^°\ !^'^'] h'oyal Ausirnlasidii Ornilliolngists' Umon. 235 



I'^roin the train T noticed a nati\-c bear sittinj^ on a lrlc^ra])li 

 pole iuul partly on ii \\'n\\ liis thick fur probably prcvi'uting him 

 from getting a shock. Mistletoe was ])lfntiful, and the Mistletoe- 

 Bird was often seen. 



I was informed that two Itagles attacked a tiger-cat, and, 

 although it put up a good fight, eventually killed and ate it. A 

 black snake, about 5 feet long, was found swallowing an eel, 

 which was about lialf-way do^-n. A little later another l)lack 

 snake was seen chasing an eel in a small pool, partly dried up in 

 the drought. I had not heard of snakes taking fish before. Ticks 

 are troulilesome in this district ; tiger-cats are sometimes found 

 infested with them, and one young wallaby's death was probably 

 caused by them. Mr. Chisholm informed me that young Fly- 

 catchers and I'inches are sometimes found dead or dying from 

 small ticks, and he thinks many young birds are destroyed by 

 them. 



There is here an interesting plant named Acacia chisholmi, named 

 after our friend, J. R. Chisholm. It catches a great many insects 

 in the gum which exudes freely from it. 



Domestic cats, gone wild are very destructive to bird-life, but 

 fortunately disease and dry seasons kill many of them. 



Next morning our members, Mrs. Adam Black and Mr. Jos. 

 AUingham, motored me to Fletcher Vale. We also visited the 

 wonderful so-called Basalt Wall. On the way we saw a dead 

 Jabiru, evidently shot by some callous traveller, also some Native 

 Companions ancl Bustards. On the larger water-holes among the 

 basalt were thousands of water-fowl — Pelicans, Black, Pink- 

 eared, Shoveller, and Whistling Ducks, Pied Geese, &c. After 

 taking some photos, of this wonderfully interesting geological 

 formation and home of wild-fowl, I returned to Charters Towers 

 and Townsville. 



Next morning, the 15th, in company with Mr. J. R. Chisholm, 

 we went by train to Pioneer, 44 miles from Townsville, and near 

 the coast. When passing Cromarty River we saw hundreds of 

 Native Companions, usually in small companies, from two to 

 about fifty birds, and only one Jabiru. Earlier in the season 

 the former birds were in thousands. I remained seven days mth 

 Mr. J. Drysdale, of the Pioneer Sugar Mills and saw thousands 

 of Pied Geese, Pelicans, Black, White-eyed, and Whistling Ducks, 

 a few Jabirus, Pigmy Geese, Egrets, Ibises, Pacific and White- 

 fronted Herons, Darters, Cormorants, and Hoary-headed Grebes. 

 The Pallid Cuckoo was often heard, also the ascending monotonous 

 notes of the Koel ; they varied from three to about seven. I 

 heard only the male bird utter them. One Channelbill Cuckoo 

 was seen. Peaceful Doves were plentiful, also the Black-faced 

 Cuckoo-Shrike, Pipits, Grallinas, Miners, Orioles, Magpies, &c. 

 These elongated lagoons are rigidly protected, and ' are much 

 resorted to by water-fowl, which become very tame. Jacanas 

 were usually to be seen on the water-lilies. Magpie Geese were 

 abundant, and usually settled in trees when not feeding. The 



