152 . IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS. 



manner. Sometimes a detachment would form fours, 

 as it were, and, with heads erect, wade for a few yards 

 before beginning to feed again. 



Our driver was highly amused by the scientific 

 names of different birds, and attempted to memorise 

 some for the benefit of his friends in the township. 

 Strepera fuliginosa took his fancy, but he insisted that 

 the specific name of the Black Bell-Magpie should be 

 pronounced "Let-you-know-Sir." 



We arrived at Meningie just in time to miss the 

 steamer, which crosses the lakes once every two days. 

 We profited by what at first appeared to be a stroke 

 of ill-luck, for one of the spare days was spent on 

 Campbell Park Station, among the Ostriches. The 

 boy who drove us to the homestead on Lake Albert was 

 a fellow of infinite jest, and he entertained us by re- 

 lating his own experiences with Ostriches. One day, 

 when riding his bicycle across a paddock, he was con- 

 fronted by a row of the big birds, which barred his 

 way to the gate. Dismounting, he manoeuvred for a 

 few minutes, and made a dash when the chance came. 

 He was glad to be on the safe side of the gate, for 

 male Ostriches are not pleasant company when they 

 are angry. On another farm a man, who was un- 

 familiar with the ways of Ostriches, hung his watch 

 on a nail in a fence post, near the spot where he was 

 working. Half an hour later he saw the chain dangling 

 from the beak of a male bird. This anecdote was 

 followed by others, until the last paddock gate had 

 been shut behind us, and Campbell House appeared 

 in sight. 



We were welcomed by Mr. A. P. Bowman, who 

 drove us out to the Ostrich paddocks, where hun- 

 dreds of the birds were seen. They are noted for 

 curiosity, and when the buggy entered the first pad- 

 dock a number of birds stalked up and gazed solemnly 

 at us. The males, after awhile, began to display 

 jealousy. If one came forward to win a better view, 



