Inherman Station. North Queensland. 459 



On several occasions Emus {Dromaus novce-hollandice) were 

 seen feeding at a distance of two or three hundred yards, 

 while the body o£ one was found partly imbedded in the 

 mud of a lagoon ; this bird had evidently perished in 

 attempting to reach the water, being unable to extricate 

 itself from the soft mud. Cranes or " Native Companions " 

 {Antigone australasiana) were frequently encountered, while 

 Jabirus [Xenorhynchus asiaticus) and Pelicans {Pelecanus 

 conspicillatus) were also fairly common. These birds ap- 

 peared to be very fearless when we were driving in a buggy, 

 and the first two Avould merely flap or stride out of the 

 way, rarely taking wing unless disturbed by a man on foot. 

 The Australian Bustard {Eupodotes uustralis) was less plenti- 

 ful, and only one example was procured during my stay. 

 Of the Anatidai I may mention the Black Duck {Anas super- 

 ciliusa), the Teal {Nettium castaneum) , the White-eyed Duck 

 {Nyroca australis), the Maned Goose {Chenonetta jubata) , 

 the Pied Goose {Anseranas sendpaimata) , and a single 

 example of the Plumed Whistling Duck {Dendrocycaa eytoni), 

 the first three species being by far the commonest. 



The Pied Goose was a bird especially interesting to me, 

 on account of its habit of settling upon the uppermost 

 branches of trees. There was a certain lagoon almost always 

 frequented by a dozen or more of these Geese, and they 

 were usually to be found resting on a couple of dead trees 

 that had fallen across the water. When suspicious, they 

 would straighten their necks and utter a cackling or trum- 

 peting noise, which they kept up until all danger had passed; 

 on the other hand, if thoroughly disturbed, they would 

 rise with heavy flight and, after circling once or twice round 

 the lagoon, finally settle, perhaps somewhat awkwardly, on 

 the topmost twigs of a gum-tree, the branches swaying to 

 and fro under their weight. Of course, it must be remem- 

 bered that the feet of these Geese are only partially palmated, 

 which enables theni to perch with a certain amount of ease. 



It is a little surprising that Mr. Stalker has not sent 

 home any specimens of Corvidie, as a black Crow (either 

 Corvus coronoides or Corone australis) was very numerous 



