84 Stone, Some Swamp Birds. [isf'ou 



birds stretching for over a mile on the lake, with a Pelican or a 

 Swan, Cormorants of different species, Australian Coots {Fiilica 

 australis), " Tdaich," and Ducks — especially Hardhead or White- 

 eyed Duck {Nyroca australis), " Garrut " — here and there. Flying 

 thickly overhead were hundreds of Marsh Terns {Hydrochelidon 

 fluviatilis), " Garwit," and Silver Gulls {Larus novce-hoUandice), 

 " Barpethen." If anything happened to alarm them, such as the 

 report of a rifle or the approach of a boat, the birds whose usual 

 mode of progression was by flight would de])art, while the Musk- 

 Duck would, with head and shoulders stretched forward, rush 

 through the water with a side to side movement. The noise thus 

 made resembles the roar of a train — in fact, living about 300 yards 

 from the railway station, I was often deceived by it. At certain 

 times of the year the Musk-Duck is able to fly, and I have more 

 than once known one to be shot in full flight, at dusk, in mistake 

 for Black Duck {Anas siiperciliosa), " Nyree." The Musk-Duck 

 makes a rather bulky nest of water-weeds, and generally lays 

 four eggs. The Black or Straw-necked Ibis {Carphibis spinicollis), 

 " Gnargourelle," White Ibis [Ibis molucca), " Cukcuk," and Glossy 

 Ibis {Plegadis falcinelliis) were all to be seen without much 

 difficulty, and the nests of the two former species, in favourable 

 seasons, would cover acres of half-dry swamp land. The Ibis 

 was always well spoken of by the farmer, and especially the 

 irrigationist, for the good done by the bird in eradicating insect 

 pests. I remember an instance in which an invasion of cater- 

 pillars or grubs threatened the destruction of crops ; but in a day 

 or two the plague was entirely cleaned out by a succeeding 

 invasion of Ibises. Australian Coots were generally much in 

 evidence, and, if sufficient rain had fallen in spring or autumn, 

 were to be seen in thousands, feeding on the succulent herbage 

 which so quickly springs up in the sandy soil on the lake banks. 



On the check-banks of the flooded area of Fish Point I dis- 

 covered, one season, a large rookery of the White-headed Stilt 

 {Himantopiis leucocephahis), " Kercumbul." There were many 

 hundreds of nests. The approach of a stranger was the signal 

 for a great disturbance among the Stilts, or " Bulldogs," as the 

 fishermen called them, in consequence of their call resembling the 

 "yap" of a puppy. They also, when disturbed, hopped con- 

 tinually out of the water. On the outskirts of one of these 

 rookeries I found nesting the Spur-winged Plover [Lobivanellus 

 lobatus), " Barretch Barretch," Red-kneed Dottrel [Erythrogonys 

 cinctus), and Red-necked Avocet {Recurvirostra rubricollis). Within 

 two miles (205 miles from the coast-line), in depressions on a 

 higher bank, were scores of the nests of the Silver Gull [Larus 

 novcB-hollandice), " Barpethen," each containing eggs — from one 

 to three. I regret to say that, within a few days, all the eggs were 

 destroyed, the delinquent being some prowling bird or beast. 



The Bald-Coot (Porphyrio melanonotus), " Beenbing." is a 

 common Lake Boga bird. The nest is composed of reeds, bitten 

 into short lengths, and placed in a thick mass of reeds. The 



