frequently, D. cytoni holds pride of place for numbers, for I have seen a 

 hundred and twenty to a hundred and fifty on two or three occasions, and 

 once a flock of three hundred. They have a rather laborious flight, and are 

 comparatively easy shooting. They seldom nest here, but nests of eggs 

 have been reported to me in F'ebruary. 



Details of four shot : — 



Black Duck {Anas super cHiosa). — The bonnie Black Duck is, among 

 the aquatic game birds, the most constant resident. They nest with us 

 every season, selecting the months January to April for the purpose, the 

 most eggs being hatched during March and April, but I have a note that I 

 saw a brood of six downy ducklings on 6th June, 1903, and I flushed a 



