cNovember, 1932 
59 
The Queensland Naturalist 
in the day time from the outside of its burrow. It more 
often happens that one tramps on one as the burrow gives 
way when walking through the islands. At night time, 
however, the ground is alive with these tame Mutton Birds 
and the weird noises of cooing, love making and fighting 
is kept up till the early hours of the morning. 
One more day I had to spend on Heron Island before 
returning. I did a little exploring of the reef at low 
tide and spent the rest of the day on the island. The Reef 
Herons ( Demigretta sacra) that are common on Heron 
Island had finished nesting and the young birds, like the 
old ones, were shy and kept at safe distances. On my 
previous visit I saw and heard the calls of a half dozen 
Magpies. AVhether they have died or flown away I cannot 
tell but there seem to be no Magpies there now. King- 
fishers ( Halcyon sanctus) were in fair numbers before, 
and I think that they have increased. 
So great and varied is the seabird life in its ways and 
habits that each class in itself forms a study. My time 
was too short to note much of the reef, its life and coral. 
One needs calm weather and very low tides. We had no 
calm during the trip, and at the times when the tides 
were the lowest it was exceedingly rough. 
GREAT BARRIER REEF. 
CHRISTMAS EXPEDITION. 
During every Christmas holiday season since 1925 
expeditions of Nature lovers and others have been organ- 
ised by Mr. E. F. Pollock, F.R.G.S., of the Royal Zoolog- 
ical Society of N.S.W., and the Royal Australasian Orni- 
thologists’ Union, to some specially attractive coastal 
locality where the members could combine Nature study 
with holiday making under most pleasurable conditions. 
Some of these excursions have been to the great Barrier 
Reef area in Queensland, and another one, to cover en- 
tirely new ground, has been planned for this year. 
The party will embark on boats at Mackay in De- 
cember, and finish up at Bowen in January. Altogether 
twenty-five islands, situated between these two ports, and 
all of fascinating interest are to be visited during the 
month. They include the whole of the famous Whitsun- 
day group, and several others. 
Among the special features of the trip which will 
assist in keeping the party entertained and interested are : 
Sea birds of many varieties nesting in millions; turtles 
and turtle riding; crocodile and dugong hunting; un- 
equalled fishing, including emperor, trevalli, sehnapper. 
