36 Stonk, Some Swamp Birds. ^^J 



Oct. 



the bird's throat. The Snake-Bird, or Darter {Plains uovcv- 

 hollandice), " Gercarthin," when alarmed, sinks its body below 

 the surface of the water, and gets quietly away, with only the 

 top of its head and the long, sharp-pointed bill showing. It was 

 never abundant about Boga. The Little Crake (Porzana palustris), 

 " Tillip," and the Pectoral Rail [HypotcBnidia philippensis), 

 " Lerrup," are both shy birds. Their nests are found occasionally, 

 the maximum number of eggs in a clutch being six and ten 

 respectively. The Sharp-tailed Stint {Pisobia acuminata) is often 

 a common bird, and in favourable seasons every sand-spit round 

 some of the lakes is covered with them. 



In 1904 I found the Red-backed Parrot {Psephotus hcBmatonotus), 

 " Gechurt," nesting freely in the hollow gum-trees in the Yassam 

 swamp, the maximum number of eggs in a clutch being four. 

 Many of the hollow branches not occupied by the Parrot were 

 tenanted by the Tree-Martin {Petrochelidon nigricans). In 1892 

 the banks on either side of the creek which fills Lake Boga from 

 the Murray were lined with willow-trees, which had been planted 

 by the Moravian missionaries, the original cuttings coming from 

 a willow growing over Napoleon's grave at St. Helena. These 

 trees, with their green curtain of branchlets sweeping the face 

 of the creek, made a charming picture. These lower branches 

 were chosen by hundreds of Reed-Warblers {Acrocephalus aus- 

 tralis), " Garcoon Garcoon," for nesting. The reeds at the edge 

 of the creek were also filled with nests. In some seasons the Black- 

 tailed Native-Hens {Tribonyx ventralis), " Dallip," come in 

 thousands, and, after nesting, depart as speedily as they come. 

 I once found a nest of the Grass-Bird [Megalurus grarninetts) in a 

 polygonum bush which was surrounded by water. Two or three 

 feathers of the Black-tailed Native-Hen were built into the 

 nests, shafts down, the feathery portion completely doming the 

 nest. The Harrier, or Swamp-Hawk {Circus gonldi), " Birr," is 

 a common bird. It places its nest in long grass, in growing cro]\ 

 or in rushes in the middle of a swamp. 



Bird^Life on White Island (N.Z.) 



By W. R. B. Oliver, R.A.O.U., Auckland. 



There is scarcely a spot more delightful for the naturalist than 

 a remote island, where sea-birds resort each year for the purpose 

 of rearing their young, and where the balance of nature has not 

 been disturbed by the intrusion of man. Such places are 

 becoming fewer every year : but, thanks to their inaccessibility, 

 rough and rocky surface, and often inhospitable climate, many 

 islands still exist in their primeval condition in the southern 

 seas. Included in the New Zealand biological region are some 

 of the most interesting of the nurseries for sea-birds. 



Though not a rendezvous for many of the ocean Petrels, White 

 Island is. nevertheless, of interest to the ornithologist as the 



