Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Saturday 10 August 1878, page 216
'Those truly conspicuous and ornamental birds the native companions (Grus Australasianus) , come in for a full share of blame as grass destroyers, but is it usually in the neighbourhood of large sheets of water that their numbers make the charge of any consequence
; people who reside near lakes George and Bathurst raise a cry against their midnight depredations, perhaps with some truth, as they are known to leave tho lakes soon after dusk in troops of from twelve to twenty, are absent all night, and announce their return
at peep of day with hoarse discordant cries. The birds in fact have found out that the glare of day exposes them to observation and interruption, and instinctively choose the friendly shades of night to carry on any sort of spoliation they may be engaged in.
They look innocent enough of any designs against the farming interest, as they stand balancing themselves on one leg by the shores of the lake during the day time, or break into a -wild corroboree-like dance amongst themselves, as is the fashion of cranes.
But this simplicity of appearance in birds, as in men, may conceal natures of the deepest guile ; like most wrong-doers, they are very shy of approach.'
--
David McDonald
1004 Norton Road
Wamboin NSW 2620
Australia
T: (02) 6238 3706
M: 0416 231 890
F: (02) 9475 4274
E: m("dnmcdonald.id.au","david");">
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