. The Australian Museum magazine. Natural history. 306 THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. He became silent, but did not leave his perch on a liigh bough. When nest- ing cares are over, this noisy and assertive fellow becomes quiet and peace- ful ; he is seen far more often than he is heard. Concerning the nutmeg pigeon {Myristicivora spi- lorhoa), I can say little from personal observa- tion, for only the fore- runners of the flocks had arrived among the islands when I departed south. But my host told me that the days of migrating multitudes had gone, ])er- haps for ever. This splen- did species,
. The Australian Museum magazine. Natural history. 306 THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. He became silent, but did not leave his perch on a liigh bough. When nest- ing cares are over, this noisy and assertive fellow becomes quiet and peace- ful ; he is seen far more often than he is heard. Concerning the nutmeg pigeon {Myristicivora spi- lorhoa), I can say little from personal observa- tion, for only the fore- runners of the flocks had arrived among the islands when I departed south. But my host told me that the days of migrating multitudes had gone, ])er- haps for ever. This splen- did species, once so ama- zingly abundant, is threat- ened with the fate that befell the pas- senger pigeon of America. Nutmeg or Torres Strait pigeons have been ruth- lessly slaughtered for "sport"' in the nesting season, on the Barnard Islands and other haunts of the species. In his last letter to me, Mr. Banfield urged the need for strong measures to "save the nutmeg ;* He Avas ever ready to champion Avild birds, and, in North Queensland, no one has done more in the cause of protection. I know that he had fears for the future of other birds besides the nutmeg pigeon, From his own island sanctuary some forms have disappeared, or become rare, notably pigeons and sea birds. Various destructive agencies are res- ponsible, including a cyclone, when the tern rookeries were Avrecked by a raging sea. But the man with the gun must answer for the pigeons' scarcity. BEACHCOMBING. Day after day we walked abroad, my host and I, and I learned a little of the gentle art of beachcombing. We paraded the beach in Brammo Bay, from the boatshed to the point, some- times gazing over the water, but more often with bowed heads, scanning * Before he died, his efforts to gain pro- tection for the pigeons were crowned with success, I Nest and egg of the White-capped Noddy (Anous leucocapillus). These birds nest in thousands among the Capricorn Isles. [Photo.—C. Barrett. the
Size: 1790px × 1396px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
