THE MALLEE COUNTRY 97 



cruised around reedbeds, where their nests were con- 

 cealed. 



Kulkyne, a cattle station, was my headquarters, 

 and when the steamer dropped me at the landing I 

 received an Australian welcome from Mr. C. Thomp- 

 son, the manager, and other station folk. For several 

 days I rambled around the homestead with camera 

 and field-glasses, and every hour was crowded with 

 interest. Numbers of birds were nesting on a small 

 island opposite the homestead. The Station Creek 

 flowed along one side, junctioning with a large billa- 

 bong at the eastern end of the long flake of slightly 

 elevated land, wh\ch was shaped like a boomerang. 

 Crested Pigeons' nests were found on the islet, built 

 near the ground in dense, prickly bushes ; Wood Swal- 

 lows, Parrots, and other birds were also rearing 

 broods. 



Beneath a straggling clump of boxthorn was the 

 bower of a pair of Spotted Bower-Birds [Chlamydera 

 maculata]. It was neatly and strongly built. At 

 either end was a collection of bright objects bleached 

 bones, pieces of weather-worn glass, green and blue, 

 some blue feathers, fresh glossy leaves, a few red 

 berries, a bit of perforated zinc, and other odds and 

 ends that the birds had gathered from far and near. 

 Conspicuous among the Bower-Birds' treasures were 

 five glass bottle stoppers and a big pellet of lead. 



Through and around their bower the builders 

 run, tossing about the bones and other objects, and 

 evidently delighting in the play. Bower-Birds are 

 persecuted by settlers in the fruit-growing areas along 

 the Murray, for they are alleged to be destructive in 

 the orchards. The evidence is strong, but it is sad 

 to hear of hundreds of these wonderful birds being 

 shot. Unless they are afforded strict protection, I 

 fear that the species will become extinct in the near 

 future ; indeed, this fate threatens several other beau- 

 tiful and interesting Mallee birds. 



