G30 Mr. T. Carter un Licmctis pastinator. 



localities where the 1)ir(ls had once been plentiful, but had 

 not been seen for many years, and visited Mr. Muir's 

 station. On my arrival, however, I was told to my great 

 disappointment that the birds had been there early in 

 ]\Iarch in considerable numbers, but had left before the end 

 of that month. Mr. F. Muir. who manages his father's 

 station, told me that many years previously the Cockatoos 

 had been abundant and were very destructive to his corn- 

 crops. They then completely disappeared for many years, 

 but about three years ago had returned and were increasing 

 in numbers. He also said that they would come back again 

 as soon as the winter rains commenced. 



I stayed some days at this station, but, seeing no signs of 

 the birds wanted, returned home, and early in June received 

 a letter saying that the Cockatoos were at their old haunts! 

 Iti December last, through the great kindness of Mr. JNIuir, 

 who lent me a horse and carriage for the long drive from 

 the railway, I was able to revisit the swamps, where I spent 

 ten days. A few miles before arriving at the house 

 several pairs of Licmetis pastinator were observed flying 

 about, and when the corn-crop was sighted I had the 

 pleasure of seeing hundreds of the birds busily feeding on 

 the tops of the stooks, many of which were white Avith their 

 numbers, much to the disgust of Mr. F. Muir, who had 

 accompanied me. He begged me to shoot as many as 

 possible, and upon walking round the crop, some of which 

 Avas still uncut, his anger increased on finding that a strip 

 about two hundred yards in length, and thirty in width^ was 

 completely ruined by having been pulled down and trampled 

 flat on the ground by his unwelcome visitors (see text-fig. 11, 

 p, 631). To obtain specimens required a good deal of 

 patient stalking, which was often unsuccessful, as sentinel 

 birds were always placed on the summits of the lofty trees. 

 However, a good series of skins was obtained, and some 

 notes on the birds' " habits " made, for many of which I 

 am indebted to Mr. Muir. To my surprise, every Cockatoo 

 killed had the whole of the feathers on the under part of the 



