52 THE RIVER DARLING 



of the Darling region ; and is similar in habits to the 

 ground paroquet. It lives on the plains in scattered flocks 

 feeding on seeds and small insects, particularly ants ; and 

 like the last species, breeds on the ground, laying the 

 same number of eggs ; and though they are rather smaller 

 than those of the ground paroquet, it is difficult to distin- 

 guish the nesting-places of the two species. 



All these parrots are completely or partially migratory 

 — the distance and time of their migration depending on 

 the wetness or dryness of the season, and the consequent 

 scarceness or abundance of food. It is at the time of 

 migration that the largest flocks of cockatoos are to be 

 seen. I feel sure that I have seen as many as 10,000 of 

 the white species in a single flight ; and a grand sight they 

 presented to the bird-lover's eye. How the ground 

 paroquets migrate I do not know ; but I suspect, with 

 some reason, that they depart in small parties, and mostly 

 at night-time. 



As it is impossible to notice all the birds of the 

 Darling district I must be content to mention but two 

 more here. Quails are numerous, and conspicuous owing 

 to their frequent quarrels with the ground paroquets. These 

 latter birds try to drive them from their feeding grounds, 

 and the quails are valiant in defence of their rights. The 

 result is that the two birds are not found on the same spot, 

 but whenever one kind tries to invade the territory of the 

 other the squabbles are incessant and vicious. Both 

 parrots and quails occasionally lose their lives in the 

 contests. 



One of the noblest birds found on the Darling is the 

 large and beautiful stork (Mycteria australis). It seems 

 to be the most gregarious of the Australian herodiones ; 

 forty or more being sometimes seen together. It is often 

 as much as five feet in length ; and may often be seen 

 searching the half-dry water-holes for fish, on which it 

 preys to a great extent, but small mammals of the rat 

 kind, rat-kangaroos, lizards, and an occasional snake, are 

 also devoured by it. 



This stork is in the habit of rising in parties of ten or 



