156- THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



(P. melanoleucus), the former often uttering their curious cry. 

 A Uttle further away from the house ducks used occasionally to 

 come and feed among the water lilies, which at this time of the 

 year nearly covered the water, and their light-blue flowers had a 

 very pretty effect. A pair of Whistling Eagles had built three 

 nests, at different times, on a high gum tree near the water about 

 300 yards from the house, and a pair of young birds had just left 

 the nest and were learning to forage for themselves. On one 

 occasion Mr. Barnard took their eggs and placed some guinea 

 fowls' eggs there instead ; but although the birds sat on them, 

 they did not succeed in hatching them. Some hens' eggs are to 

 be placed in the nest at some future date, and it will be interesting 

 to see how the foster parents will treat them when hatched, as 

 they have a weakness for taking chickens to feed their young on, • 

 and also to eat themselves, when they have the chance. This 

 pair of birds have been living there for some years, and they 

 carry off any stray pieces of meat or fat they find lying about. 

 On a dead branch just over the water the lively Black and White 

 Wagtail was rearing its brood of three little ones. A Restless 

 Flycatcher, or Shepherd's Companion, also had its nest on a 

 neighbouring tree, well out of reach, and on a box tree close by ■ 

 the small, open nest of the Campephaga humeralis was discovered 

 at the end of a thin bough. Mr. H. Barnard climbed up, and, 

 fastening a spoon on the end of a long stick, carefully lifted the 

 tivo eggs out, one by one, and brought them safely down. The 

 creek near the' homestead was "not running at the time I was 

 there, but there were several deep waterholes in it, and. on one . 

 occasion we went fishing and caught several perch and some 

 large eels. Another fair-sized fish, called the Jewfish, is often 

 caught here, but I did not see one. On our return we saw a 

 pair of Bee-eaters flying about, so we looked about for their nest, 

 which was soon found ; it was a small hole in the ground, with a 

 large chamber at the end, and contained four while eggs. In 

 some long grass we disturbed what is called the Pheasant 

 Cuckoo, but it breeds very early in the season, and, although a 

 cuckoo, makes its own nest in a thick bunch of long grass and 

 lays three white eggs. A Sulphur-crested Cockatoo also had its 

 nest in a hole high up in a gum tree near where we were fishings 

 and the dogs discovered a bandicoot, but in their excitement lost 

 it in the long grass. Kangaroo Rats were also plentiful about 

 here, and the blacks brought in a young one alive ; a bush rat is 

 also caught in traps occasionally, being much darker in colour 

 than our imported variety. 



After having spent a pleasant fortnight at Mr. Barnard's 

 home, I left, in company with Mr, H. Barnard, . for Townsville. 

 On the drive in the early morning to the railway station, some 

 15 miles, we nearly drove over a Brown Snake, but it was totf 



