May, IQ24. 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
77 
that most of them ali,G'ht 011 tliis outer (*ahle ju'ior to 
seleetiii*** a place for ttie ui^'lit on one of 1 he ]u-oteeted 
cables under the footbridji'-e on the western side. Here 
thousands of these wonderful little fliers eam]> for the 
night. Everyone is familiar with the hissing ehirrui) emit- 
ted by this swallow when one of its ftdlows alights close to 
it on a rail or wire, and it is easy to imagine that this 
note emitted from thousands of little throats, and echoed 
off the water below, as neighbours bustl(‘d in alongside 
of those already in camp, resembled nolliing so much as 
escaping steam from a fair-sixed boiler. On another even- 
ing T visited tlu^ camp a little earlier, and was able to 
watch the early arrivals. T was inucli entertained by tiuur 
gambols. Qompanios of them flew u]) and down the 
river, rising and wheeling as though at drill. An old 
barge, surmounted by a derrick, was moored to the wall 
at one ]dace and the l)irds, tiring of tlieir drill, would 
make for the boat, camp along the rail, the slays, the 
winch, the mooring lines, and everywhere else, shonlder 
to slioiilder, in hhu'k lines. At an imperceptible signal, 
the wholi^ company, as one bird, hurled themselves off 
the boat in the manner peeuliar to these birds when dan- 
ger is around. After another short flight drill they would 
laud on the rails along the ^ra!!. and repeat the perform- 
ance. As dusk drew 071 sei'tions Avould cease these pranks 
and make for the hridgi*. to get. no doubt, the pickt'd 
positions, hut it is always ^rell afto 7 ‘ dark before lati'- 
comers and displaced early-doorites get finally sett led 
and tlie hissing dies down. Tt would be interesting to 
learn from wliat distance birds come eaeli night to this 
camp. Every evening companies pass over my house, on 
the ridge of Eildon Hill, and as they are heading di- 
rectly for the Eridge. it can he safely stated that the 
Brirlu'<‘ ( amp is their goal. T would like to Ijcar from 
otliei’ members who have noticed this evening fliglit, if 
the birds are heading for the Bridge, and at what dis- 
taTice their station is froTu it in a direct line. It will alsd 
hd worth watching the camp itself later in the year to 
ascertain when and in what nintibers they migrate, and 
T would suggest to anv of our members who use the 
bridge that they should keep an eye on the comings and 
goings of the birds, and thus ])e able to add to this 
record. 
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