Vol. XIII. 



1913 



] Stone, Some Swamp Birds. 83 



on the soft roots and Crustacea to be obtained thereby. Then 

 one's attention would be drawn to a string of Pied Geese {Anseranas 

 melanoleitca), " Gnack," passing almost overhead from one reed- 

 bed to another, "honk-honking" as they went. Thousands 

 were to be seen with little trouble, and they nested in the snake- 

 infested reed-beds at some seasons. They were unsuspicious birds, 

 and could be easily shot Settlement has driven them far away, 

 and it is years since I saw one in the district. Rounding a bend 

 in the swamp, we would come into view of a sand-spit on which 

 would be perhaps over a hundred Pehcans {Pelecanus con- 

 spicillatus), " Nynungourk," sunning themselves after a successful 

 fishing expedition. I have often seen hundreds of these birds 

 together on a moonlight night, swimming after a shoal of fish. 

 Their general habit at such times is to bunch together, shoulder 

 to shoulder, and they make a great commotion, eating the fish 

 and swimming at great speed. The Pelican's power of vision is 

 very great, and in passing from one sheet of water to another at 

 any distance it reaches a great altitude, and soars on outspread 

 wings in spirals before departing, and, again, previous to alighting. 

 My observations go to prove that these birds, in their natural 

 state, feed ])rincipally upon small fish, although not disdaining 

 a larger one if in the way. A wounded bird will sometimes 

 disgorge a hatful of small fish. The Pelican swims very high in 

 the water. 



On a sloping river-bank were to be seen large flocks of Wood- 

 Duck or Mailed Geese {Chlamydochen juhata), " Nannuck," and, 

 stalking through the shallow water, Australian Egrets {Herodias 

 synnatophorus), " Cathupbee Mununderra," White-necked Herons 

 {Notophoyx pacifica), " Waan," W^hite-fronted Herons {Notophoyx 

 novcB-hollandice), " Carthinbung," Yellow-billed Spoonbills {Platibis 

 flavipes), " Toop-toop," and, perhaps, an odd Black-billed Spoon- 

 bill {Platalea regia), " Naangourelle." The last-named species 

 nested in an adjoining lake some years ago Sometimes a Falcon 

 or other bird of prey would go flashing over a flock of Teal 

 {Nettiiim gibherifrons), " Binnar," its progress being marked by 

 a long succession of dives and splashes as the Ducks, in turn, 

 attempted to evade the enemy. In the distance, on higher 

 ground, were Australian Bustards (Choriofis australis), " Gnarrow," 

 in numbers : I have counted up to 32 in the field of vision. The 

 Australian Crane {Antigone auslralasiana), " Gootthun," was, 

 several years ago, in the estimation of some farmers, among the 

 pests of the wheat-lands, and was poisoned wholesale with 

 strychnined wheat. I have never heard of these birds nesting 

 freely near Lake Boga. I remember following a wounded Crane 

 for over half a mile — across a ploughed paddock, through the 

 native tobacco scrub, and over sand-hills. Suddenly the trail 

 which I was following disappeared, and was replaced, at right 

 angles, by the tracks of a fox, who secured a dinner at my expense. 



Musk-Duck {Bizinra lohata), " Goolwill," were especially 

 common ; on many occasions I saw a wide, irregular band of these 



