Voi.xvi.j BARtiARD. Bird-life as Affected by Drought. 235 



Referring particularly to the district round about Coomoo- 

 boolaroo. Central Queensland, I can mention the case of the 

 Beautiful Parrot [PsepJtohis pulcherrimus). Previous to the terrible 

 drought of 1902 it was not very uncommon to sec a pair of these 

 birds when out mustering on the run, and on two occasions nests 

 were found, but since that year not a single specimen has been 

 seen. 



About the year 1882, when on a collecting trip to Fairfield, a 

 station about 70 miles south of CooraoobooJaroo, many of these 

 birds were seen, and several sets of eggs taken. 



Since 1902 I have frequently asked the people living at Fairfield 

 to keep a look-out for the birds, but they report that none has 

 been seen. I have also been in the vicinity myself, but saw no 

 birds. The reason of their disappearance is not hard to discover. 

 For three years previous to the climax of the drought in 1902 

 there had been no wet season, and very little grass grew, con- 

 sequently there was little seed ; then the worst year came on, in 

 which no grass grew, so that the birds could not find a living, and 

 either perished or migrated. As there was more grass on the 

 coastal country, the latter is possible, but if so, it is strange that 

 they have not found their way back to their original haunts. 



Then we have the case of the Scarlet-backed Malurus {M. 

 nielanocephalus). These little birds were always numerous in the 

 long grass, but after that drought not one was seen on the run for 

 at least' three years, but since then an odd little flock has been 

 seen. It is possible that as the grass became scarce inland they 

 worked their way towards the coast, where the grass was longer. 

 The year after the drought I had occasion to be on the coast 

 country, and noticed numbers of Malurus in the long grass. 



During the year of drought many of the far western birds came 

 into our district, notably the Ground Graucalus [Ptevopodocys 

 phasianella). Western Miner [Myzantha fiavigula), and Cockatoo- 

 Parrot. 



The Bustard, or Plain Turkey, is rarely seen in our district, but 

 when a bad season occurs in the West, they work in towards the 

 coast, and last winter I shot a female weighing 17 lbs. When 

 plucking the feathers off I was surprised to find spear grass seed 

 sticking thickly into the skin, principally round the base of the 

 neck, Init more or less all over the body, many of the " spears " 

 being completely embedded in the flesh. Now, hundreds of these 

 birds would find their way back to the Western plains, and 

 eventually drop the dreaded spear grass in the sheep country. 



In 1903 I was up towards the Gulf country, and was told that 

 the Bustards were driven in towards the Gulf by the drought the 

 previous year, and that hundreds died from drinking the salt water 

 in the salt-pans. 



The poor Laughing Jackass {Dacelo gigus) had a bad time in that 

 year, and numbers died. Several times three or four were seen 

 lying under the night-roost, and for some years after the drought 

 it was rare to hear a " corrobboree " in the early morning. Now, 



