^'°'i9i^'H McGILP. nirds of Lake Frame District. 239- 



assume adult pluniajre before leaving nest, but the coloration is not 

 as brig-ht as in the adult bird. This Pigreon usually deserts nest if 

 eggs are handled, but before doini^- so will push off any eggs in the 

 nest. The writer has observed them do this on more than one oc- 

 casion. They do not desert the young when handled. If "an excep- 

 tion proves the rule," I might say that I have taken an incubated set 

 from one bird, but later on found a fresh set, and not wishing to 

 take both, I restored the incubated set to its nest, and the Pigeon 

 which was sitting on nest, when I returned, successfully reared its 

 young. 



Porzana fluminea. Spotted Crake. — Rarely seen in swamps; no re- 

 cord of breeding. One bird chased by Black Falcon took refuge in 

 house, and is now doing well in captivity. 



Tribonyx ventralis. Black-tailed Native Hen. — In good seasons it 

 comes along in thousands, and a few birds can generally be noted 

 along bore streams. Breeds occasionally in polygonum swamps; 

 clutch 5 to 7 eggs. Record made, "19th September, 1918. Moola- 

 watana Bore. Thousands of Water Hens disappeared during night, 

 none visible this morning." Heard afterwards that a heavy thunder- 

 storm fell on 17th September, 1918, at a station 60 miles away, and 

 thousands of these birds arrived the day after. 



Porphyrio melanotus (Swamp-Hen) and Fulica atra (Coot). — 

 Rarely seen, remains only a short time. No record of breeding. Dur- 

 ing a hot summer, 1916, one bird (Swamp Hen), apparently in need of 

 water, came into the fowl yard and continued to live with domestic 

 fowls for sevei'al months, and became very quiet, but when rain fell 

 it disappeared. 



Podiceps poliocephahis. Hoary-headed Grebe. — This is probably 

 the only species of Grebe found in district, certainly it is the only 

 resident. Fairly numerous in good seasons, and odd pairs may be 

 seen at any time on small natural pools of water in hilly country. 

 Breeds freely on swamps in good season and also on small springs. 

 The nest is a compact mass of water-weeds, rushes, etc., attached to 

 I'eeds, rushes or almost any object standing in water. The nest itself 

 floats on the water; clutch, ?> to 5 eggs. Before leaving nest, the 

 bird drags up a quantity of water-weed, and completely covers the 

 eggs. I have never observed the bird covering herself when sitting 

 on eggs, nor do I think that she does. The eggs are a bluish white, 

 sometimes slightly lime encrusted, when first laid, but from contact 

 with vegetable matter they gradually change to a dark chocolate 

 brown when at point of hatching. Young birds leave the nest as 

 soon as hatched. The young are dusky brown, covered with down 

 with a few grey spots here and there. The flight of this Grebe is 

 very rapid, straight ahead and low. Have often made it fly from 

 small pools. Breeding season of visiting birds takes place when con- 

 ditions favourable — swamps full of water — but the resident birds 

 usually nest in September to November. 



Chlidonias leucopareia (Whiskered (Marsh) Tera), Gelochelidon 

 nilotica (Gull-billed Tern), and Hyroprogne caspia (Caspian Tern). — 

 The two smaller Terns visit the district in fair numbei's, but only an 

 occasional Caspian Tern has been noted in good seasons; probably do 

 not breed in district. 



Larus novae-hollandiae. Silver Gull.— A few Gulls noted every good 

 season. One bird was feeding with domestic fowls on 28th Febru- 

 ary, 1919, a very hot and dry time; stayed only a few hours. A 

 young bird in down just able to fly captured alive at bore stream. 

 iPossibly reared in district. No record of its breeding in locality. 



Erythrogonys cinctus. Red-kneed Dotterel. — A few birds generally 

 found along bore streams, and a great increase in number takes place- 



