^°'- I^-l Is^CGY., Birds Observed at the Great Lake. MO? 



1905 J ' / 



can procure its food and find the requisite shelter for its nest. In the 

 rivers of the eastern and open country portion of the island its favourite 

 resorts are the still, reed-fringed- reaches which are their chief charac- 

 teristic, and likewise the shallow brackish lagoons of the East Coast. 



Chenopis atrata. Black Swan. 



The Swan used to be numerous, more particularly at the south end, 

 where the shallow, weedy waters, now the haunt of fishermen, used to 

 furnish it with good feeding grounds. Its breeding grounds have 

 evidently been invaded, with the inevitable result. Small parties of 

 three to six were seen, chiefly in East Bay and South Lake ; and 

 a mob of about 17, containing one pure white bird, was observed on 

 Lake Elizabeth, mentioned above, which is situated in Howell's 

 Neck, half a mile from the shore of the Great Lake, and discharges 

 into it, by a normally dry watercourse, in flood time. This small lake 

 has reedy shores like an Indian jheel, and in all probability serves as a 

 breeding haunt. Swans are now scarce in all the smaller bays and brackish 

 lagoons on the east and north coasts. These haunts having been made 

 untenable by settlement, the birds resort now in great numbers to Moulting 

 Lagoon, north of Swansea. Here a big battue always takes place on the 

 opening day of the season, and this shoot apparently does not tend to 

 reduce the numbers, which may remain undiminished so long as the eggs 

 and nests are not interfered with. 

 Anserin.e (species — Anseranas sernipalmata ?). 



Several examples of a Goose, impossible to correctly identify, were seen 

 on the northern bays of the lake. It was always shy, passing the boat 

 at a long distance, either singly or in pairs, its conspicuous whitish, dark- 

 patched plumage recalling that of the Pied Goose, were it not that it did 

 not seem to contain enough black in it. The wariness of the wildfowl 

 on the Great Lake is much against their scientific identification. It can 

 only be ascribed, one would think, to the fact that boats are quite a 

 modern innovation on the lake, and its winged denizens have not yet 

 got accustomed to them. The flight of this Goose was low, near the 

 water, and not particularly swift — just a steady, straight-on-cnd progress, 

 typical of most members of the sub-family. 

 Anas SUPERCILIOSA. Black Duck. 



Large numbers of this fine bird frequent the lake, which is no doubt 

 used as a diurnal resort and resting place by hundreds of birds from the 

 maze of small lakes lying to the north-west and mentioned below. The 

 Wild Duck, like its allies noticed here, has become very shy on the lake, 

 scared, no doubt, by the sailing boats, a few of which have been installed 

 recently on the upper and more remote portions of Tasmania's " alpine 

 sea." Very little shooting takes place, the majority of the strangers 

 visiting the locality being either tourists or keen anglers. The where- 

 abouts of most Ducks on the lake, except the diving species, depends on 

 the weather, as the surface of its shallow waters is so quickly and 

 violently disturbed by the heavy prevalent westerly and north-westerly 

 winds that the wildfowl resort to certain sheltered spots and bays, 

 except when the lake is calm. The breeding season is no doubt late, as 

 quite a young bird was procured in the second week in March. 



Nettion castaneum. Teal. 



Small flocks of Teal consort with the Black Duck, and on one occasion 

 during a strong nor'-wester a large mob was met with in one of the 

 " Dvick-shelters." 



