Page:The Emu volume 3.djvu/273



—On the river.

—From July, 1902, to June, 1903, I only heard a single bird; after that they were to be heard almost every night.

—26/4/03.—Flock of about a dozen Dottrel on river; appear to be the Black-fronted, besides another species.

(?).—There were a few Ibis about in the spring of 1902. I think this was the species. Saw none in 1903.

—Common on the river.

.—28/11/03.—Nest with three fresh eggs in rushes on river; nest consisted merely of a handful of fragments of rushes, and fell to pieces on being removed. I had unfortunately neglected to photograph it. 30/11/03.—Flushed bird at same place; discovered another egg on ground close by where the nest had been.

.—Saw the Black Bittern twice on the Swan. Reported also from Helena.

—Cormorants always plentiful on the river; P. hypoleucus the commonest. 2/3/03.—Noticed a Cormorant on a log in the river; it remained in a peculiar attitude, swaying in the wind with both wings half-spread for a long time, as if it were trying to dry them in the breeze.

.—Reported on river.

.—Have only heard Black Swans flying across.

(?).—Saw a small flock on the Swan once only.

.—Saw none in 1902; very common in the early part of 1903, after which they gradually grew scarcer as the year advanced, but they never disappeared altogether; no doubt they left for breeding. 19/3/03.—Large flock on river, a considerable difference in the shading of the birds; the general body colour of some individuals was chestnut, while that of others was very dark. The white under tail coverts were very conspicuous as the birds swam about.

.—Reported on river.

For some time past I have been trying to obtain information regarding any remains that may still exist of the extinct Tasmanian Emu, and have advertised twice in all the Tasmanian newspapers to that effect, but without eliciting information of any value.

A specimen lived for some years in the City Park, Launceston. Mr. Wm. M'Gowan, the Superintendent for Public Reserves in that city, informs me that the bird was received there about thirty years ago, and that it lived for about ten years in confinement, but that the person who buried it on its death has since died, therefore its burial place is unfortunately not