6 Chandler, With Camera in North-West Victoria. \ '-"l", 



Li-.t July 



trees. Yellow Parrots {Platycercus flaveolus) and Red-backed 

 Parrots {Psephofiis hcematonotus) were investigating nesting- 

 hollows, and bird-life in general was astir and preparing for the 

 nesting season. Noisy Miners [Myzantha garrula) and Brown 

 Tree-creepers (Climacteris scandens) were especially common. I 

 was delighted with the variety and number of birds seen on this 

 section of Chalka Creek. 



The flood of 1917 was one of the biggest on record, and the 

 Murray River in places was, possibl^^ over 20 miles wide. Water- 

 birds then nested everywhere, and I noticed many trees on the 

 lake margins studded with old nests of Cormorants and Darters. 

 In a drought, my companion informed me, the Emus have a bad 

 time. They become nearly blind from the attacks of sand-flies, 

 and get so weak that they can scarcely walk. 



After passing the boundary gate of Kulkyne Station, the track 

 wound through several miles of dead timber, and an interesting 

 feature was the large area covered by dead and fallen specimens 

 of the introduced sea-green tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), possibly 

 killed by the flood waters of 1917. This tree, at one time festered 

 by station-owners, has spread over hundreds of acres^ and in 

 places forms dense thickets. Mr. Balmain's camp was situated 

 in a pictuiesque spot near the banks of the Murray, and I had my 

 first glimpse of a red-gum bend, and by the noisy notes of innumer- 

 able birds I concluded that this would be the happy hunting- 

 ground of many rambles. Ground-Doves {Geopelia tranquillci) 

 called loudly from the tree-tops. White Cockatoos screamed, 

 Honey-eaters chattered, and lovely Black-tailed Parrots [Polytelis 

 nielaniira) flashed like gleams of light between the trees. In many 

 places these beautiful old gums form natural avenues, and in 

 their stately beauty resemble the columns and arches of a 

 cathedral. 



Here we transferred to a motor-boat, and went merrily down- 

 stream until the landing-stage near the homestead was reached. 

 A few Yellow-billed Spoonbills, Ducks, Pelicans, and a single 

 White Egret (Herodias svrmatophorus) were noted, besides 

 numerous Whistling-Eagles (Haliastiir spheniiriis), Ravens {Corvits 

 australis), and Honey-eaters. 



On arriving at Kulkyne homestead I was welcomed in true bush 

 fashion by my kind host, Mr. Chas. Thompson — a keen naturalist, 

 a careful observer, and a true bird-lover. The homestead nestled 

 amongst pepper-trees, and the surrounding yards and paddocks 

 were bounded by similar trees. This, my headquarters, was in 

 reality a true Inrd sanctuary. No cats were allowed, and birds 

 reared their young without fear of molestation. Red-backed 

 Parrots, Brown Tree-creepers, Black-and-White Eantails (Rhipidura 

 motaciUoides), Peaceful or Ground-Doves, Crested Pigeons {Ocyphaps 

 lophotes) Brown Quail,- and other birds fed on the ground within 

 a few yards, while feeding on the fruits of the pepper-trees were 

 Yeflow Panots and an occasional Spotted Bower-Bird (Chlamydera 

 macnlaia). From this haven of delight I made daily exxursions — ■ 



