A J. 
Data Campbell's No. of 
Eggs. 
No. 
399 
310 
No 
.in 
Book. 
~J 
w 
THE JACKSONIAN OOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 
Cormorants, was observed driving the shoals of fish off the weed-covered flats, where they were pro- 
tected, into the clear and shallower water, where they could be more relentlessly attacked. The army 
of birds poised, wheeled, and plunged amongst the shoals in a serried line, and drove the fish before 
them irresistibly. The water would boil for a few minutes with the bodies of the plunging birds, who, 
as if at a given signal, would rise clear to sight their prey, and again and again swoop down upon 
them, until the fish were driven into the desired place. They feasted until they were gorged. It will 
be seen therefore that the destructive habits of these birds, amongst young fish, is a very serious matter, 
and is the cause of great loss, and some steps should be taken to effect a remedy. An average speci- 
men of this set measures = 1°93 x 1°18. 
Splendid set of 5 eggs. Locality and data same as latter set, No. 308. All the eggs of the 
Cormorant family are thickly lime-coated, and beneath the lime the egg is of a pale greenish blue, the 
surface of which is minutely pitted all over. This clutch shows the blue here and there between the 
clouds, or irregular shaped patches, of lime on them, and makes it a very interesting and pretty set. 
SNAKE-NECKED DARTER, 
Plotus nove hollandiea, Gould. 
Set of 3 eggs, locality and data same as preceding set of 
Cormorants (No. 308.) Nest was placed 35 feet from the 
ground, on a short horizontal branch of a Swamp Oak (Casua- 
rina glauca), leaning over Harrington Creek, on the 11th of 
September, 1898. For full particulars see data No. 307. An 
average specimen of this set measures = 2°13 x 1°47. 
Set of 3 eggs, taken at Gerrymberrym, above Grafton, on 
the Clarence River, New South Wales, on the 19th of Novem- 
ber, 1894. The nest was built ina River Oak (Casuarina 
Cunninghamiana), which stood on the very edge of the river 
bank, and was situated at an elevation of 30 feet, on a hori- 
zontal limb leaning out over the water. I still have the nest in 
my possession, and the limb upon which it was built. Itis a 
large stick structure, measuring 20 inches across, and has a 
very slight depression in the centre for the eggs. This is one 
of the first clutches of these rare eggs taken in New South 
Wales, that is to say, as far as records show us. We noticed 
that both birds sit on the nests in turn. When taking this 
clutch, the birds left the Oaks, and circled high up overhead 
above the nest, and they gradually got higher and higher, until 
their large forms assumed the proportion of mere specks, and -/-. Vesper 7 ee the Snake- 
ultimately they disappeared altogether. It was the first time I Tacs avabla ene Ricee 
saw such a large bird fly up out of sight ; of course if it was a (See data No. 310.) 
small species I could readily understand it being lost to one’s 
vision. It was a surprise to us the way those Darters vanished. Taken by W. McEnerny, Frank and 
Sid. W. Jackson. An average specimen of this set measures in inches = 2°47 x 1°47. 
