THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 125 



but great was our disappointment on finding the two eggs just 

 hatched — in fact, one of the young was not yet entirely free from 

 the shell. This, the first nest of the parrot tribe, proved to be a 

 bad omen of all our trip, for all the other parrots' and cockatoos' 

 nests investigated were found to be very nearly about the same 

 stage : either the young hatched, or the eggs very close upon it. 

 This shows how regularly the birds commence breeding. Had 

 we been a fortnight earlier we should have taken eggs in nearly 

 every instance. 



After breakfast a Black-tailed Parrakeet's nest near our camp 

 was visited and found to contain four addled eggs and one young 

 bird newly hatched. It was also remarkable, during our trip, that 

 we should find such a number of addled eggs in parrots' nests. 

 A White-fronted Heron, Ardea novce-hollandice, was intently 

 watching our proceedings from its nest, situated in a tree almost 

 above our tent, but the nest had fledglings ; while in a tall gum 

 tree a short distance off a large stick nest was observed, and a 

 Sea-Eagle, Hcdiaetus leucogaster, soaring round above raised our 

 suspicions. The nest, however, had not been used that season, 

 but it had a new lining of fresh green leaves. 



It was highly interesting to notice at Lake Brambrook, besides 

 all along the old river's track, the water-marks left on the barrels 

 of all the gum trees, which now are high and dry. The marks 

 are no doubt from flood waters, and at Lake Brambrook they 

 were very distinct. Looking through the timber one could see 

 that the tree trunks below were of a darker colour and with hard, 

 corrugated bark, while above the high water mark the stems were 

 the usual smooth shining grey. This water-mark was fully 20 

 feet above the present level of the lake. At some remote period 

 this place must have been subject to periodical inundations. 

 Has this era of floods passed here ? 



Not having much time to spare we now essayed to push on 

 northward, and soon were in the saddle again. Rounding one 

 headland on the lake we surprised a flock of Coots, Fulica 

 australis. They were close in shore, feeding, and, being startled 

 by our sudden appearance, made off as fast as they could swim 

 for the open. There were many dozens in the flock, and, 

 swimming closely together, they appeared as a black mass 

 moving across the water. We soon left the lake behind, and 

 were making along the river's old bed. A nest of the Black- 

 backed Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen, was seen, containing one 

 young bird. Magpies were very uncommon in this region, only 

 an odd example of the Black-backed variety being seen. Another 

 White Cockatoo was disturbed, and flew off" screeching through 

 the timber. Two eggs, nearly hatched, were taken from the 

 nest. A little further on a third nest was discovered, but, being 

 in rather a difficult position, it was left alone. 



