Vol. xv.-| Hanscombf,, Ohservatiom on Nankeen Night-Heyon. I^"^ 



1915 J ^^ 



seem to he killctl in lai>;\' iiumhtMs. Kt'tiriiif^ as \\\v\ mostly do 

 to Cabbage-tree Island, to nest and breed in great colonies during 

 November and Deceml)er, many of the birds and their young 

 fall an easy prey to ruthless bands of Christmas holdiay makers. 

 I sincerely hope that the R.A.O.l^. will, at an early date, pay a 

 visit to this region. Members would, I think, then be convinced 

 of the advantages of having these extensive waste swamp lands 

 declared sanctuary. The enormous tracts here that will not for 

 generations be drained or used for agriculture would then be a 

 fine national possession, as the home of water-fowl and other 

 animals. Legitimate sportsmen also would doubtless approve 

 of such protection being afforded rapidly disapjiearing species. 



On visiting the locality on the first occasion I was surprised at 

 the docility and habits of the Nankeen Night-Herons on properties 

 where shooting was prohil)ited. The impression that the birds 

 were nocturnal, and slept by day in some shady clump of trees 

 overhanging the water, was soon altered. Reflecting that local 

 circumstances or some strange weather conditions accounted for 

 a temporary deviation from ordinary ways, led me to make a series 

 of observations extending over two years. One naturally hesitates 

 to question the observations of eminent authorities, and in 

 venturing to do so I am not moved by merely a desire to criticise, 

 but rather to induce a more detailed study of these strange and 

 interesting birds. Nankeen Night-Herons are certainly not 

 nocturnal in the same sense as the Owls and Frogmouths. During 

 certain portions of the year, the Night-Herons can be said to be 

 nocturnal, when living in colonies, but when congregated only in 

 limited numbers, and undisturbed, they are usually diurnal. 



It is to a pair of Nankeen Night-Herons that I will chiefly 

 confine my remarks for the time being. Their period of activity 

 — that is, of food-hunting — usually began at or about mid-day, 

 and they worked incessantly till dusk. Their presence was still 

 indicated by their noises till near midnight. Though their 

 particular swamp was entirely surrounded by tea-tree or " paper- 

 tree," with very thick foliage, their resting-place was not near 

 the swamp. After weeks of search I located the friendly clump 

 of turpentines and eucalypts that provided the place of camp. 

 This was on a hill-top, at least half a mile from the swamp, and 

 here the birds could be found daily till about 10 a.m. They were 

 regular in their hours until the approach of winter. About the 

 beginning of April they became daily later, and by May would 

 appear to have again become strictly nocturnal. These changed 

 conditions prevailed then till the advent of spring, and b\- 

 September the birds would resume their partly diurnal and 

 partly nocturnal habits. So tame were they that I had full 

 opportunities of observing them. In the first season two young 

 birds were reared, but detailed observations were now broken by 

 a band of gunners, who shot several of the birds. The others, 

 probably wounded, were never afterwards recognized. However, 

 the season i()i4, with its prolific rains, brought great numbers of 



