^"'i^J^'"! Ford, Birds of Tanjil River and Ranges. 221 



Birds about the Tanjil River and Ranges, Victoria, 



1916-1917. 



Seen or Heard by H. W. Ford, R.A.O.U. 

 Black Swans {Chenopis atrata). — During July, 1916, these birds 

 used to fly over our camp between 7 and 8 p.m. nearly every 

 night, and always going west. On looking at the map, our camp 

 was in direct E. and W. liae between Gippsland Lakes and 

 Western Port Bay. During July, 1917, no Swans were heard 

 going over. 



Emu [Dromaiiis novcB-hollandice). — In March, 1917, a pair of 

 these birds came to eat the blackberries near camp, and were 

 seen for some time about. They were fairly tame. Two rifle- 

 shots heard where they used to feed ; birds never seen after. 



Black Ducks [Anas superciliosa). — A few pairs come up the 

 river to the lagoons or flats in the breeding season. They are 

 mostly shot before they rear their young. I have not seen any 

 others of the Duck tribe about here. 



Black-tailed Native-Hen {Trihonyx ventralis). — A few always 

 to be seen about the lagoons. They breed every year about same 

 place. 



Black Cockatoo {Calyptorhynchus fiinereiis). — Always about the 

 ranges. Nest in the district. 



Gang-Gang Cockatoo {Callocephalon galeatum). — Plentiful. 

 Nests seen in high gum-tree spouts in October to January. They 

 lay usually in October, and 3'oung leave the nests from December 

 to middle of January. Saw young come from nest on 15th 

 January, 1917. There are never more than two young as far as 

 seen, and fully as often only one young one. During the time 

 the young were growing they appeared to be fed on the seeds of 

 the silver wattle, which were not quite ripe ; in fact, the wattles 

 down the gullies nearly always had parties of Gang-Gangs — parents 

 and young — feeding in them. They were very quiet, and took 

 no notice of me passing beneath the trees. On 30th January, 

 1917, in forenoon, a flock of these birds came up the gully going 

 north, the flock being increased by other small parties coming 

 in from the ranges. The}' all went over the range to north. On 

 30th August, 1917, saw two pairs cleaning out nesting-holes. 



King Parrot [Aprosmictus cyanopygius). — Fairly plentiful. Called 

 " Spud Parrot " by selectors, as they attacked the potatoes when 

 dug and lying on ground, also maize crops and fruit (peaches). 



Crimson Parrot (Red Lory) {Platycercits elegans). — Always 

 here ; nested near our camp in November, 1916. Birds very 

 plentiful. 



Rosella {Platycercits eximius). — Alwa3'S here ; a few compared 

 to King Parrot and Red Lory. Nested in stump near our camp, 

 November, igi6 ; laid six eggs, brought out five young, and 

 reared the lot. Young birds left nest as under : — Two birds on 

 22/1/17, one bird on 24th, one on 26th, two on 27th — one in 

 forenoon and one in afternoon. The nesting stump was 14 feet, 



