no 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
November. 1922 
and meet the ferocious glances of their eyes and note the 
enormous talons, it is all rather startling. The repellant 
malignancy with which they survey you ere departing is 
indescribable.* 
The aquatic and marine birds, of which probably an 
almost equal number frequents the swamps and great lagoons 
of Stradbroke, its miles of sand and mud-fiats facing the 
Bay, uncovered at low water and rich in marine life of all 
kinds, forming a vast feeding ground. On its ocean side are 
great sandy beaches extending from Amity Point east to 
Point Lookout, thence southwards to Moondarewa, opposite 
Southport, a distance of forty miles. Here many true 
oceanic birds are frequent visitors, amongst these the beauti- 
ful Tropic-bird, also the Frigate-bird. 
A careful estimate of the total number of birds is 
approximately 175 species. I have noted 94 species of 
land birds, which with (say) 25 species yet to be recorded 
make 119 species, to which add aquatic birds, waders, sea 
and shore birds (say) 75 species, or in all 194 species. From 
tli is deduct, for species which through altered conditions 
herein mentioned no longer frequent the island (say) 20 
species — total 174 species. 
[Mr. Illidge states that he is willing to distribute, free, copies 
of the list of the land birds. — Ei)S.] 
o 
MANNA FROM GUM-TREES. 
A recent paragraph on this subject prompts Mrs. 
Childs, of Cooroy, to relate an interesting reminiscence. 
About 22 years ago, when a young girl, she lived at Har- 
laxton (near Toowoomba), and in a paddock adjoining her 
father s property were a number of young gum-trees that 
produced manna. The children used to gather this manna 
(that was what they called it) from under the trees, where 
it lay in s’ugar-li'ke pellets, very sweet to taste. It also 
formed on the branches and trunk of the trees like melted 
sugar dried. The writer adds that ishe explored most parts 
of the Toowoomba range, but never saw m'anna outside 
the particular paddocks. Another observation on the 
subject comes from Mr. E. R. Caldwell. Writing from 
T'aroom, he isays that wood-swallolws are there in thou- 
sands, and are feasting on the “manna” on trees. “'In 
fact, all the birds, down to crows and cockatoos, seem to 
exist on this sugary excrescence. With the dry conditions, 
insect life is scarce, and the pear undoubtedly is inter- 
fering with birds as well as with insects.’ 7 — From the 
Nature Notes column of the Brisbane “Daily Mail. ’ 
*The Powerful Owl ( Ninox strenua) appears to have become very 
rare. Tt is now seldom reported. — Eds. 
