THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Chisholm has recorded an account of the Galah from the pen of an 
anonymous Queensland correspondent in the Emu , Vol. IX., p. 36, 1909, 
which is really worth repeating : “ A large flock of Galahs on a partially 
dead myall tree has a most wonderful effect at a distance of about a quarter 
of a mile. The grey and pink clothe the bare branches, and give them the 
appearance of bursting into blossom, almost the shade of some double peach 
blossom. The Galah is perhaps the most common bird about here, rarely 
being altogether absent, and frequently being noticed out on the Downs in 
flocks of hundreds, their numbers generally being strengthened with a 
plentiful sprinkling of White and Black Cockatoos. The whole flock feeds 
amicably together, always keeping a sentinel stationed on some near-by 
tree or fence, which warns its congeners of the approach of danger, not visible 
to them in the long grass. At the warning cry, in one moment the air is full 
of a clamouring shrieking mass, which, as the danger passes, soon settles on 
the feeding ground again. Have you ever seen a proper flight of Galahs ? 
Most likely not, unless you have been in the interior, on the well-grassed 
Downs. It is a most wonderful sight, and once, seen, never to be forgotten. 
I will endeavour to describe such a scene, but, with the best description, 
there must be much left to the imagination which words fail to supply. 
Usually when the weather is broken or unsettled, though often on a windy 
winter morning, or in thundery weather in March or April, against the grey 
masses of cloud which bank up, forming a sombre background, it would seem 
that all the Galahs in the vicinity had gathered into one flock, shrieking and 
screaming as they circle high in the air, all beating their wings in perfect 
unison. So, as it were at a given signal, instantaneously the delicate rose- 
coloured breasts are all turned the one way, making a beautiful glow of colour 
as the birds veer round ; then, with one beat, the flock seems to have almost 
disappeared, just a glimpse of silvery -grey flashing as they turn their backs ; 
then a mere speck where each bird is flying, so small that one would hardly 
believe it to be a bird, so almost invisible does the grey become ; then a flash 
of silvery light before the glow of their breasts flashes into view again. The 
whole time there is an incessant screaming as they beat backwards and 
forwards in the same place for perhaps half an hour ; then, swooping with 
a rush of wings cleaving the air, re-forming into flocks — all at a tremendous 
pace, and flying so closely together that one constantly expects to see a 
collision, but never does one bird make a mistake ; simultaneously every 
bird turns and twists in mid-air, until, wearied out, the flock disperses into 
small groups, which drift away to settle in the grass or trees around. Some- 
times the Galahs keep this up off and on all day, and for days at a time. 
Another such flock I saw on the Warrego a few days ago. Judging by 
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