CHENERY — Nut(?>i on jlirds of SuutJiM'cst QueejisUaid. 6:5 



only waist (leei». but some of the larger ones necessitating a 

 swim. Dntks of tive \arieties were met with, all breeding, but 

 we were too late 'by three we(%s for eggs. White-eyed Ducks 

 were the most numei-ous, and nests with fifteen eggs were found, 

 idaced in the tliickesi grass, which here grows feet high — a 

 coarsi' swamp variety. The nests were plentifully sup]>lied 

 with d(n\n and the i'ii^S' generally hidden by it. Identilication 

 of the ownei-s was not always easy, as they .sneak off while one 

 is some distance away, and then i-emain concealed as they travel 

 lo the nearest channel. A family of 23 young with the two 

 jtarent birds was counted, both by Dr. Macgillivray and myself, 

 at Itamoulah water-holes. Pink-eared Ducks and Grey Teal 

 \ver<' also \ery numerous. Next in order came the F)lack Ducks, 

 and finally, I\\t()n's Tice I Mick, tlu^ "(Queensland ^^'histler.'" 

 Only one n(\st of this species was found, containing nine eggs 

 and with no down in it. The bird was tiushed. Their rather 

 long, r(Ml(lish legs, which hang down for a time when they rise, 

 and thiMr soft whistling note renders tbis variety easily identi- 

 fied. A\'o()(l Ducks were only met with at Bilpa water-hole, later 

 on ihe ti-ij). and .Mountain Ducks were not seen. Swans were 

 not found bi-ceding eiiher, although a few' w'ere seen at Rilpa. 

 The other waders seen in the channel country were Australian 

 j('o()t. ill great numbers, odd pairs of Pori)hyrio, and the F'lack- 

 tailcd Native Hen. also in great numbers. I did not identify 

 the (Jallinula oi- Moor-hen. but it is ]»ro,hahly there also. Red- 

 kiu'cd Dolti-ells and the Black-fronted variety were occasion- 

 ally seen. The ^'(dlow■-legged Sj>oonl)ills were nesting" along 

 the ]arg(M- channels in small colonies and egg sets 

 (if I luce or four were noted, and also young birds 

 lately liatclied Herons were, strange to say. very 

 scarce, the NN'liite-fionted and Pacific being met with, 

 but no Kgi-ets were seen. On the Coojier. after our 

 return to the head station, we identified this si)ecies. also the 

 Royal S|')()(ud)ill. The Brown-winged Wren was the common 

 species seen in the lignum country and Wedge Bills were com- 

 num. Young bii-ds were everywhere under foot and in the 

 channels, and could be picked uj) without much difficulty. When 

 one considers the extent of this flooded country, the snmll por- 

 tion of it that could be examined at all closely by a i)arty of 

 four, ami the numbers seen, even in that small area, what an 

 immense number of these water-fowl must be hatched out dur- 

 ing each Hood! Dingo ti-acks were plentiful in the mud. and 

 an occasional fox's |»ad. but, even allowing for danuige done by 

 these mai-auders land we saw very few signs of their successful 

 hunlingi, there ai)pears l(» be little danger of these species be- 

 coming exterminaled. 



