SWAMP PHEASANT 103 



plantation proves that a long journey would never be under- 

 taken voluntarily. Not many months ago some blacks 

 walking on the beach on the mainland had their attention 

 attracted by a bird ilying low on the water from the 

 direction of Dunk Island, 2^ miles away. It was 

 labouring heavily, and some little distance from land fell 

 exhausted into the sea. When it drifted ashore — a god- 

 send to the boys — it was found to be a megapode — and the 

 feat was camp talk. None could credit that a " kee-rowan " 

 could fly so far. 



Swamp Pheasant 



The swamp pheasant, or pheasant coucal {Centropus 

 phasianus) is also an early bird, and a bird of varied 

 linguistic capabilities. Folks are apt to associate with him 

 but one note, and that resembling the mellow gurgle of 

 cream from a bottle, " Glooc ! glooc ! glooc ! glooc ! " An 

 intimate knowledge of his conversational powers leads one 

 to conclude that there are few birds more widely accom- 

 plished in that direction. He does use the fluid phrase 

 mentioned, but his notes and those of his consort cover 

 quite a range of exclamations and calls. Just as I write 

 a pair appeal for a just recognition of their accomplishments. 

 That which I assume to be the lord and master utters a 

 loud resonant " Toom ! toom ! toom ! toom ! " a smooth 

 trombonic sound, " hollow to the reverberate hills," which 

 his consort answers with a series of "Tum ! tum ! tum ! tum ! " 

 on a higher but still harmonious key, and in accelerated 

 tempo. This, I fancy, is the lover's serenade, and the 

 soft assenting answer; almost invariably the loud hollow 

 sound is the opening phrase of the duet. " Sole or 

 responsive to each other's note," the birds make the forest 

 resound again during the day, especially in the prime 

 months, and even these notes find varied and pleasing ex- 

 pression. Free and joyous as a rule, occasionally they 

 seem to indicate fjadness and gloom. During and after 

 a bush fire the birds give to the notes a mournful cadence 



