>\. XX 



sometmies on loot and 

 interesting company, 

 most notable birds. 



In the immediate vicinity <>1 the lionustcad werc^ hi«x fla.ts, dry 

 lignum swamps, and a slight pleateau known as " the horse 

 paddock." Between the homestead and the river several shallow 

 lagoons were usually frequented by water-birds. Red-kneed 

 Dottrels {EryUirogonys cinctus) and Black-fionted Dottrels 

 {Mgialitis mgrifrons) paraded the banks. The principal vegeta- 

 tion in the " horse paddock " consisted of box gums (Eucalyptus 

 Woollsiana), branching gooscfoot [Chenopodiiifii, nitrariaceum), 

 kidney saltbush {Atriplex stipitala), juicy saltbush {Threlkeldia 

 salsiiginosa), spotted Emu-bush {Eremophila macnlata), prickly 

 saltwoit [Salsola kali), and a ground carpet of barley-grass 

 [Hordeurn murinum), and, in places, nardoo {Marsilea qiiadri- 

 folia). The branching goosefoot was much favoured for nesting, 

 and rarely the kidney saltbush was chosen by the Crested Pigeons. 

 I found many Crested Pigeons' nests, the majority being among- 

 the branches of the goosefoot, and many were in the pepper-trees. 

 This beautiful bird was interesting to watch, and, although 

 apparently tame when feeding around one, proved very wild 

 at the nest. The bird photographed had its nest in a branching 

 goosefoot bush near the homestead, and would allow me to 

 approach within a few feet before flying off with notes of protest. 

 When I erected the camera she became alarmed, and quickly left. 

 As the weather was windy and the nest in a bad position for snap- 

 sliots, I spent three afternoons in gaining many interesting notes 

 on the bird and getting her accustomed to the camera. The third 

 day was ideal for photography, a cloudy sky preventing shadows 

 and harsh contrasts. Crested Pigeons are fairly silent birds, 

 but at times they give a loud call like " Woo, woo." When on 

 the nest they have a soft " Wook, wook, wook." I know of no 

 other bird that sits as close as this Pigeon. One nest observed 

 always had the bird sitting on eggs or young. In one case the 

 young could fly, and, although the day was comparatively warm 

 and the nest in the shade, the parent bird was covering them. I 

 concluded that the cause of this strange conduct was purely 

 maternal consideration for the offspring, and was necessary for the 

 preservation of the species. In fully a dozen cases the eggs or 

 chicks disappeared from the nest — probably taken by marauding 

 Hawks or Ravens. The nest is often easily seen, and the white 

 eggs are conspicuous. The continual loss of eggs or young ones 

 would possibly cause the bird to sit closer, and at the same time 

 a more sheltered position would be chosen for the nest. It was 

 noticed that nests which were well sheltered usually escaped harm. 

 Another factor which may be considered is the frailness of the 

 nest and the consequent degree of susceptibility to sudden cold 

 upon the part of egg or chick, if left uncovered. At no time did 

 the sitting bird leave the nest to feed, or was food brought to the 

 sitting bird or young ones by the mate. Stranger still was the 



