Page:The Emu volume 3.djvu/268

 for the spirit tank, I approached them, under cover of a shrub which was distant some 50 yards from them, with the intention of giving them the first barrel whilst they stood and the second when they arose. Imagine my astonishment, when, after raking them with the first barrel, they stood stock still. Acting on impulse, I fired the second barrel into them, and still they stood, notwithstanding that numbers of their companions lay dead and dying beside them. Eventually I had to enlist the services of Mr. Conigrave's dog to chase them around the lake so as to get a shot on the wing. We afterwards waded out into the lake, the water in which did not reach above our ankles, and picked up 17 birds, the result of four barrels. Without the slightest difficulty I could have shot the whole company, as they were so tame and stupid. I regret that the instincts of sport should have so dominated the higher ones of humanity as to cause me to shoot more birds than were necessary for scientific purposes, but as the birds were a welcome addition to our larder, in which tinned meats, local kangaroo, and damper played the most prominent part, the cruelty was to a great extent justifiable. The whole plumage of each of the 17 birds was white, excepting the wings, which were brownish-grey. Not one bird of the 17 shot possessed the chestnut breast-band, or even the faintest indication of it, and none of those who escaped had it, so far as I could see, and I had an excellent opportunity of observing them when stalking them, and subsequently on their passing me. The three birds which we selected for skins were found on examination to be young birds, and I regret now that I did not examine every one that was shot. From what has been said it may be deduced that each bird of the company was a young one, and the neck plumage of those shot, evidenced by bunches of feathers in course of development, supported the deduction. One of our party, who claimed to have an intimate knowledge of the Old World Charadriidæ, asserted that it was not unusual for the young broods of the European Stilts to unite themselves into large companies and remain together. If so, it is the first time that such a habit has come under my observation. Singular to say, the bills of many of the birds shot were straight, but others again were slightly upcurved.

Mr. Conigrave was fortunate enough to obtain, on the second day's exploration at the Hills, an ornithological "godchild" of mine in the form of Calamanthus montanellus. This was shot in one of the dwarf scrubs on the hillside. Owing to the running, secretive habits of the species, specimens were hard to get, although the birds were numerous in every part. Their beautiful, clear, warbling notes, uttered usually whilst perched on the top of a low bush or running along the ground, were always charming. We secured altogether some half a dozen specimens, included in which were two young ones in very much advanced plumage.

When returning one afternoon to camp, I flushed a pair of