PARSUNS—A Motor Trip to Western Queensland. 17 



15. Australian Dotterel {Peltohyas australis) — Very com- 

 uiou. Eggs were found. Several times while on the track W2 

 disturbed covies of perhaps 21) or 80 birds. They run very 

 quickly, aud one has to walk briskly to keep up to them. 



16. White-headed Stilts {Himantopus leucocephalus) — 

 Often seen on swamps and bore drains. 



17. Australian Pratincole {Stiltia Isabella) — Very com- 

 mon. These birds run very rapidly over the ground. Gene- 

 rally met with in lots of six to 20 birds. No eggs were seen, 

 although several times while motoring along birds would scatter 

 away as if they had broken wings. Once saw two very little 

 chicks. 



18. Eastern Stone Curlew {Burhinus magnirostris) -Jio 

 birds were seen, but when camping, out at night time they could 

 often be heard. 



10. Australian Bustard (Austrotis australifi — Wn.i Tur- 

 key) — Many birds were noted, especially in Queensland. On 

 seeing the motor they would not fly, but would run a few yards 

 and squat very low on the ground, allowing us lo get witliin a 

 few yards. Noticed that the great majority of birds were young, 

 about two thirds grown. 



20. Native Companion [MatheiDsia ruhicunda)- These 

 birds were met with all along the track, mostly in pairs. On 

 approaching them in the motor they would spread their wings, 

 stretch tlie neck with head very high and bound over the ground, 

 resembling the bouncing of a rubber ball. 



21. Straw-necked Ibis (Carphibis spinicoUis) — ^Common on 

 cane grass swamps. 



22. Royal Spoonbill {Spatherodia r^^gia'^ — Many birds seen. 

 It was a pretty sight one morning on rising, just at daybreak, 

 to see about 30 of these snow-white birds perched on a dead tree 

 in the waterhole, about fiO yards away. 



2?>. White-fronted Heron (Myola pacifica) — Seen on the 

 bore drains. 



24. Nankeen Night Heron iXi/ciicorii.f caledoniciis) — 

 Often* disturbed during day from a thick tree on the waterhole. 



25. Black Swan (Chenopis atrata) — A few birds jeen on 

 a lake. 



26. Mountain Buck (Casarca tadornoides) — Often seen on 

 the bore drains in S.A, Always in pairs. 



27. Mnned Goose ( CJienonefta jubata) — Only one pair seen 

 on a waterhole at Mt. Leonard Station, Queensland. 



28. Plumed Whistling Duck (Leptotarsis eytoni) — This 

 was by far the commonest duck met with. The waterholes on 



