200 WHITE — Breeding Grounds on the Coorvug, 



the meeting place the man who had gone up from Meningie 

 was in waiting with the boat, and we put off for the island. 

 A large white patch of birds was soon seen on the elevated 

 part of the island, and there was a great string of birds com- 

 ing and going, some on their way to the Murray River, and 

 others on their way back with a load of golden carp for their 

 young. Pulling up to the high side of the island we landed, 

 and I crept quietly up and looked over the top. It was a fine 

 sight to see so many pelicans. They were of all ages, from 

 squabs not long hatched, to many ready to leave the island, 

 and there were also many old birds watching over their young. 

 I examined much of the food which had been vomited up by 

 the young birds in their agitation, and found that 

 there was not one marketable species of fish amongst 

 the lot, the bulk of the food being imported gol- 

 den carp, a useless fish, and amongst them a few 

 congolly. A , yellow-faced cormorant rookery was close 

 by, but only a few young birds remained, which joined 

 company with the young pelicans upon my approach. After 

 a few photographs had been taken I withdrew and returned to 

 the boat. Upon my return I visited the scene of an early 

 massacre, where a mass of headless bodies of young pelicans 

 still remained to mark the spot at which some cold-blooded 

 scoundrel had chopped off hundreds of these fine birds' heads 

 for the paltry sum of one penny each. 



It is grand to think those days are past, and that those 

 who authorised and took part in the shocking work now see 

 the mistake. Reaching the mainland we lit a fire, boiled 

 the billy, and partook of a lunch which our kind host had pre- 

 pared. 



We reached the homestead before dark, and next morning 

 my kind friend motored me in to Meningie to catch the early 

 morning boat. So ended a pleasant trip to the home of the 

 pelican and the swan. 



I am under a deep debt of gratitude to the McCallum 

 brothers of McGrath's Flat for all their kindness, and I was 

 delighted to make the acquaintance of such an energetic 

 vofficer and friend of the birds as M.C. Kaine. 



