August, 1908.] Tub: VICTUKIAN XATU KALIST. 65 



After lunch we started again, and soon came to a Little 

 Cormorant " rookery " in some stunted gum-trees, every available 

 portion of which was packed with nests of the Little Cormorant 

 and Little Black Cormorant, and there being more birds 

 than the trees could hold, the overflow had been obliged to 

 take to the higher trees round about. One often finds a 

 Whistling Eagle's nest in close proximity to such a rookery ; 

 doubtless the eagles take toll of the young cormorants for the 

 benefit of their own young. As we approached we could hear 

 a pulsating sound — a great purring, as it were — as the adult birds 

 attended to their maternal duties, and on getting near the rookery 

 the old birds rose as a cloud, which flashed black and white as 

 they circled round overhead. After a great deal of trouble we 

 secured photographs of the scene, which can hardly be described 

 in polite language. The young birds, in their fright, literally 

 pelted us with undigested food, in which large yabbies and frogs 

 predominated, and the general surroundings of the nests were far 

 from pleasant. 



Poling and paddling onwards we at length reach Reedy Lake, 

 and, as daylight is fast disappearing, look about for a dry spot to 

 pitch our tent. This takes some time, but finally a water-logged 

 knob with just sufficient room for our camp is found, and we are 

 soon ready for a night's repose. Next morning, owing to the 

 dearth of bird-life in this part of the district, we determine to 

 return by another route, noting many interesting birds as we 

 proceed. 



Our next journey was planned to occupy three days, as we 

 wanted to visit some " heronries " some distance away. We 

 proceeded up the Murray to the mouth of the Edwards, which, 

 instead of being a tributary of the Murray, receives its water from 

 that stream. Aided by a strong current, we made excellent 

 progress, though at several places snags and drift wood had to 

 be removed before our boat could pass. Several broods of Teal, 

 Nettion castaneum, and many Wood-Ducks, Chenonelta juhata^ 

 were seen. In one bank the tunnels of the Platypus were rather 

 numerous, and the footprints of the animal could be seen on the 

 sand at the entrance, just above water-level. The stream became 

 narrower, the trees denser and higher, and everywhere a dank, 

 swampy odour greeted the nostrils. The hoarse croaking calls 

 of herons could be heard ahead. Several White Egrets and 

 Nankeen Night-Herons, disturbed by our presence, arose and 

 flew away with that clumsy wheeling flight peculiar to the cranes 

 and herons. Nearly every tree was tenanted with the large stick 

 nests of the herons mentioned. At last we reached our destina- 

 tion, known as Reedy Nook, in the vicinity of St. Helena, a wild, 

 isolated, unfrequented locality, hence the name. 



At the camping ground we found the remains of an aboriginal's 



