Frtsent Time for the Reed Beds District. 105 



Numcnuis q/anopus (Australian Curlew). — A wary bird, 

 but often seen amidst the swamps during flood times, and if 

 disturbed more than once they made over the sand dunes to the 

 sea. 



Tetola lapponica (Barred-rumped Godwit). — Occasionally 

 seen during flood times. 



Pisobia miniita ruficoUis (Red-necked Stint). — Small 

 parties of these birds were to be seen along the muddy margin 

 of the water, or where the flood waters were drying up on the 

 grass lands. 



Limnocinclus acimiinatus (Sharp-tailed Stint). — Still to 

 be seen in large flocks wherever there is sufficient water. It 

 was not uncommon to see these birds mingling with the pre- 

 ceding species as well as the following one. The three species 

 of birds moving quickly in one huge mass over the wet mud 

 where the receding waters had left much food for them. 



Ernlia ferruf/iiicn fliiiieiisis (Eaistern Curlew Sandpiper). 

 — A common bird up to the present time. 



Rostratula australis (Australian Painted Snipe). — This 

 was a common bird, and bred in the district. An odd pair is to 

 be seen almost every year. 



^^tiltia isahella (Australian Pratincole). — Visited the dis- 

 trict many years ago, and nested at Black Forest. 



Burhiims magnirostris (Eastern Stone Plover). — Once a 

 very common bird, nesting in numbers. One would flush a 

 dozen or more in an hour's walk, but they have almost com- 

 pletely disappeared. The fox is taking heavy toll of these birds. 



Austrotis australis (Australian Bustard). — Once a regular 

 visitor in the Autumn when they came after the black crickets, 

 and it was quite a common sight to see several of these fine 

 birds stalking over the fields and plains, but it is many years 

 since one has been seen in the district. 



Mathewsia ruhictinda (Australian Crane). — These birds 

 were plentiful when my grandfather settled in the district early 

 in 1836, but the writer has never had the pleasure of seeing 

 them here. 



Threskiornis molucca strictipennis (White Ibis).— Once a 

 fairly common bird ; an odd bird or two is still to be seen in 

 flor>d time. About three or four years ago while the district 

 was under flood a flock of 20 to 30 of those birds was in the 

 district for eiglit or ten days; they were very conspicuous in 



