Oct, 1921 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
31 
fashion, and not on the limbs themselves, possibly owing to- 
the half webbed nature of its feet. Personally. I consider 
this bird, when well cooked, to be second to none in the 
game line. 
Cormorants, both the Little Black and Pied varieties, 
are numerous, especially the former, and principally on the 
deeper holes with tree-lined margins. 
Ibis are common in all species — Straw-necked. White, 
and the beautiful Glossy Ibis, with its shining bronze- 
coloured plumage : it is slightly smaller than the other two 
species, but a more neatly built bird. These are amongst 
our most useful birds in destroying beetles, grasshoppers, &c. 
Spoonbills are to be seen in lesser numbers, and are 
handsome and conspicuous as well as useful birds. Both 
species have pure white plumage, but one has yellow bill, 
legs, and feet, and the other black points. While they may 
separate during the breeding season, I have often noticed 
that both species keep company almost indiscriminately. 
This 1 have remarked also in the western country, where r 
I regret to ^ay, some are shot for food and some because 
they muddy the waterholes from which the teamsters ’ horses 
drink. 
The Native Companion (Brolga) is fairly common, and 
its stately form may often be seen parading the open 
swampy country. If one is lucky he may see them at one 
of the dances for which they are famous. 
Besides the Jabiru (Stork) and varieties of Heron 
(including the Nankeen Crane) I saw large numbers of one, 
if not two, of the Egrets. I was told of a nest of these 
birds in a Leichhardt tree, but did not succeed in locating- 
it. 
On mud and sand banks might also be seen numbers 
of other birds, such as Plovers, Curlews, Dottrels, &c., and 
I saw one specimen of a beautiful blue-black and white 
bird with long red bill and legs, probably a Stilt, working 
along the mud bank of a creek. Many Bald Coots, known 
as Redbills, frequent the swamps, and the black Water 
or Moor-hen the upper parts of creeks, &c. Possibly the 
presence of crocodiles is somewhat against their presence 
in the lower portions, also the salt water. 
Often when roaming about and coming across a 
picturesque scene, including various species of waterfowl, 
I have longed for a camera with a telephoto lens, the 
ordinary camera in most cases being inadequate to do 
justice to the subject. Incidentally, I might also remark 
that when stalking in such swampy spots, whether for ob- 
servation or pot hunting, one meets an element of danger 
in the snakes which abound. On one occasion I disturbed 
