82 Gilbert and Kkane, Black-eaved Cuckoo. [,^j "0^. 



The shape of the Black-eared Cuckoo's egg approximates to 

 that of the Bronze-Cuckoo (C. plagosiis), being shghtly larger in 

 size. In colour it ranges from salmon-chocolate to a deep 

 chocolate, and, when found in the nest of C. sagittata, whose eggs 

 it very closely resembles, is readily distinguished by its super- 

 ficial coating of pigment — ^which comes off when lightly rubbed 

 with the linger — its elongated shape, and the white composition 

 of its shell, whereas the pigment is incorporated in the shell of 

 C. sagittata. The adult appears to do most of its feeding on the 

 ground, as we have frequently flushed it while walking slowly. 

 Its flight resembles that" of the two Bronze-Cuckoos (C. basalts 

 and C. plagosus). 



Some Swamp Birds. 



By a. C. Stone, R.A.O.U., Melbourne. 

 (Read bejore the Bird Observers' Club, 16th April, 1913.) 

 I HAVE had opportunities of observing many Austrahan swam]) 

 birds in their natural habitat. The Murray River flats, which I 

 know well, have, up to the last few years, been subject to flooding 

 at longer or shorter periods from time immemorial. Now, huge 

 levee banks serve to keep the river within its bounds, but 

 in an abnormally wet season it is liable to break out at low- 

 lying places that are badly guarded. 



It is over twenty years since I first made the acquaintance of 

 the Murray flats and swamps, when but very little had been done 

 in the way of " banking." Many times have I sailed, poled, or 

 rowed a flat-bottomed boat across Lake Boga (which is nearly 

 3 miles wide), over the flats for a mile or two, direct across the 

 Little Murray ("Barne"),* hardly being able to distinguish the 

 river course (there are no bushes or trees lining its banks near 

 Lake Boga) ; then away over Pental Island (" Nyetnyetpert Buka- 

 rook"), across the Big Murray (" Millee "), and into the swamps 

 of New South Wales. With shotgun and rifle ready to hand, 

 there was nevei any difficulty in those good (or bad) old times 

 in keeping the larder more than well supplied. Lake Boga 

 (" Goiun-m ") is in a large lake system, and most of the lakes are filled 

 with fresh water from the backwaters and creeks at high water 

 mark. The shores of most of the lakes are plentifully sprinkled 

 with the kitchen middens, or ovens ("lukull"), of the now almost 

 extinct aborigines, which tell their tale of a former large popula- 

 tion, and vast supplies of fish and game ready to fall victims to 

 the skill of the native hunter. 



On such a trip as I have outlined above there was much to 

 please an observer. At one time we would be passing within a 

 short distance of large fleets of Black Swans (Chenopis atrata), 

 " Coonnoar," intent on pulling u}) the ribbon-weeds ("Narrelle"), 

 which in some seasons grow thickly in Lake Boga, and feeding 



* Lake Boga tribal names in inverted commas. 



