172 WXCGWAAVRW. .htstralicu, Pclicau. [\^', fT 



When 1 visited the island attain on the 9th April, it had dried 

 off and enlarged considerably. It was thickly occupied by 

 birds, with a few Ravens and Whistling Eagles {Haliasiiir 

 sphenurns) prospecting it for tit-bits. The groaning of the 

 young could be heard half a mile awa\-, like the continuous mur- 

 mur of surf breaking on a reef. 



The old birds rose in a vast Hock when we waded (JUt. Many 

 young birds were huddled together; the flocks larger than on 

 our [)revious visits consisting of any number up to one hundred 

 and more. The oldest young are now about two months old, 

 with feathers sprouting all over their bodies with the dark 

 sca])ulars and primaries showing well. 



There were young at all stages, and all the old nests contained 

 eggs again. These are not second clutches, but the nesting of 

 birds that could not find room earlier. The old birds are fairly 

 nervous, and do not allow of (tur api)roachinij nearer than 10 

 yards without taking to flight, which is i^receded by a short run 

 and some vigorous flapj^ing. They do not as a rule rise high, 

 flying out and settling on the nearest water; they soon return 

 to their nests. 



There are, howexer, always a number in the air, some sailing 

 round at a great height and others l(jwer. Occasionally one half 

 closes its wings an(i ])lanes down to the water, Init more often 

 they come d(jwn gradually. Occasionally the old birds on the 

 water would take alarm, and all rise together, tilling the air with 

 a rushing round; they rarely rise high and soon settle again. 

 There are many young birds with the old ones (nit on the water. 



On the 10th June, being anxious to comj)are the breeding 

 places established by the Pelicans on Teryawynia Lake with the 

 one on Cawndilla, 1 set out per motor with three C(jm]ianions 

 We crossed the Darling at Menindie, being ferried over on a 

 j)unt ; took the u])-river track to Henley Station, where the mana- 

 ger, Mr. AlacDonald, put us on the road to Teryawynia, which 

 is an out-stati(jn on a lake filled b}- the flood waters that come 

 down the Talyawalka, and about 40 miles out from the Darling. 



Our road took us through box flats, open grass lands and a 

 little scrub ; skirted a flne tree-bordered lake, whose surface was 

 covered with Duck, Swan and other water birds. 



Several Kangaroos {Macropus rufiis) were seen, and a few 

 mobs of Emus, mostly last year's broods. We disturbed two 

 flocks of Rlack Cockatoos (Calyptorhyjicluis banksii) that were 

 feeding on the i)lains. These birds seem cajiable of i)icking up 

 the smallest seeds from the ground, as I have found their crops 

 full of .seed no larger than the smallest grains of gunpowder. 



Red-backed Parrots [Pscphottis lucmatonotus ) were numerous, 

 and in flocks; these birds kee]) to the river country, and are 

 never seen out back where their place is taken by the Many- 

 colored Parrots (/'. t'oriits). A few White Cockatoos iCacatua 

 (/(ilriilii) in <uv.\\] llocks were seen, and numerous large tlocks of 



