100 MORGAN— BinU on the Hirer Murray. 



Ocypliaps lophotes (Crested Bronzewing). — Common in the • 

 malle scrub about Renmark. Only seen once on the river 

 bank. A number of them was seen near Paringa about a 

 heap of "cocky chaff." 



Phaps chalcoptera (Bronzewing Pigeon) — A single bird 

 seen on the river bank near Renmark. 



Gallinula tencbrosa (Moorhen) — Only two birds seen 

 throughout the journey. Each was swimming in the river, 

 and ran up the bank on the approach of the steamer. 



Fulica atra tasmanica (Coot). — Seen, in pairs or small 

 flocks, throughout the trip. Nowhere numerous. 



The bald-coot Porphyris melanotus was not seen at all, 

 although there was no lack of situation suitable for it. 



Lobibyw novae-liollandiae (Spur- winged Plover). — Seen in 

 pairs throughout the trip ^generally on sandspits jutting out 

 into the stream. Not numerous. 



Zonifer tricolor (Black-breasted Plover). — One large flock 

 seen on a dry bare flat near Renmark. 



Elseya melanops (Black-fronted Dotterel). — Seen in pairs 

 throughout the trip, on the river bank and the edges of 

 swamps. 



Burhinus magmrostris (Scrub Curlew or Stone Plover). — 

 Frequently heard at night. One pair seen on a gum flat near 

 Renmark. 



Carphibis spinicollis (Straw-necked Ibis). — Common about 

 Renmark, and from there to Wentworth ; not seen lower down 

 the river. The white Ibis was not seen. 



Platibis flavipes (Yellow-billed Spoonbill). — Seen occa- 

 sionally from Renmark upwards. At a place on the Vic- 

 torian part of the river, where there is a large heronry, 

 these birds were seen in numbers flying over the tree tops. 

 Dr. Chenery, of Wentworth, who visited this heronry early in 

 March, found nankeen night herons, white necked herons, 

 egrets, and spoonbills nesting in numbers in the tall gums, 

 All the birds except the nankeen herons, which were still 

 sitting, had large young. From the steamer only a few nests 

 were visible, but nankeen herons, white-necked herons and 

 spoonbills were flying over the tops of the trees in great num- 

 bers, and hundreds of young nankeens were roosting in the 

 trees near the water. We did not see any white egrets. 

 They had probably all left, as a month earlier Dr. Chenery 

 found full grown young ones. Over this heronry about forty 

 whistling eagles were constantly soaring, probably on the 

 lookout for dead young birds or dropped fish. 



