BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2928, 25 July 1911, Page 7

BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA.

' HERONS. From "Useful Birds of Southern Australia."

Herons and ibis are useful birds of 1 the Bwampy country. I have repeatedly watched pairs of Herons, and can testify to the thoroughness of their work from actual examination of the stomachs of those shot for this purpose. In every case I found them to have well-filled stomachs of one or more species of animals nmious to the agriculturist. The boring land crabs arc kept within reasonable limits by these birds, who thus prove themselves again of infinite value to the inhabitants ofa» irrigation areas. The great expense of sieving the channels is thereby obviated, whilst at the same time, channel banks arc maintained in good order, the only price demanded by the labourers being that they be immune from persecution.

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It is a pleasant sight to see the Herons at work when a horde of grasshoppers has appeared ; their energy is marvellous. Too much cannot be said in favour of the White-fronted Heron, but I trust the few facts I have gathered will persuade many to withold their hands next time one comes within gunshot and, instead 0 f shooting, to welcome him as a strong ally and friend, worthy of all admiration. I Other than this bird the three species severally seen in the swamps, and also most useful, are necked Heron, White Egret, Plumed ; Egret. Those which hide in the 'swamps, and are equally useful, are the Bitterns, the birds of the booming note. I

j RUFOUS SONG-LARK. j It will come as a surprise to many to know that we have Song-Larks in ■ Australia. Not only is this so, but 'we also have, in many parts of the south, the British Singing Lark, a highly popular introduction. Certainly, our two species do not equally compare with the bird of the fatherland, because their song, though strong, is not so rich or so pro-

longed. Although wc generally call the Cinclorhamphi the Song-Larks, there is another in most parts of south?rn and western areas more worthy of th& name. I refer to the Bush-lark, or Pipit-like bird (Mirafra). While the Cinclorhamphus sings in the day, the Mirafra sings in the night. Mr. North says this bird is the only Australian bird that does so, while Mr. Gilbert champions the cause of the Long-billed Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus).

/lupous Song Lark.

The second species of the genus is the Brown Song-Lark, a bii'd of more heavy build and darker plumage. The sexes differ very much in size. Both mount into the air, but it is the male that sings so enthusiastically when his mate is beneath upon the nest.

It is a pleasant sight to see the tremulous mount made high into the

air, and to hear the rich and voluble singing of the bird. Such a

flight may be maintained for a long time, or the bird may prefer to make several voyages, coming each time to one or other tree in the vicinity of its nesting mate. It is what we call a migratory bird going north a few hundred miles after summer, and returning south with the early notices of spring.

In the Murray River district it will breed from September on to Novemi her ; in the more southern portions, from October to December. Nest.—A small cup-shaped structure, made of grasses, and placed in a slight depression of the ground. This may be covered with bushes or grass as a protection. Eggs.—Clutch, three, or possibly four ; pale purple-white, with spots of chestnut evenly and freely distributed over the whole surface. Length, ! 0.75 inch ; breadth, 0.6 inch.