^°'>w' ] Batkv, Bird-Lijc Sixty Years Ago. I5 



Mountain-Duck (Casarca tadornoides). — Out of bounds on Melton 

 swamps; two shot. 



Bronze-wing Pigeon {Phaps chalcoplcya).—Ca.me down Jackson's 

 Creek about end of summer, but in the winter of 1S54 were in sheoaks 

 on Redstone Hill in goodly numbers. They moved down stream to 

 Keilor or bej'ond. The late Mr. Edward Winter, who began farming 

 there in 1843, used to shoot Bronze-wings about the site of the present 

 township. Used to be very numerous on Koorakoorakup and Emu 

 Bottom, on which last the late Mr. John William Page stated he bagged 

 30 in the course of a day. Tliis Pigeon nested with us. Now it is 

 very rare indeed. 



Brush Bronze-wing (P/taps elegans). — A brace only were known, 

 about ten or twelve years back. I saw the chief distinction between it 

 and common Bronze-wing was a liver-coloured patch on breast. Have 

 seen this Pigeon on Mt. Macedon in thick scrubs where about the only 

 chance of seeing the bird is when it crosses a track. 



Snipe (Gallinago australis). — -Prior to 1850 Mr. Tom Perry bagged 

 one, the only true Snipe to my knowledge that ever halted on our 

 creek. There is a small Snipe-like bird on Melton swamps — that is, 

 when they contain water. This bird goes in flocks, keeps in the open 

 by the water's edge, occasionally stands on the half-submerged stones 

 so close together that I have known nine to be knocked over at one 

 shot.* 



Occasionally birds of the Sandpiper tribe have appeared, but 

 they were very rare. It is impossible for me to say what kinds they 

 were. 



OTHER AQUATIC BIRDS. 



Pectoral Rail (Jiy potcenidia philippinensis) . — Frequented Jackson's 

 Creek ; bred there, because I have seen young, unfledged birds. This 

 Rail is a beautifully-marked bird : it yet appears as a rare casual. 



White-headed Stilt {Himantopus leucocephalus). — Shot on Melton 

 swamps and at Woodend North. 



Red-necked Avocet {Recicrvirostra novcD-hollandice). — Seen once 

 only, on swampy spot on Bulla road. In this instance one bird, but 

 when Melton swamps were full I have seen them there. 



Curlew (Numenius cyanopus). — A specimen was once shot at 

 Woodend North, presumably an accidental bird that had dropped out 

 of the migratory flocks for some reason. 



Moor-Hen {Gallinula tenebrosd). — Found lots of their nests in swamp 

 bushes in Riverina, built a few inches above water. The Pink-eyed 

 Duck nests under similar conditions. Shot a Moor-Hen at Woodend 

 North, the hrst and only one observed so far south. There is a dam at 

 Woodend North, covering two acres fully, close to Mt. Alexander road, 

 and on this water storage aquatic birds frequently are found. 



Bald-Coot {Porphyrio melanonotus). — In 1854 one was taken on the 

 creek ; another .shot later on. This is a very rare bird, but I have 

 frequently seen it at Melton swamps. 



* Duuhllcss Ileicropyi^ia acuininala (.Sliarp-lailcil Sliiit). — Eos. 



