A Queensland Bush Story 143



A QUEENSLAND BUSH MYSTERY


A weird “ moo-moo ” sound, more subdued than that of a cow

or calf, is often heard at night-time in the Queensland bush, and there

are wide differences of opinion, even among bushmen, as to the source of

the sound, which is regarded by many with superstitious awe. A

recent controversy in the North Queensland Register, of Townsville,

does not seem to have completely solved the mystery, though it has

narrowed down the sound to one emanating from some member of

the animal creation. Some say snakes, others owls, and others again

mopokes, rats, porcupines, or quails. The balance of opinion is in

favour of a light-grey variety of quail, which usually haunts rosewood

scrub. Yet a naturalist whose word carries weight in Queensland

writes :—


“ The quail’s call note is easily recognizable, but the forest night

noise is different and a much lower sound, repeated more rapidly

than the quail’s call. You may approach the night noise stealthily,

and then fire a gun or make a noise that woidd scare away any bird ;

then retreat quietly, and the noise commences again in the same place,

“ M M M ”. Many people of the bush make pets of quails, and their

note is well known.”



CORRESPONDENCE


HABITS OF THE MOORHEN


Sies,—O n a small natural garden pond here close to the house

a pair of Moorhens hatch and rear two or three broods annually. As

they are fearless but independent their habits can be easily watched.


This year, as usual, they have two broods, the three survivors of

the first brood being now (27th July) full grown. There is a second

brood of which four survive, about three weeks old, being still in the

completely black downy stage. Natural food being extremely scarce

owing to the drought, and not a blade of green grass (their principal

food) existing, we feed them twice a day by throwing broken bread, etc.,

on the water-lily leaves. The family, consisting of nine birds, come



