220 
BARRETT, -Rockhampton Outings [ Th j a n mu 
walked to the launches over wet and clinging soil. On up the 
river, through shallows for a while, to a landing place, where 
Koalas (Phascolarctus cinereus) were seen, sitting serenely high 
in old gum trees. We went ashore to boil the billies; but were 
driven back to the boats by pelting rain. We dined to the music 
of a raindrop tattoo on the awnings, and were cheerful withal. 
A huge “birthday” cake was the pride of our table. It was pho¬ 
tographed in situ before “division.” This river voyage, despite 
the rain, was not fruitless. We noted more than a score of 
species, on the water, on rocks in the river, or ashore. Close to 
Rockhampton railway bridge, Lesser Golden Plover (Pluvialis 
dominions ) were seen, standing at gaze, or running along the 
rocks with which their colours harmonised, in the dull light. 
Before breakfast on Sunday, a party of early risers motored 
to McLaughlin’s Swamp, lured by a report that Brolgas ( Mega- 
lornis rnhicunda ) were nesting there. The swamp is opposite 
the Messrs. Lloyd’s farm, and as guides we had several members 
of this family of keen nature lovers. The nest was an “islet” 
almost in the centre of the big swamp, and before we commenced 
to wade, one of the birds could be seen on guard. There were 
two eggs in the nest. The owners did not await our coming, but 
retreated to the further shore, where they “danced” in the man¬ 
ner of their kind. Egrets, of which 40 were counted, Ibises, 
Spoonbills, and Plovers, were also tenants of the swamp. In 
the paddock and about the farm other birds were noticed. Nests 
of two species, the White-throated Warbler (Gerygone olivacea ), 
and the Brown Honeyeater (Stigmatops indistincta) were dis¬ 
covered, the latter a foot from the ground. This little, early 
morning side excursion was more than worth while. 
FITZROY VALE. 
Our red letter day was October 20th, when we visited Fitzroy 
Vale, at the invitation of the Central Queensland Meat Export 
Company. This is cattle country, open and timbered, with 
large swamps or lagoons here and there. No shooting is per¬ 
mitted by the company, and the area is good sanctuary for birds. 
Goose Swamp was our objective. “You’ll see the ‘Magpies’ 
there in thousands,” we were assured, in Rockhampton. It 
seemed almost too good to be true; but if our friends said so, 
the geese must be there, and the journey was made with great 
expectations. A first glimpse of the Swamp raised our hopes 
higher than ever. Birds could be seen in massed formation. 
Soon we were in the big paddock, and, guided by a cattle man, 
hastening afoot towards the goal. We could not wait, but from 
a rise, gazed at the birds through our glasses. Pied Geese 
(Anseranus semipalmata ) were there, not in thousands, but in 
flocks hundreds strong: in all, perhaps, we saw 1000 birds of this 
splendid species. Down by the edge of the swamp, thick with 
reeds and lotus lilies, and other aquatic plants, we had eyes, at 
