144 COLLECTOR'S RAMBLES 



and daintiness, perched upon the dead branches of gum- 

 trees overhanging the water ; snow-white egrets, their 

 plumage contrasting strikingly with the landscape, 

 waded among the water-plants ; cormorants with their 

 bodies submerged so that their necks and heads alone 

 were visible above the water, kept a sharp eye on the 

 intruder, holding themselves in readiness to dive at the 

 slightest sign of danger ; pelicans sat in long rows 

 upon the muddy flats ; ducks and geese covered the 

 larger pools ; jacanas ran about on the lily-pads, looking 

 as if walking on the water ; spur-winged plovers dis- 

 puted with the larks the privilege of the meadow ; 

 great cranes stalked about the grassy fields ; while high 

 overhead flow the eagles, on the lookout for a dinner. 

 Amid this variety and profusion, I made the most of 

 every moment, and obtained a good choice of the birds 

 found there. 



One day while wandering round the lagoons, I saw 

 for the first time that strange bird, the musk duck 

 (Eiziura lobata). I had often heard of him, and seen 

 stuffed specimens, but never before a live one. There 

 were two of them, a male and a female. They were 

 very shy, keeping well out in the water. As there 

 were no trees or bushes to conceal me, I hid behind 

 some reeds and sat down to wait, hoping the birds 

 would come my way, but they seemed to be very well 

 aware that there was danger, and kept the other side of 

 the pond. A farmer passed by my hiding-place, and 



