136 IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS. 



There was a day to spare before taking the track 

 that led to Sugar Gum Camp, and it was devoted to 

 a trip to Kellidie Bay. We travelled in comfort, for 

 our farmer-friend made room for three in his buggy, 

 and the back-blocks vehicle, with the broken spring, 

 carried a comparatively light load. As we drove 

 along the road near the sea, Rock-Parrots [Euphema 

 petrophila] rose from long grass beyond the wheel 

 tracks and flew to the nearest trees, where they 

 perched in rows. Two birds were shot for identifica- 

 tion; on the wing they resembled the Grass-Parrot 

 [E. elegans] . I deplored this slaughter, but it was 

 deemed necessary. A search was made for nests 

 among the scattered rocks, but none was found. 

 However, when we reached Coffin's Bay Station 

 homestead, which overlooks Kellidie Bay, we were 

 informed that many birds were breeding on Goat 

 Island, which lay about "a quarter of a mile" from 

 the shore, near the outlet to the sea. Boats were 

 placed at our disposal, and we rowed across to the 

 islet. As the boats drew near, somebody fired a gun, 

 and a minute later the air was thronged with birds. 

 From behind the Mesembryanthemum, which draped 

 the rock ledges, Rock-Parrots appeared in hundreds; 

 from dark nesting places into the light they came, 

 alarmed by the report that echoed around their 

 retreat. Beautiful they looked, with golden-green 

 plumage shimmering in the sun. Petrophila the 

 rock-lover was ever a bird more happily named? 

 Some of us had not previously seen these birds alive, 

 in their native haunt, and were enchanted when they 

 came flying over our heads. 



Goat Island is less than two acres in extent. Its 

 rugged shores, rising steeply from the water, are 

 honeycombed, the sea having fretted the soft rock 

 (dune limestone) for countless centuries. The 

 vegetation on the flat surface of the isle consists 

 chiefly of small, wiry shrubs and grasses, while, as 



