Vol. II. 



IQ03 



J Stray Feathers. 17^ 



ROCKHAMPTON NOTES. — No part of Australia has suffered 

 more from the drought of the last three years than Central 

 Queensland, and among all classes of birds the distress and 

 mortality have been unprecedented. Bushmen on downs and 

 timbered country report finding the dead bodies of common 

 kinds. There has been some difference of opinion as to 

 whether the deaths were due to starvation or to eating poisoned 

 food laid out as baits for 'possums. Some, perhaps, died from 

 the latter cause, but out on runs where no baits were placed 

 this could not have been the case. There was a terrible want 

 of food, because the pastures were completely burned up, and in 

 many places frees which had attained to a considerable size 

 perished for want of rain. Insect food there was none, and 

 honey-bearing blossoms were few and far between. Lagoons 

 and waterholes were dried, especially in the western country, 

 and a migration of birds to the coast country took place. Wild 

 Turkeys were most conspicuous, and were shot on sight. Quail 

 took refuge in some of the Keppel Isles, but were followed and 

 shot without mercy. As the waterholes decreased in number 

 those remaining v^^x^ the resort of wild animals and pot- 

 hunters. Scrub Turkeys ( Talegalliis) and Duck became 

 common in Rockhampton shops. Wild Geese, Teal, Pigmy 

 Geese, Cranes, Stone Curlews, Plovers, &c., were deemed fair 

 game by the unemployed. There are really {^^^ birds left, 

 those who could, while they had strength, having moved to 

 happier quarters. There are a few Kites about the meat 

 works, and White- breasted and White-headed Sea-Eagles appear, 

 soaring over the River Fitzroy. Crows are numerous in the 

 outskirts of Rockhampton, and are very impudent. A few 

 Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrikes remain. The Pied Crow-Shrike 

 came here in June, and a {q."^ are still here ; it is a winter visitor. 

 Laughing Jackasses are in diminished numbers. The Magpie 

 Larks or " Pi-wis " are about as usual, only there seems to be a 

 predominance of males. Bee-eaters are very sore on bees — there 

 is little else for them. Butcher-Birds polished off an incredible 

 number of canaries hanging in cages on verandahs ; now the 

 latter have to be protected by close wire-netting apart from the 

 cage. A few House Martins remain. Diamond-Birds, Honey- 

 eaters, and Finches are rarely to be seen. The lagoon at 

 Gracemere station, four miles or so from Rockhampton, is a 

 wild bird reserve, and is well frequented, though the water is 

 only a couple of feet deep. I send two photo, snapshots 

 of Pelicans taken from a boat. The birds of all kinds are very 

 tame there. — Will. McIlwraith. 5/9/02. 



Male Lyre-Bird Incubating. — On 28th August, when in 

 a fern gully at Gembrook, I found the nest of a Lyre-Bird 

 {Menura victoricE) in the steep bank of the creek, and the male 



