44 



The Bird -Trappers of the Riverina. 



So far as trapping is roncorncd. I learned this: If 

 trappers do noi work amont^ the (lo ks of Galahs, farmers 

 complain that the " pests " arc " eating them out," and take 

 the law into their (»\\ii hands. They wage war against the 

 birds with guns and poisoned wheat. I heard frequently of 

 hundreds of Galahs destroyed in a day by one or other of 

 these methods. Gunnery is the least objectionable of the two. 

 The poisoned grain is eaten not only by the Cockatoos, but 



III these hollow trunks and limbs of dead trees are hundreds ot (jalah nests. 



also by birds that arc not generally considered enemies of the 

 wheat-grower. One species of Parrot, at least, formerly ab- 

 bundant in Riverina, is practically extinct, and the trapjjers 

 themselves blame poisoned grain. These facts I gathered 

 when travelling with trappers. 



" When arc you coming to help me '"? asked a young- 

 farmer, as we drove the waggon across his home- paddock. 

 " The; bloomin' cockles are eating me out. There's millions 

 of 'em down in the crop." Wherever we went, similar re- 

 marks were made by wheat-growlers, and the trappers were 

 welcomed as friends in need when they out spanned, with in- 

 tention to work the nets at dawn. As a l)ird-lover, I was 

 worried to hnd the consensus of opinion agamst the Galah. 

 Any measure likely to keep the Hocks in check is considered 

 legitimate. At gun-club meetings, Galalis are shot in lieu of 



