WHERE THE PELICAN BUILDS 141 



to stalking birds on the flats, but they were too wary 

 to come within range of the camera. White-fronted 

 Herons [Notophoyx novx-hollandix] and Bald-Coots 

 [Porphyrio melanonotus] were abundant, but it was 

 too early for nests, and, therefore, not worth my while 

 to explore the reed beds. The Coots looked splendid 

 as they moved easily over the mud, printing quaint 

 patterns with their feet. The sun shone on their 

 blue breasts and red legs and bills. The Herons, clad 

 in dark gray, with white cravats, were like Quakers 

 among the gay Porphyries. 



Lake Alexandrina, through which the Murray 

 River flows to the open sea, is navigated by a small 

 paddle steamer. The voyage to Meningie, on Lake 

 Albert, is tedious for passengers who are not in- 

 terested in bird-life. We made the trip on a cold, 

 gray day. At Narrung, a tiny port, the steamer 

 stopped for an hour to discharge merchandise and 

 take aboard live-stock. Several young natives, half- 

 castes from the Mission Station in the vicinity, were 

 at the jetty, and nearby stood a wurlie, which we in- 

 spected with interest. A gin answered my summons ; 

 she was a buxom woman of middle-age, neatly dressed 

 in the gipsy style blue print blouse and skirt, and a 

 coloured handkerchief tied over the head. A bright- 

 eyed piccaninny clung to her skirt. She spoke good 

 English, and answered our questions willingly. But 

 the bare-legged boy was shy ; he whimpered and dodged 

 behind his mother when she told him not to be silly, 

 but held out a little black hand when the white woman 

 offered a new penny. We paid two shillings for a 

 basket woven of reed stems, and then asked the gin 

 whether we might peep inside her dwelling. She 

 demurred for awhile, then raised a loose bag, which 

 formed the door. We did not enter; a quick glance 

 round was sufficient. Sacks covered the earth floor, 

 a pile of blankets occupied one side of the wurlie, 

 boxes and bundles of reeds were scattered around, 



