I have noticed the Pigeons in their proper place, and stated my opinion
as to the point to which they went on leaving us; and I would refer my
reader to my remarks on that head: he will find their habits and
localities fully described there.
We fell in with the water-hen, Tribonyx, on one of the creeks on our
journey to Lake Torrens, and again on Strzelecki's Creek, apparently
migrating to the south. These birds ran along the banks likefowls, as
they did in the located districts of Adelaide, as described by Mr. Gould,
and that too in great numbers, and when disturbed took wing to the south.
In like manner we observed the Eudromias Australis, migrating southwards
in May. From these facts it would appear that the great line taken by the
feathered tribes in migrating from the southern or southeastern parts of
the province is in a direction between the east and south points of the
compass, and I cannot still help thinking that about a degree to the
north of the Tropic, and about the meridian of 138, a more fertile
country than any hitherto discovered will be found.
It may be necessary for me to observe that on our advance to Fort Grey,
in August, we observed numerous Caloderae, and other smaller birds in the
brushes, apparently on the move whilst there was water for them, that had
been left by the then recent rains. We did not again see these birds
until we had passed the Stony Desert and entered the box-tree forest to
the north of it, in which was the creek with the huge native well.
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