238 McGIIJ'. nirds of Lake frame District. f^^ffaT 



Dromaius novse-hollandisp. Emu. — Usually plentiful, except in very 

 bad seasons, when they seek better quarters. Breed freely, preferring 

 same nesting site year after year. Old bleached egg shells often 

 noted with freshly laid eggs. No nest is formed other than that 

 small sticks, stones, etc., that may have been on selected site are 

 worked out in a circle. Clutch varies from 6 to 11 eggs, according 

 to season. Breeding starts in normal years at end of April, and 

 young are plentiful by end of June, does not breed at all in bad years; 

 lives chiefly upon vegetable matter and fruits, which are taken whole, 

 the stcnes being passed out in their normal state. A quantity of 

 stone and hard objects is swallowed, possibly as an aid of digestion. 

 No record has been made of an Emu having died from eating poisoned 

 meat and pollard baits. Practically no grubs, grasshoppers or insects 

 taken as food. Emus are rather troublesome to fences, and many 

 meet their end through becoming entangled in fencing wires. 



Coturnix pectorali.s (Stubble Quail) and Synoicu.s australis (Brown 

 Quail). — Occur only in good seasons, when both species, moi'e especi- 

 ally the latter, appear in great numbers and inhabit the clover flats 

 and swamps; no record of breeding in district. 



Turnix velox. Little Quail. — These fine little birds come along in 

 thousands when the season is favourable. Breed in fair numbers; 

 clutch, 4 eggs. Nest a small grass-lined depression in ground under 

 grass tussocks at edge of small swamps, crabholes or almost any 

 situation aff'ording cover. Gives two or three squeaking calls when 

 suddenly flushed. 



Pedionomus torquatus. Plain- Wanderer. — Very rare, only two 

 having been seen during last three years. A female was captured 

 and presented alive to Capt. S. A. White. No record of breeding. 



Geopelia cuneata. Diamond Dove. — Common, breeds freely. Nest,^ 

 a few light twigs used in forming a flat frail platform, which is 

 usually placed in a fork of a low tree, sometimes on the top of an 

 old Babbler's nest, and at other times on debris washed up in bushes 

 in creeks. (]lutch invariably 2 eggs, which can generally be seen 

 through bottom of nest. Bird sits close to eggs and young. Both 

 birds feed young. Breeds at any time of year in accordance with 

 season. Its mournful note is often heard during the night, especially 

 in breeding season. 



Phap.s chalcoptera. Bronzewing. — Plentiful, breeds freely. Nest 

 a platform of sticks in a horizontal fork in low, thick bush or on a 

 heap of debris in a tree. The depression for eggs is better defined 

 than it is with the Crested Pigeon. Young birds have adult plumage 

 from nest, but the colour is somewhat pallid in comparison. These 

 fine Pigeons congregate in great numbers at some of the springs. 

 Just at dusk and at daybreak they come and go singly, landing with 

 a thud a little distance from water and walking in. They prefer 

 dark gullies and the shade of thick trees by day. Usual breeding 

 season, August to October, but of course depending on rainfall, still 

 it is more regular than most of the birds. Clutch, 2 eggs. 



Lophophaps plumifera. Plumed Pigeon. — Only a single specimen 

 noted on "gibber" (stony) tablelands. 



Ocyphaps lophotes. Crested Pigeon. — Very numerous. The metallic 

 sound made by these birds as they fly in flocks of a hundred or more 

 strong is wondei-ful. Breed freely; nest a frail platform of sticks 

 placed in fork of tree, upon old nests of almost any of the larger 

 birds or on top of creepers and parasitic growth in low bushes, 

 usually placed within 10 feet of ground, though a record has been 

 made, 14th May, 1919. Saw Crested Pigeon flush from two eggs in 

 nest built inside old Magpie's nest, 24 feet from ground. Clutch is 

 invariably two eggs. Birds sit closely on eggs and young; the young 



