54 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
Deo., 1923- 
Twitu* a (lay. ofteiicr if times were hard, jackasses 
and buich('r birds took possession of the porch railings 
and kitchen window-sill at fIoi>edah\ and waited for their' 
meat allowance. All was fish that came to their net — no 
rat. mouse, or lizard was wasted there. The only thing 
dohn (the Jackass) barred was black snake. All other 
kinds were edible. For twelve years John has nested at 
Uoi'/edah* in the ojie tree. This year he did not fancy his 
old (jnarters, hut found a tree and ant nest about fifty 
yards away. Just before the brood hatched out in the 
new home, the limb holding the old nest came down with 
a crash. John is evidently a Avise bird. 
The l>ean trees were in floAver on the river bank, and 
the noise made by the docks of parrots and leatherheads, 
wattle birds, and blue Jays as they fed all day amongst 
them was deafening. Blue mountain parrots, greenies, 
sAvifts. and musk lorrikeets made a great ontery. T nouT 
know if the bean blossom honey is intoxicating, but i cer- 
tainly la^seued orie ])arrot from the rivei* in a A'cry helpless 
(‘ondition. My hostess told me that at times the family 
hav(* to go round and gather the parrots up and put them 
in safety until tlu'v recover. The birds affected are mostly 
y(mug. She thinks it is a disease tliat attacks tlu' wings 
and piM'vents the bii'ds dying. I Avonder? 
i heard, bill did nol see. Ihe Jardine caterpillar eater 
whilst at Hopedaie. and one day on the clear side of the 
riA'cr a little dame hri'asted robin was hunting dies— 
\ery late for a robin to be in the lowlands. Tlu'ia^ Avere a 
fcAV whip birds in the scrub by the river, and for years. 
1 AA’as told, a iiair of crested liawks had built in a gum 
tnu' i)y tin' lagoon. At the time of my visit it Avas no 
unnsna! thing to see a few pecAvees and lilaek and Avhite 
dycatcdiers jieridied all about oih» of the cows. \'ery busily 
ridding it of ticks. The cattle seemed to apiireeiaty the 
iiitle attention. 
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