122 The Queensland Naturalist. Vol. I. 
its voice (if one may call it so) to express its different 
emotions. I have noticed five of these, as follows : — 
Firstly is one which may be called a glad carol ; this is 
its loudest and clearest effort, being usually heard at day- 
break on a spring morning, and at the advent of bright 
sunlight after rain. Secondly come the calls to its kind. 
To anyone who has heeded these at all, the intonation at 
once proclaims whether the bird is just starting in flight, 
or is in full flight ; whether it is w^anting to know the 
whereabouts of others ; or whether it is advising its own 
position. The first-named consists of one or two short 
sharp notes, followed by gradually lengthening ones, until 
they are uttered at regular intervals as the full flight call. 
Of the two latter, the first-named is a distinct eager thrill, 
whilst the other is a smooth note. Number three is a note 
used to express grief ; this I have heard it use when its 
nest had been disturbed and on the approach of a storm. 
During the winter these birds are gregarious, but on the 
approach of the nesting season, this order is changed, and 
they hunt in pairs. At such time they are almost silent, 
except an oft-repeated little chirp, which is evidently 
used to keep in touch with one another whilst foraging. 
The other note or notes is the power of mimicry referred 
to above, which is undoubtedly worth hearing at any 
time. In person, this interesting little bird is unattractive, 
being attired in dull olive-green plumage, somewhat greyer 
on the under surfaces. The distinctive mark is a ring 
of silver- white feathers round the eye. 
Another bird whose note I had occasion to remark 
was the Coach Whip Bird {Psofhodes crepitans), though 
in this instance a solitary specimen. At the end of its 
whip-like note it added two of the notes of the Harmonious 
Shrike Thrush {Collyriocincla harmonica). This I thought 
was a striking hall-mark of its relationship to the shrikes. 
Somewhere in the creek at the head of the reservoir, 
a pair of Spur- Winged Plover are nesting. These were 
very jealous of my intrusion, and circled round, uttering 
their shrill note. They get particularly bold at this time, 
and though Avhilst I stood and Avatched them, they would 
keep a respectable distance, immediately I turned to 
walk on they would swoop down quite close. 
Among the water fowl to be found here is the little 
slaty billed coot [Fulica australis), two species of duck, 
a teal, and the usual divers and cormorants. T also 
noticed solitary specimens of the White Heron and Bittern. 
On a second visit, whilst exploring the Creek beloAV the 
reserve, we disturbed a Boobook owl. He decided that 
we were coming closer than was safe for his health, and 
started to shift camp. In his hurry, however, he mistook 
the Avay out, and became someAvhat entangled in the 
Eantana ; thrashing his way out, he made a good deal 
