QUEENSLAND and NORTHERN TERRITORY 25 



Trans-Continental New Guinea to Spencer Gulf, 



S.A. 

 Annual and regular in the State North and South, 



both coastal and inland. 

 Periodic and irregular West to East in time of 



big drought. 

 Nomadic in the Western part of the State in times 



of minor droughts. 

 Coastal insular: summer season. 



So far as Australia is concerned, luxurious 

 Queensland has sent over a large number of its 

 species. Thus population has got to Victoria in 

 the south, and the Northern Territory in the west. 

 Out from this right angle a number of desert birds 

 have gained their origin. They are the Eyrean 

 species or races, while the coastal birds are the 

 line of Tasmanian species. 



In such a season as the present one, Queensland 

 is magnificently grassed, and the Grass Finches 

 multiply to an extent that gives a special feature 

 to the fauna of the Commonwealth. 



A dry spell coming, these great flocks make for 

 higher ground with water and food. The water 

 sheds are so arranged in the inner part of the 

 north-eastern half as to be an asylum for millions 

 of birds in dry seasons, and to an extent we can 

 scarcely realise. They come in from the Diamen- 

 tina, Thomson, Barcoo and Warrego parched 

 country, sadly worn and needing the change. 



