96 stray Feathers. [ ..^"^"cl 



northern plains. Most of the notes sent remarked on the 

 appearance of these birds in large flocks before heavy rain, and 

 it is on the " weather prophesying " powers and several other 

 interesting habits of these birds that 1 am writing these notes. 

 This graceful bird may often be seen, irrespective of flood or 

 drought, in some parts of this district. Indeed, I have seen 

 them on a practically dry creek, where waterholes were very 

 few and far between. I first noticed in the latter end of 1907 

 that small flocks haunted the above-mentioned creek, which was 

 getting drier every week. This, coupled with the fact that 

 the birds showed no intention of going, roused my interest, 

 and I gave more time to recording numbers than I had hitherto 

 done. By the end of November, and during the first two or 

 three weeks of the ensuing month, their numbers increased 

 rapidly. True, we had numbers of grasshoppers, but, knowing 

 that this bird is essentially a water-loving one, I began to ask 

 myself whether it was possible that their increase meant an early 

 hint of the drought. On the 26th December my views were 

 confirmed, for we had the most bounteous rain that one engaged 

 in pastoral pursuits could ever wish to see. Three inches fell, 

 and very soon the creek and all watercourses were flooded. The 

 birds increased, and evidently enjoyed themselves, but as soon 

 as the creek stopped running, which it soon did, owing to the 

 great heat of January and February, they left in companies 

 almost as suddenly as they had come. Their departure was no 

 mean omen, for we had real drought till the middle of the 

 following May, when they returned again shortly before the 

 break, although not in large numbers. 



My next observations come into this present year. I write 

 now from what we term the low country of the plains, as it is 

 more or less composed of swamp and rough black, crab-holey 

 cattle country. The above notes were taken on the same 

 creek, but on the high red country of the plains. I find that 

 there is a great difl"erence in the two as regards the Hens, for, 

 while they can be found at any time in larger or smaller numbers 

 in the high country, it is only at certain times that they visit us 

 here. 



About loth May, 1909, these birds came in vast numbers to 

 the high country, and literally swarmed the banks of the creek. 

 On the 13th a very heavy rain set in, and by the 15th 3 inches 

 had fallen. As may be expected, the creek came down in 

 tremendous flood in a couple of days, but scarcely had the rain 

 started when the birds were to be seen in vast flocks congregated 

 on the higher ground above flood-level, eating moths, flying ants, 

 and other unfortunate water-logged insects. Though this place 

 is only 33^^ miles as the Crow flies from the high country, 

 the flood waters of first rains take three or four days to reach 

 here, but before that time we had huge flocks of these birds 



