1 8 K. G. Qp^wv^'&lA., Birds of No7'th-Eastern Victoria. [isfjuly 



Snipe," or Tringa {Heteropygia acwninata), and the common 

 Snipe {Galltnago ausiralis). Consequently, during the season, 

 there is much good sport to be had among them. Nests of the 

 Hoary-headed Grebe {Podiceps nestor) were also seen. The 

 Crane {Antigone australasiana), the Stone Plover {Biirhi/ius 

 grallarius), and the Black-breasted Plover {Zonifer tricolor) are 

 frequenters of the plains adjacent. 



Coming back to the Murray again we find many of the larger 

 water birds sporting themselves about the billabongs, and 

 making use of the reed-beds in the season for a nesting retreat. 

 The Swan {Chenopis atrata), the Duck {Anas superciliosa), the 

 Coot {Fiilica austra/is), the Bald-Coot {Porphyrio inelanonotus), 

 and the Ibises [Geronticns spinicollis and Threskiomis siicti- 

 pennis) all share with the Bittern [Botaurns poiciloptenis), and 

 possibly the Crakes, the welcome shelter. Along the margin by 

 the grassy bank the Rail {Hypotcenidia philippinensis) is dis- 

 turbed, and on the patches of sand the Black-fronted Dottrel 

 {^-Egialitis inelanops) finds a home. But the birds which are 

 seen about such romantic quarters as a Murray lagoon are 

 many and varied : a whole volume could be written of their 

 characters and habits. Besides the foregoing, the Herons, Ardea 

 pacifica and A. novce-Jiollandia;, Hcrodias alba, and Nycticorax 

 calcdoiiiciis, together with the Cormorants, Phalacrocorax hovcb- 

 Iwllaiidicj;, P. melanoletccus, and P. strictocephalus, must also be 

 included, not forgetting the dainty Grebes, Podiccps cristatus, 

 P. nestor, and P. novcE-Jiollandice. 



Many others doubtless could be added to the list by an 

 observer in a favourable season, but those recorded serve to 

 show what a great variety of birds inhabit ordinarily the 

 swamps and overflows about the Murray. One particular place 

 near the river, about three miles down stream from Corowa, 

 should be watched critically by naturalists, especially those 

 interested in the protection of waterfowl. Lake Moodemere, as it 

 is called, is a narrow sheet of water of some considerable length, 

 with quite 150 acres of excellent reed-beds upon it — a natural 

 breeding-ground for birds. This lake, together with a large 

 flat surrounding, has been kept as a reserve for birds for some 

 years, under the supervision of the Rutherglen Shire Council. 

 The result is that birds are there in hundreds, breeding almost 

 undisturbed, and all so tame that they take but little notice ot 

 anyone about the water's edge. There is now an agitation to 

 remove all restrictions, because some of the dry rush-beds have 

 proved a shelter for a few foxes. If this is done, and the lake 

 is thrown open for shooting, then destruction and demoralization 

 of the bird inhabitants, which have been encouraged to live there 

 and to look upon the locality as a safe retreat, will quickly follow. 

 Notwithstanding a saying that public or governing bodies " have 

 no souls," we may safely appeal to the intelligence of the local 

 shire council not to allow their wards to be so dispersed. 



