THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Mr. Charles F. Belcher sends me the following : “ Except north of the 
dividing range, and in the extreme west, the Native Companion must now be 
described as a very rare bird in Victoria. I have never seen it in the Geelong 
District. In the more arid parts of the country of Rodney, as for instance on 
the great plain South of Echuca, it is still fairly numerous, but with the 
progress of settlement it is dying out and before many years is likely to be 
extinct in Victoria.” 
Mr. E. J. Christian, writing from Northern Victoria, says: “This bird 
has a habit in this part of pulling up young wheat, and if a flock gets on 
to a wheat fleld no little damage is done. Also it has a habit of wringing 
chickens’ and puUets’ necks. 
“ They will stand in a reedy swamp on one leg for hours at a time 
catching frogs and other inhabitants of the water. They also eat young 
grass. They are becoming less common here every day. Six years ago 
large flocks could be seen in the paddocks, now few single birds are met 
with. On the 18th May I saw the first two here for some time. The 
creek was in flood and these two were flying over to it. When travelling 
they fly at a great height and make a loud peculiar note. I have often 
heard their notes and looked for a long while before seeing them. At 
times they are right out of sight. If there are clouds about it is impossible 
to see them as their colours blend.” 
“In November last, near Echuca, Victoria, I noticed a few flocks of 
Native Companions {Antigone austmlasiana) travelling westward towards the 
lakes at the mouth of the Murray River. They were coming in from the 
lakes further north, where they are to be seen in hundreds in the winter 
time. The reason so many flocks often travel at the same time is because 
of the hot weather coming on suddenly, although I have seen some flocks a 
week behind the leaders.”* 
“ A permanent resident here [North Queensland], generally to be seen 
congregated in small parties of eight or ten, but at times as many as forty 
or fifty get together. During the summer, which is their time of nesting, 
they will more often be seen in pairs. 
“ My record of nests with eggs commences with 28th September, and 
follows on two nests in October, one in December, January one, February 
three, March two, and ends up with a nest and eggs on 4th April. 
“ They soar at times to a great height, to an altitude I believe of two 
or three miles. Indeed, at such times they would be unnoticed were attention 
not drawn to them by their trumpeting. ”f 
♦ Simpson, Emu, Vol. II., p. 217, 1903. 
f Bemey, i6., Vol. VI., p. 109, 1907. 
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