7& THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



green, and when it is well cropped by sheep or cattle, as 

 short as in any English meadow. Daisies and buttercups 

 are lacking, but the brilliant yellow of the latter flowers is 

 imitated by that of a ranunculus which grows in myriads ; 

 and other attractive and brightly coloured wild flowers 

 may be found in great variety by the diligent collector. 



Large tracts of these northern plains are marshy 

 during the winter season, and harbour vast numbers of 

 wild-fowl, especially in those districts, mostly on the 

 banks of the rivers, which are covered with rushes. The 

 most notable bird among these is, perhaps, the pied-goose 

 {Anseranas melanoleucas), which looks as much like a huge 

 crow as a goose. The beak, in the first place, is not of 

 the typical anserine shape, but is bent, or arched ; and the 

 feet, also, are abnormal, being furnished with strong claws, 

 and only partially webbed. The bird spends much of its 

 time perched on low trees, and does not often enter the 

 water. Yet it is fond of marshy places, and preys on 

 such reptiles and insects as are found in damp spots ; 

 particularly it feeds greedily on the fish and eels which are 

 found in the partially dry river pools and water-holes. 



Not only is this bird crow-like in outward appearance, 

 but its notes also are hoarse and croaking, resembling 

 those of a raven. Sometimes it is very noisy and calls 

 incessantly for a long time. At other times its hoarse 

 cries may be heard as it wheels, in small flocks, through 

 the air. It does not fly in ranks like geese in general, 

 and seems to migrate from one part of the country to 

 another according to the scarcity or abundance of food in 

 a district. I have never seen it in large flocks, but there 

 are always a number together — perhaps a dozen or twenty, 

 and sometimes nearly a hundred. If a hawk should happen 

 to seize one, the remainder of the flock combine to attack 

 it, which they do with many fierce cries and great hubbub. 

 At a homestead near Dunkeld the owner had imported 

 several birds from England, and turned them loose in his 

 grounds in the hope that they would breed and establish 

 themselves. Amongst these were four or five pairs of 

 robins and some larks. The larks disappeared, but one 



