_y ] Mkllor, Mallee-Fowl for a Sanctuary. 



Ill 



series of undulations, thickly clothed in verdure, consisting ol 

 mallee and various other eucalypts, while here and there patches 

 of broom-bush country relieved the monotony. In the midst of 

 this scenery, on Cumbnitla Creek, in the Himdred of Mangalo. 

 and near to INIount Des|)erate, we suddenly came upon the lonely 

 " humpy " of the Perry brothers, who live by themselves, for 

 they are bachelors. They ha\'e been close observers and lovers 

 of the iiirds all theii' lives. 



\\\' arrived at tlu' backwoodsmen's " luimi)y " about 4 o'clock 

 in the afternoon, and I decided that evening to " take my 

 bearings " as to future movements relative to catching the Mallee- 

 Fowls alive, as it was always about sundown that the birds made 

 their appearance. We were discussing the beauties of the i)lace 

 over some " billy tea " when, to my great astonishment, 

 a Mallee-Fowl emerged from the scrub near the humpy door. 

 I held my breath for fear of frightening it, as I well knew the 

 extremely timid nature of these birds : but soon learned that this 

 was not necessary, for with measured steps the bird came on 

 unconcerned, only quickening its pace as Frank Perry called out, 

 " Pheasy ! Pheasy ! Pheasy ! Come along, Pheasy ! " The 

 bird followed him down to the bush stable to pick up some scraps 

 thrown out. Even when the food was thrown down with 'a bang 

 and a rattle it did not move far away. Soon two more Mallee- 

 Fowls came out of the scrub from a totally different direction. 

 The consequential little walk of the birds, as if they had all the 

 business in the world depending upon them, was diverting. They 

 fed close to us — within a few feet • but any strange movement 

 on our part at once aroused suspicion, so we had to be careful 

 not to do anything out of the common. I had to go coatless, as 

 the Perrys, in their bush life, do not wear their coats. On one 

 occasion, when a visitor came to see the Mallee-Fowls. and kei)t 

 his coat on, they decamped at once. 



The Perrys' story of the taming of the Mallee-Fowls dates back 

 over two years, when a single bird, which they called " Old 

 Pheasy," came on the scene, very timidly at first. Gaining con- 

 fidence, it gradually grew tame, the quiet kindness of these two 

 observant bushmen being the secret of success. For two years 

 the bird came regularly every evening to pick up the tit-bits 

 thrown out, only missing the breeding season, but reai)pearing 

 directly afterwards. At the end of the two years several other 

 birds put in an appearance, and the number increased to at least 

 — the greatest number seen at one time, all feeding and 

 scratching about together. When several pairs met on common 

 ground one that was taken for a male would chase and peck at 

 another male, apparently to keep him away from the others. 

 They would utter low, soft notes, resembling " Moo-moo-moooo," 

 made somewhat in the manner of a Pigeon, with the last syllable 

 drawn out in a long, soft strain. 



(Observing how these two bushmen had won the confidence of 

 s\i(h wild and \v;n\- birds. 1 was very unwilling to disturb them ; 



