The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-16
STRANGE BIRDS AND SNAKES.
a Field Naturalist on the Lagoons OF
the Murray, Austra ala.
From the AlstrdLdsian

HFOW Tte AuSTutdSldU
Warm December is setting his burning
feet upon the plains The whitening grass
is shedding plentifully its seed the wavering
corn fields, shoulder high, are fast ripening
into yellow and the corn will be gernered
ere the eobing year closes with the month.
When the hot northern winds blow it is
agreeable to turn ones face to the cooling
breath caught from lagoons or reed =
swamps, notwithstanding such places breed
flies, mosquitoes and snakes.
Contem plating a weeks shooting, | find
myself on the veranda of sslector friend =
house. The stiffness of an evening closing
a warm seasonable day prevails. The broad
Murray is not q hundred PAGES of off,
fringed with green trees, lighted up by the
setting sun, and between which glimpses
of the water appear. Cattle are herding
upon the sunburned flats for the nights re-
pose. Cockatoos white, others with
rosy-colored breasts-are flying to roost
from the cornheld. where the stocks of
newly cut sheaves scent the balmly air with
delightful fragrance.
At such a tine 1t is glorious sight to
watch the native companions in company
flying on high across the river, returning to
rest in the swamps for the night, while the
black and white forms Of geese may be
seen going in the opposite direction to feed.
geese return, the native companions &C out.
But what about this swamp over the
river, whittier these birds pass to aud frol
We shall have to pay it an official visit.
1t has been a summer day in earnest. NV
friend and decided to go in the cool of
the evening, Immediately after tea. While
getting the ''hatty" or dingv ready to cross
the river a slight Incident occurs at the out
set. A tiger snake suddenly appears upon
the water. With head and neck erect its
body rests partially at ease upon the sur
face of the water. AS it carried down
with the current we shoot the boat out to
meet It and the reptile is soon killed. On
reaching the other side OF the river we
haul the fatty over a narrow strip of land
into the swamp beyond, when the real en-
joyment of the evening begins.
We merrily pole our tiny boat over the
clear, mirror-like surface of the lagoon,
which is so perfectly transparent that beau
tiful aquatic weeds may be distinguished
growing below. Lilies float upon the
waters bosom, and other floating plants
notably limmauthemom, botanically so
called, with feathery, fringed, yellow tiow-
ers The placid water is hundreds of acres
in extent, broken here and there with
rushes. We steer for slightly shoaling
ground literally crowded with game and
other water fowl. Soon the scene changes
Black swans, black ducks, shelveas aud
teal rise with whir Of wings and stilts with
puppy-hke bark. How interesting to watch
the various hocks wheeling, passing ana re-
passing each other. then swiftly dispensing
Pacific herons with leisurely flight and a
score Of nankeen hsrons are likewise on the
wing. while far above are companies OF
straw-necked ibis, circling 50 high that the
rossate hue from the west ,rn sky behind the
fringe OF gums is beautifully reelected upon
the snowy white breasts