QUEENSLAND and NORTHERN TERRITORY 27 



THE GREAT BARRIER REEF 

 (Plate 1, Fig. 9) 



Innumerable shoals of small brightly-coloured 

 fish pass in and out of coral reefs, being ever 

 hunted by larger fish below, and graceful diving 

 birds above. 



Great flocks of a black looking tern (Anous 

 stolidus), always on the watch, keep close and ever 

 active in attack. The wonder is, that little fish 

 have any peace. 



Pelicans, White Reef-Herons, and Ospreys, 

 however friendly, are intensely hungry things. 

 Sandpipers, Godwits, Oyster-catchers and Night 

 Herons are numerous in the landscape. Sandal- 

 wood is useful to bird and man. While mangrove 

 fringes the water, the Mangrove Kingfisher gives 

 pretty movement to it. Thousands of Nutmeg 

 Pigeons regularly roost in it; and whose monoton- 

 ous note is broken by the screechings of as many 

 Lorikeets (Trichoglossus novae-hollandise). The 

 white pigeons densely "blossom" the mangroves 

 so as to give a most delightful picture along the 

 reefs. Usually a Flying Fox is all that sees the 

 charming sight of a long green belt in feathered 

 snowy bloom. 



Frigate-Birds, Sooties and Stints know these 

 atolls and reefs, while the White-rumped Wood 

 Swallow and Doves from the mainland rest upon 

 their low herbage, and cocoanut palms. Pandanus 

 palms also give sanctuary to nesting birds. 



