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FOR THE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

OF

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

•auiH at , u

t p' "

The Emu

«<r

A

■^^

A Quarterly Magazine to popularise the Study and Protection
of Native Birds.

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION.

Editors: A. J. CAMPBELL and H. KENDALL.

VOL. IV. — 1904-S.

2^Tel'£>ottrttc :

WALKER, MAY & CO., PRINTERS, 25 MACKILLOP STREET.

London Agent :
R. II. PORTER, 7 Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W,

1905.

'oS. Ve^^/^. «^^^ '^

CONTENTS OF VOL. IV..

1Q04-5.

About Members, 32, 181.

Aigotheles 7iova-hollandia, 173.

Albinism {Rhipidura tricolor), 169.

Audubon Societies in Relation to the
Farmer, 29.

Auk, The, 24, 80.

Australasian Ornithologists' Union, The
— Sydney Session, 85 ; Presi-
dential Address, 93 ; Excursion
to N.S.W. National Park, 157.

Australian Birds in the Zoological Gar-
dens, London, 1903-4, 11.

Avicidttiral Magazine, The, 27, 74.

Big Bags of Game, 34.

Bird Distribution, 24.

Bird-Life in British Papua, Some, 52.

Bird-Lore, 27, 74, 141, 178.

Bird-Names of Aborigines, 168.

Bird Protection— Abroad, 26 ; in N.

America, 29 ; in New Zealand,

149.
Birds' Eggs in the Dresden Museum,

125.
Birds of the Wongan Hills, W.A., The,

69.
Birds Observed and Skins Examined in

1903-4 near Hobart, 175.
Bird Sanctuaries in New Zealand, 59.
Bird Visitors to the Botanic Gardens,

Melbourne, 170.
Black V. Rufous Butcher-Birds, 138.
Blue Wrens, 180.

Breeding of Some Waterfowl at Goo-
chest in the Year 1903, 24.
Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon, The, 79.
Brush-Turkey, The, 75, 143.
Bush-Chats and Song-Larks, 47.
Bulletin of the Philippine Mtisewn, 25, 74.

Casterton District, Field Notes on Some

Birds of the, 124, 161.
Central Queensland Notes, 171.
Character of Birds' Wings, 141.
Clarke Island (Bass Strait) Notes, 21,

174.
Clermont (Q. ) Notes, 174.
Coloured Figure Fund, 149.
Coloured Plate, 184.
Coomooboolaroo Notes, 67.
Corrections, 35, 185.
Crossbred PaiTakeets, 67.
Cuckoo, Why Does the Young Eject its

Foster-Brethren? 172.

Expunged Islands, 32.
Ewing Tit, The, 73.

Feather- plucking, 24.

Finches, 73.

Finches in N. Queensland, 68.

Finch, Red-tailed or Red-faced, 178.

Finch, Pectoral or White-breasted, 24.

Finch, Yellow-rumped, 20, 177.

Forgotten Feathers, 22.

Fom Magazines, &c., 24, 73, 139, 177.

Geelong Naturalist, The, 27, 75, 178.

Genera Avium, 139.

Great Lake, List of Birds Observed at

the, in the Month of March, 103.
Guttated Bower-Bird, 73.

Honey-eaters in Captivity, 26.
Honey-eater, New, for N. Queensland,

67.
Honey-eater, Yellow-throated, 170.
Honey-eater, Yellow-eared, 169.
HypotcFiiidia philippinensis, 168.

Ibis, The Straw-necked, 78.
Ibis, The, 28, 77, 140, 178.
Incubation after Removal from Nest, 20.
International Catalogue of Scientific
Literature, 142.

Kagu of New Caledonia, The, 166.
Kestrel, Description of a New, from

W.A., I.
King or Least Swamp Quail, 143.
Kolora Notes, 67.

Lighthouses and Bird Observations, 63.

Marcus Island, Birds on, 144.
Melanism and Albinism in Birds, 76.
Melbourne Zoo Notes, 168.
Melithrepti, Remarks on Certain, 70.
Migration of Birds, Some New Facts

about, 179.
Migration, Origin of, 81.
Migratory and Nomadic Birds, 139.
Migratory Birds, N. Queensland, Notes

on, 43.
Modern Egg-Collecting, 179.
Moore River, W.A., A Glance at the

Birds of the, 132.
Musk Lorikeet, 171.

National Park, 84.

Nature Study Societies, New, 186.

Nightjar, Little, 168.

Contents of Vol. IV. — 1904-5-

Notes and Notices, 35, 83, 148.

Obituary— The late Mr. H. E. Hill, 185.
Ord River, N.-W.A., A Trip to the, 37.
Ornithological Association of S. Australia,

31-
Ornithological Congress, Fourth Inter-
national, 186.

Pigeon, Crested {Ocyphaps lophotes), in

Captivity, 182.
Penguin, A, at Play, 172.
Ptilotis fasciognlaris. Description of the

Eggs of, 137.

Reviews — "Animals of New Zealand,"
82 ; " Catalogue of Birds' Eggs,"
30; "Catalogue of Canadian
Birds," 182; "Nests and Eggs,"

145-
*' Rookery," A Favourite, 138.
Rottnest Island, W.A., A Visit to, 129.

School in Wild Life, The, 57.
Scientific Bird Names, The Use of, 18.
Sea-Birds on Land, 102.
South African Ornithologists' Union,

The, 65.
St. Kilda and its Birds, 26.
Stray Feathers, 20, 67, 138, 168.

Survey Camp Notes, 71.
Swifts and Swallows, 20.

Tasmania Ornithologically Considered,

142.
Thickhead {Pachycephala hoivensis), 78.

Upper Yarra, Birds of the, 163.

Victorian Natitralist, 73.
Victorian and Tasmanian Birds, Some
Comparisons of, 109.

Wekas Breeding in Captivity, 141.

Western Notes, 169.

Western Australian and Allied Species,

Notes on Some, 48.
Western New South Wales in 1859-60,

76.
Wilmot (Tas. ), Bird Notes from, 14.
Wing- Beats of Birds, 25.
Winter Whitening of Plumage or Fur,

140.
Wongan Hills, W. A., Notes on a Trip

to the, 2.

Yandanooka District, W.A., Notes on a
Trip to the, 15 1.

Zoologist, The, 28, 178.

ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. IV.

Nest and Young of Frogmonth (Podargiis stiigoidcs)

Frogmoulh {PodargNs .•strigoidvs) by Nest witli Y'oung

Boobook Owl {Ninox boohook)

Playhouse of Great Bower- Bird iChlauiydcra iiucJialis)

Flight of Bare-eyed Cockatoos {Cacntua gymnopis)

Nest of Red-throated Honey-eater (Entoniophila mfigulnris)

Nest, with Y^oung, of Black Butcher-Bird {Cracticus quoyi)

Nest {in situ) of Black Butcher-Bird {Crncticiis qnoyi)

Red Gum Tree containing Seven Species of Brooding Birds

Flooded Gum, with Nest of Black-throated Butcher-Bird
[Cr adieus nigrigularis)

Nest of Bell-Bird (Oreoicn eristnta)

The Kagu {Rhinochetus juhatus) of New Caledonia

Rufous Bush-Lark {Mirafra ivoodivardi')

Black Grass-Wren {Amy t is housei)

Chestnut-bellied Whiteface {Xerophila ca.staneiventris)

plate i

plate ii

plate iii

plate iv

plate V

plate vi

plate vii

plate viii

plate ix

plate X

plate xi

plate xii

plate xiii

plate xiii

plate xiii

Jhe £mu

®ffinal dDr^an oi the .^xistralasian ODniithoIogieta' ^ition.

" Bir«Is of a feather."

Vol. IV.] 1ST JULY, 1904. [Part i.

Description of a New Kestrel from Western
Australia.

By Alex. Wm. Milligan

{Hon. Ornithologist , Perth Museum, W.A.)

I HAVE great pleasure in adding what I consider a new Kestrel
to the list of Australian species. The bird was captured alive
some weeks ago at Yalgoo, in the north-western portion of this
State (where it is said to be a very common form), and sent
to the Western Australian Zoological Gardens, Perth. The
Director, Mr. Ernest Le Souef, and the head keeper of the
Gardens, Mr. Giles, were, on its arrival at the Gardens, at once
struck with its diminutive form and general rufous colouration
as compared with living forms of Cerchneis cenchroides (Vig.
and Hors.) which they had in the Gardens.

The new bird differs from the common form in not possessing
any white or pale feathers on the under parts of the body, those
parts being a decided cinnamon-pink and making it very dis-
tinctive. In addition, the tail is not grey, but rusty-cinnamon,
and the legs pea-green and not orange-yellow. It also is much
smaller.

The following is a specific description of an adult male : —

The whole of the upper surface is deep rusty-cinnamon, the
crown and neck feathers with longitudinal black striations,
the mantle with black arrow-heads sparsely distributed, the wing
coverts and secondaries with narrow black crescentic markings.
Tail feathers (rusty-cinnamon, not grey) with black transverse
bars, subterminal black band, and whitish tips. Whole of under
surface, including under surface of wings, cinnamon-pink, paler
than the upper surface, with a few feathers of the breast striated
with sepia. Ear coverts inclining to greyish-brown. Narrow
circle of feathers above eye, and a tuft below eye, blackish-brown.
Culmen light reddish-blue ; cere light blue, with yellowish tinge ;
eyes and feet pea-green.

Type in Western Australian Museum, Perth.

Owing to the partiality of the bird for young chickens, it is
known locally as the " Chicken-Hawk." As a consequence
poultry-owners wage a ruthless war with members of the species.

2 MiLLlGAN, Description of a N ezv Kestrel from W.A. [,sf'july

Cases have been recorded in Europe where Kestrels, when pressed
hard for food, have had recourse to young game. I have not,
however, observed this habit with the Nankeen Kestrel in
Victoria or Western Australia, and have had splendid oppor-
tunities of observing their habits in both States. It is said that
the common Kestrel of Europe is represented by a dark resident
race in countries bordering on its southern range. Allowing for
a tendency towards variability in size and colouring amongst
members of the genus, I think, nevertheless, that upon a com-
parison of the new species with that of the Eastern bird (which
is identical with our coast bird) the specific differences will
appear such as to justify, on sight, the above separation.

I assign the scientific name of C.erchneis unicolor to the new
bird, and the vernacular name of Western Kestrel.

Notes on a Trip to the Wongan Hills, Western

Australia.

By Alex. Wm. Milligan

{Hon. Ornithologist, Perth Museum, W.A.)

Part II. ,

Nests and Eggs. — From the preceding remarks (Part I., Emu,
vol. iii., p. 217) it will be gathered that most of the birds had
finished nesting, or had, at least, brought out their first broods.
Some, however, were still nesting, such as Glycypfiila albifrons,
Glycyphila fulvifrons, Ptilotis sonora, and Micrceca assi^nilis.
I was much pleased to discover the pretty nest of the last-
mentioned on our return journey, between the Mission Station
and Mogumber. The nest was placed in the fork of a fallen
branch of a eucalypt, which had become barkless and bleached
from decay and weather. The branch was close to the main
road, where vehicles and horsemen passed daily, but the traffic
evidently caused the birds no grave concern. Whilst the bird
sat on the nest until we approached within a yard of it, it was
almost impossible to detect it, so alike were the general colours
of the bird, nest, and branch.

Of nests containing young the most notable were those of
Podargus strigoidcs and Uroaetus audax. Of the former species
we observed two nests, each containing two young ones. The
first one was discovered in an isolated Casuarina belt on the
lake countr)^, and so closely did the nest and young resemble
the surrounding branches that we should have passed within
a yard of it had not the parent bird fiown away and thus drawn
our attention. A photograph of the nest is reproduced. The
nest itself was an ill-constructed, shallow, flimsy structure, the
builders having evidently relied to a great degree on the inclined
fork and under twigs of the dead sapling for the strength of the
structure. The second one was discovered by our driver in a

Thk E\n', roL ir

PLATE I.

Nest (in situ) and Young of Frogmouth ( Podargus strigoides).

FROM A PHOTO. BY C. P. CONIGRAVE.

Thk Emu, Vol. IV.

PLATE II

Frogmouth ( Fodargus slrigoides), by Nest with Voung.

FROM A PHOTO. BY J. SEARS.

Vol. IV.
1904

J MiLLIGAN, Notes OH a Trip to the Wongan Hills, W .A.

York gum tree, the main branches of which overhung the road.
The nest was placed some 30 feet high above the road. One
of the attendant parent birds, on observing us, immediately
elongated itself and became rigid along the length of the limb^
and so resembled the surroundings as almost to defy detection.
I have always been struck with the similarity of the habit of
the bird in so elongating and stiffening itself to that of some of
the iguanas, which perform the same acts when observed. Can
it be a device by each to escape detection inherited from a common
ancestor ? As regards the second nest, Mr. Conigrave climbed
up a neighbouring branch of the same tree, and on our passing
up his camera, he in that unique position took a photograph
of the nest and young on a level plane. Unfortunately, on
reaching Perth he found that the plate had been damaged in
transit. We could not help remarking the swift, straight, and
prolonged flight that the owner of each nest made when dis-
turbed. As these were flights made in the daytime it may be
fairly assumed that the strong light of day does not materially
affect their sight.

Another interesting nest that we discovered was that of
Uroactus audax. It was situated in the fork of a salmon gum
tree at a height of about 50 feet from the ground. The materials
forming the nest structure would, we estimated, half-fill a dray.
It was composed outwardly of dry sticks. Underneath the nest
was a litter of the same material, which had either fallen in the
course of construction or with the winds, or perhaps from both
causes. In the litter we picked up the lower part of the leg of
a young kangaroo, newly killed, as also the skull of another
one. The other portions of the bodies had evidently provided
food supplies for the young, whom we could see as they craned
their necks and scrutinized us over the rim of the nest. Un-
fortunately, we had not any climbing apparatus with us, and
as the trunk of the tree was too thick and free of smaller limbs
and the bark too smooth, we had to abandon the desire we had
to make a closer inspection of the occupants and their hom.e,
and to get a photograph illustrative of the young Wedge-tailed
Eagle chez nous. One of the most interesting nests was probably
that of a new species recently described — Acanthiza pallida.
The nest was built in a small tree on the roadside opposite a brush-
fence enclosure which had been used to muster bush sheep. The
nest was fully 2 feet long and divided into four compartments
for the reception of eggs, each compartment surmounted with
a " look-out " or " cock's nest." Unfortunately the laying season
had passed, and the nest or nests was or were untenanted, and
it was therefore impossible to say whether or not a separate
pair of birds occupied each. Judging by the residues left in
the bottom of each nest, I am inclined to think that they were
separately tenanted, but I should not care to positively assert
that they were so. It is perhaps interesting to know that these
birds share with the African Weaver-Birds the sociable habit of

4 MiLLIGAN, Notes on a Trip to the IVongan Hills, W.A. [,,p'|'", .

building their nests under one roof, so to speak. It is said in
respect of this latter family that the greater number of their
settlements is formed of nests containing merely the chamber
for the young and the apartment arranged by the male for his
own occupation, and that some males build separate nests for
themselves. It is perhaps more than a coincidence that the
male ot the species under notice (as also its ally, Acanthiza
chrysorrhoa) builds a so-called " cock's nest," and which is generally
thought to be for his own occupation. I recorded an instance
(see "Notes on a Trip to the Stirling Range," Emu, vol. iii.,
page 17) where I found the "cock's nest" an independent
structure, but in the same bush. The " conglomerate " nest of
the local species was not only long, but bulky. The unusual
size was dvie to the great amount of raw wool which had been
filched from the sheep enclosure in the vicinity and which had
liberally, if not extravagantly, been interwoven into the
structure.

Distribution of Species. — The trip atiorded the best of
opportunities for making observations on that interesting phase
of ornithology — namely, the distribution of species. From the
results, I have been enabled to fix the northern or southern limits
of many Western Australian species, and also the eastern or
western limits of many others. Further exploration will doubt-
less cause alteration in the limits fixed, but I think not very
materially, as I have had the advantage of examining as well
a collection of bird-skins obtained by one of the Museum collectors
at Wurarga and Day Dawn, some 200 miles north of the VVongan
Hills, as also another made by Mr. Bruce Leake, of Kellerberrin,
in his district (distant some 160 miles south-easterly from the
Hills), and donated by him to the Museum. I have also had
to aid me our collection from the Stirling Range, distant some
350 miles in a southerly direction from the Hills, and my own
personal knowledge of coastal distribution from Lake Yanchep
in the north to Cape Leeuwin in the south.

As our starting point was near the northern end of the great
coastal mountain chain of Western Australia, the Darling
Ranges, I was further enabled to obtain sufficient data upon
which to base, or perhaps confirm, the positive existence of,
purely coastal forms as contradistinguished from purely inland
ones, or, as I prefer to term them, "ultramontane" forms.
Doubtless farther north, where the intiuence of the natural
barrier of the coastal range is not felt, and where species are
tree to come and go without interruption, the fixed limits for
eastern and western species will not apply. The natural
formations of country over which we passed (and which
for the most part ran north and south) were most clearly
defined, and thus conduced not only to easy observation of
species, but also to positive results in recording them. These
well-defined formations might and could be likened to a vertical
section of different rock strata placed upon a horizontal plane.

Vol. IV.
1904

1 MiLLiGAN, Notes on a Trip to the Wongan Hills, W.A.

As showing their distinctness, it may be mentioned that from
Mogumber to the Mission Station (a distance of i 5 miles) the
nature of the soil was gravelly, forested with " jarrah " (E.
//larginala) and " red gum " (E. calophylld) trees. From the
Mission Station for another 10 miles eastward granite overlaid
with gravel prevailed, with forests of " York gum " {E. loxopklcba),
" jam " {Acacia acemurata), and " sheoak " (Casuarind) ; then
succeeded a sandy plain covered with low, dwarf vegetation and
isolated clumps of dwarf Murray pine. Then the red soils began
to appear, and with them belts of gimlet gums (JE. saluhris),
then another plain, more extensive, covered as before ; next
further strips of red soil and gimlet gums ; afterwards a narrow,
depressed tract of sandy, saline marshy country, resembling an
old river bed, studded with salt and brackish lakes ; and at last
the Wongan Hills themselves, composed of conglomerate, with
deep red soils at their bases clothed with gimlet, salmon, and
morrell gums, quandongs, sandalwood, hibiscus, and high and
low-growing scrubs.

As already mentioned, the ocean influence is apparent on the
vegetation for some 1 5 miles beyond the Mission Station, and
the place where such influence no longer operates is well indicated,
and in one particular place already mentioned the coastal vege-
tation became absolutely dwarfed, and a few yards farther on
purely inland forms at once appeared. As might be expected,
the avifauna was almost as strongly marked. As we had, when
leaving Mogumber, a walk of 50 miles ahead of us, we determined
not to collect on the way, but to push on with all speed to our
destination and to make full observations on a leisurely return.
Therefore, I purpose dealing first with the local species at the
Wongan Hills and then backwards to Mogumber. At the Hills
such species as Sericornis briinnea, Acanthiza uropygiahs,
Malurus pulcherrimus, Drymacedus pallidus, Hylacola cauta,
Cinclosonia castanonotujn, Ptilotis novce-norcicB, Pttlotis cratitia,
and Misocalius palliolatus were, so far as our observations went,
purely local. Digressing, it may be remarked that there the
genera of Rhipidura and Petroeca were unrepresented, and that
consequently such familiar forms as Rhipidura tricolor , R. pretssi ,
and Petrceca campbelli were missed. Glycyphila albifrons was
present at the Hills and further westwards towards Mogumber
for 10 miles. It then suddenly disappeared, as also did a tall
inland form of Grevillea which bore long spikes of yellow bloom,
and which at all times seemed a source of great attraction to
the species. The range of Malurus Icucoptcrus began with the
depressed saline area at the base of the Hills and extended west-
wards for about 20 miles, but the species was only found in
the depressed area mentioned and the sand plains which were
sandwiched in between the red soils and gimlet gums. Malurus
splendens appeared only when the plains were passed and when
nearing the Mission Station. The lines of demarcation between
the three last-named species could not have been more clearly

5 MiLLlGAN, Notes on a Jri p to the IVongan Hills, W .A. \ ^^^^^[^\

defined. M. pulcherrimus had the western limits of its habitat
in the Hills themselves. From that line M. Leucopterus held
sway until within the ocean influence, when M . splendens appeared
and continued to Mogumber. Pomatorhinus superciliosus ex-
tended from the Hills for 20 miles westward, and then disappeared
with the red soils and gimlet gums. Petra'ca goodenovi was not
found at the Hills or in their vicinity, but was first met with
at some 27 miles westwards, and thereafter continued up to a
point within 6 miles of Mogumber, but not farther. At this
point PetrcBca campbelli was first seen ; and this would appear
to be the line of osculation. Manorhina obscura was not seen
until we reached Mogumber. We did not anywhere meet with
such common coastal forms as Meliornis longirostris, M . niysta-
calis, Acanthochcera lunulata, and Acanthorhynchus superciliosus.
Evidently we were some distance from the southern limits of
such species as Climacteris superciliosa, Ephthianura aurifrons,
E. tricolor, Acanthiza robustirostris, Xerophila ccbstaneiventris,
all of which are found at Wurarga and Day Dawn, some 200 miles
northward.

Hereunder I tabulate the results of my observations as regards
the limits of certain species mentioned before : —

SOUTHERN LIMITS.

Malurus leucopterus Misocalius palliolatus

Acanthiza pallida Dryniaosdus pallidus.

NORTHERN LIMITS.
Malurus pulcherrimus Ptilotis ornata

Calamanthus montanellus Caly ptorhynchus baudini

Cinclosoma castanonotum Platycercus icterotis

Melithreptus leucogenys Strepera plumbea

Glycyphila fulvifrons Petrceca campbelli.

Ptilotis cratitia

It would appear that Malurus pulchcrri)nus, Calamanthus
montanellus, Cinclosoma castanonotum , and Ptilotis ornata are
supplanted at Wurarga (200 miles north) by Malurus assimilis,
Calamanthus ca)npestris, Cinclosoma cinnamomeum , and Ptilotis
plumula respectively. Climacteris rufa, which is said to have
a northerly range, is represented at the same place by Climacteris
super ciliosa.

EASTERN LIMITS.

Petrceca campbelli.

Petrceca goodenovi and its doubtful ally, P. ramsayi, evidently
take the place of the P . campbelli at Wurarga. The former is
found in great numbers at Rottnest Island, which must be taken
for the present as its most southern habitat.

WESTERN LIMITS.

Sericornis brunnea Glycyphila albifrons

Acanthiza uropygialis Misocalius palliolatus

Malurus pulcherrimus Pscphotus multicolor.
Calamanthus montanellus

Vol. IV.
1904

] MiLLIGAN, Notes on a Trip to the Wongan Hills, W.A. 7

Malurus pulcherrimus and Calamanthus montanellus appear
to be associated species. Both were found by us in the foothills
of the Stirling Ranges.

COASTAL SPECIES.
Petrceca campbelli Meliornis mystacalis

Meliornis longirostris Acanthorhynchus superciliosus.

All these species appear to be purely coastal. They are cer-
tainly found on the inland side of the Darling Ranges, but then
only in the southern coastal districts.

ULTRAMONTANE SPECIES.

Malurus leucopterus Sericornis brunnea

Malurus pulcherrimus Acanthiza uropygialis

Micrceca assimilis Hylacola cauta

Oreoica cristata Cinclosoma castanonotum.
Pomatorhinus superciliosus

Having worked the coast from Lake Yanchep to Cape Leeuwin,
I can confidently say that not any one of the above species is
found on the coastal side of the Range. Being birds with a
limited power of flight, and being more terrestrial than arboreal
in habit, it is probable that the Darling Ranges formed an
insuperable barrier to their eastward movements rather than
that they had a predilection for inland dry areas, x^s against
the latter notion it may be mentioned that Oreoica cristata,
Pomatorhinus superciliosus, Calamanthus montanellus, and
Malurus pulcherrimus are found in the Stirling Ranges, which
are well within the coastal influence of the Southern Ocean, and
where the rainfall is the heaviest and most frequent in the State.
All these last-named species, excepting Malurus pulcherrimus,
are more numerous than in the Wongan Hills district. I do
not pretend to say that the species enumerated under the last
two headings are the only ones inhabiting coastal and inland
areas respectively. They are the only ones which call for
attention, resultant upon the trip to the Wongan Hills.

Before concluding this paper by adding the list of species
obtained or observed during the trip, I should like to refer to
an instance or two of the direct influence that the avifauna
has in the distribution of the flora. Whilst scouring the bases
and sides of the Hills I observed that the quandong trees, or
native peach trees, as they are locally called, frequently appeared
in groups, and I was much perplexed how to account for it.
However, one day I came across a similar group of these trees
growing on the saline plains, but looking very sickly. It
suddenly occurred to me that Emus were the agency of dis-
tribution, and that, after swallowing them, the hard, indigestible
nuts passed uninjured.* On mentioning the matter to a
solitary cattle-minder whom we met, he stated the berries were
in country districts more frequently called " Emu berries " than

* This is only another proof uf a well-known fact. — H. K.

8 MiLLIGAN, Notes on a Trip to the Wongan Hills, W.A. [j^f 'j"iy

quandongs. On another occasion I was in a similar perplexity
as regarded certain " jam " or acacia trees which were growing
up the clear gorge where we were camped, and which was the
only place in summer where fresh water was obtainable. These
trees were the only ones in the Hills, and as a fact the locality
was not what is known in Western Australia as " jam " country,
trees of that species being found on a widely different location.
There seemed no solution of the problem until I heard the
trumpet-coo of a Bronze-wing near our tents. The reason for the
presence of the jam trees at once became apparent. The Bronze-
wing was the distributing agency. The seeds of this acacia form
the staple food of the birds. Doubtless some of these birds,
having visited the trees in the proper " jam " areas and fed largely
upon the seeds, had flown to and quenched their thirst at the
spring in the gorge, and then stayed for the night in the locality.
The undigested seeds would be deposited, and grow in due
season. By these means birds unconsciously provide for certain
future seasonal food supplies, and at the same time add certain
vegetable forms to a particular district where such forms are
not present, and also perpetuate the same forms in districts where
they are present, but where the growth of young trees in the
shelter of parent trees would tend to the exhaustion and ultimate
extermination of both. We meet the same distributing agents
in the Mistletoe-Birds {Dicceum hirundinaceum) who in a like
manner carry and deposit the glutinous-covered seed of the
mistletoe from tree to tree and from district to district.

List of Birds. — Appended is a list of birds taken or observed
during the trip : —

Uroaetus AUDAX (Wedge-tailed Eagle). — Saw one pair only.

HiERACIDEA BERIGORA (Striped Brown Hawk). — Not common. Shot a
fledgling.

Cerchneis CENCHROIDES (Kestrel). — Not common.

NiNOX BOOBOOK (Boobook Owl). — Heard at night near camp.

CoRONE AUSTRALIS (Raven). — Numerous. Nest with young near camp.

Strepera PLUMBEA (Leaden Crow-Shrike). — Not common.

Grallina picat.a. (Magpie-Lark). — Not numerous. Only seen near
settlements.

Collyriocincla RUFIVENTRIS (Buff-bellied Shrike-Thrush). — Faiiiy
common.

GraUCALUS MELANOPS (Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike). — Not numerous.

Lalage tricolor (White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater). — Very numerous
everywhere.

MicRCECA ASSIMILIS (Lesser Brown Flycatcher). — Fairly numerous every-
where along route.

Petrceca campbelli. — Sec article.

Petrceca GOODENOVI (Red-capped Robin). — Not numerous. See article.
Shot one with red throat.

Vol. IV.

1904

1 MiLLIGAN, Notes on a Trip to the Wongan Hills, W.A.

Petrceca RAMSAYI (Red-throated Robin). — Doubtful species. See note
to last preceding species.

SmicRORNIS BREVIROSTRIS (Short-billed Tree-Tit). — Ver}/ numerous, par-
ticularly at the Hills.

PSEUDOGERYGONE CULICIVORA (Southern Fly-eater). — Fairly numerous.

Malurus SPLENDENS (Banded Wren). — See article.

Malurus LEUCOPTERUS (White-winged Wren). — See article.

Malurus pulcherrimus (Blue-breasted Wren). — See article.

Rhipidura PREISSI (Western Fantail). — This doubtful species seen, but
not inland.

Rhipidura tricolor (Black and White Fantail). — Seen, but not inland.

SiSURA INQUIETA (Restless Flycatcher). — As above.

ACANTHIZA APICALIS (Broad-tailed Tit). — Fairly numerous at various
places.

ACANTHIZA UROPYGIALIS (Chestnut-runiped Tit). — Very common in the
Hills.

ACANTHIZA PALLIDA (Pallid Tit). — Small companies at many places inland.
Their notes are weaker than those of A. chrysorrhoa.

Sericornis BRUNNEA (Redthroat). — Very numerous in Hills. See
article.

Sericornis maculata (Spotted Scrub-Wren). — One bird was shot.
Cannot believe to be identical with the coast bird.

CiNCLOSOMA CASTANONOTUM (Chestnut-backed Ground-Bird). — Rare.
See article.

Drymacedus PALLIDUS (Pale Scrub-Robin). — Several seen. See article.

Hylacola CAUTA (Red-rumped Ground- Wren). — Not common. Very
local. Rump colouring nearer dark red than chestnut.

POMATORHINUS SUPERCILIOSUS (White-browed Babbler). — Common in-
land. Obtained one nest containing eggs in sandalwood shrub.

CiNCLORHAMPHUS RUFESCENS (Rufous Song-Lark). — Heard and saw some
birds in cleared country near Mission Station.

Calamanthus MONTANELLUS (Rock Field-Wren). — Numerous at the
Hills and on the plains.

Ephthianura albifrons (White-fronted Chat). — Numerous in moist
country, particularly at Lake Hinds.

Gymnorhina dorsalis (Varied-backed Magpie). — Numerous near Mission
Station, less common inland. Young flying about.

Cracticus LEUCOPTERUS (White-winged Butcher-Bird). — Fairly numerous.
Young birds well forward, leaving or just about leaving nests. I consider
we have a species distinct from above and C . destructor.

Oreoica CRISTATA (Bell-Bird). — Only two pairs heard and seen. See
article.

EoPSALTRIA GULARIS (Grey-breasted Shrike- Robin). — Rare. See article.

Eopsaltria GEORGIANA (White-breasted Shrike-Robin). — Mr. Conigrave
states he saw one in gimlet woods between the Mission and the Hills.

Pachycephala 0CCIDENTALIS^( Western Thickhead). — This very doubtful
species was sparsely distributed.

lO ]\[ILLIGAN, Notes on a Trip to the Wonsan Hills, W .A. \ .^"J",

■" ' ^ ' List July

Climacteris RUFA (Rufous Tree-creeper). — Common everywhere. Only
species seen.

SiTTELLA PILEATA (Black-capped Trcc-runner)..— A few companies met
with occasionally.

ZOSTEROPS GOULDI (Green-backed Silver-eye). — Numerous everywhere.

Melithreptus LEUCOGENYS (Western Brown-headed Honey-eater).—
Very numerous about the Hills, always in companies. The only one of
the genus met with.

Glycyphila fulvifrons (Tawny-crowned Honey-eater). — Conmion at
many places along the route. Nest and eggs taken.

Glycyphila albifrons (White- fronted Honey-eater). — Very common
inland. Many nests and eggs taken. Young birds numerous.

Glycyphila ocularis (Brown Honey-eater). — Common. Nest and eggs
taken.

Ptilotis SONORA (Singing Honey-eater). — Sparsely distributed. Took
nest and eggs. Nest composed of greenish grass-stems.

Ptilotis N0V.E-N0RCI.«, sp. nov. — See article.

Ptilotis CRATITIA (Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater).— Fairly numerous in
Hills. Breeding season.

Ptilotis ORNATA (Yellow-plumed Honey-eater). — Very numerous in
eucalypts at bases of the Hills. Breeding season.

Manorhina OBSCURA (Dusky Miner). — Common near Mogumber.

Acanthoch.era CARITnculata (Red Wattle-Bird).— Numerous along
route and at the Hills.

Dictum HIRUNDINACEUM (Mistletoe-Bird). — Not numerous.

Pardalotus ORNATUS (Red-tipped Pardalote). — Fairly common. The
colours of the birds obtained were very rich, much more so than the
southern and coastal birds. The only species seen.

Cheramceca LEUCOSTERNL^M (Black and White Swallow).— A few seen
on the moist country. A dead bird was obtained in a shallow excavation
on a quartz outcrop.

Petrochelidon nigricans (Tree-Martin). — Fairly common everywhere.

Anthus AUSTRALIS (Pipit).— Common at foot of the Hills and on the
plains. Obtained nest and eggs.

Artamus SORDIDUS (Wood-Swallow). — Common in many places.

PODARGUS STRIGOIDES (Tawny Frogmouth). — Sec article.

Merops ORNATUS (Bee-eater). — Seen at Mogumber.

Halycon SANCTUS (Sacred Kingfisher).— Common.

CUCULUS PALLIDUS (Pallid Cuckoo).— Not common.

Cacomantis flabelliformis (Fantailcd Cuckoo). — Fairly common in
eucalyptus belts.

MiSOCALius PALLIOLATUS (Black-eared Cuckoo). — A few birds were dis-
tributed in the green timber at the bases of the Hills.

Chalcococcyx basalis (Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo). — Fairly
numerous.

Glossopsittacus porphyrocephalus (Purple-crowned Lorikeet). —
Numerous in the green timber near the Lakes.

"''"''o'^'l MILLIGAN, Notes on a Trip to the Wongan Hills, W.A. 1 I

Calyptorhynchus BAUDINI (White-tailed Cockatoo). — Very few.

Platycercus ICTEROTIS (Yellow-cheeked Parrakeet). — See article.

Barnardius SEMITORQUATUS (Yellow-collared Parrakeet). — Numerous in
places.

PSEPHOTUS MULTICOLOR (Many-coloured Parrakeet). — See article. Not
numerous.

Phaps CHALCOPTERA (Bronzewing Pigeon). — Rare. One bird only seen.

Phaps ELEGANS (Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon). — Rare. One pair seen.
One bird shot.

TURNIX VARIA (Painted Quail). — One bird seen.

EUPODOTIS AUSTRALIS (Bustard). — One bird shot. Reported to be very
common on the plains.

BURHINUS GRALLARIUS (Stone-Plover). — Heard at night frequently.

ZONIFER TRICOLOR (Black-breasted Plover). — A member of our party
reported he saw one in field near the Mission Station.

.Egialitis RUFICAPILLa (Red-capped Dottrel). — Many seen on shores of
Lake Hinds.

.^GIALITIS CUCULLATUS (Hooded Dottrel). — One of a pair shot on the
margin of a brackish lake.

Cladorhynchus LEUCOCEPHALUS, Vieill. (Banded Stilt). — See article.

PODICIPES POLIOCEPHALUS (Hoary-headed Grebe). — Several were seen on
a dam about 6 miles beyond the Mission Station.

Casarca TADORNOIDES (Mountain-Duck). — One pair seen in the L.ake
country.

Nettion GIBBERIFRONS (Grey Teal). — I shot a pair of what I take to be
these birds. Saw many others at the dam mentioned.

Nyroca AUSTRALIS (White-eyed Duck). — Saw many at the dam men-
tioned.

Drom.f;us nov.^-hollandle, Latham (Emu). — Saw fresh tracks of these
birds in many places in the Lake country.

Australian Birds in the Zoological Gardens, London,

1903-1904.

By Ed. Degen, Parson's Green, London.
A series of visits recently paid to the world-famous collections
at the menageries in Regent's Park discloses two noteworthy
features to the ornithologist with a predilection for the Aus-
tralian avifauna.

. Only 60, or about one-twelfth of the total of the Australian
birds classified in the " Vernacular List," are clustered round
the positive pole, leaving no fewer than 700 to be disposed of
on the negative extremity of the circuit, many of which (up to
the present, at least) are either lost in space altogether or may
have to be looked for, as a highly desirable addition, in their
native haunts. It may readily be inferred from this that a

I 2 Deg?:n, Aiishaliau Birds iii Zoological Gardens, London. L^t '}"],.

really splendid opportunity offers itself to an Australian visitor
or a returning colonist to supplement the list and fill in existing
gaps. This defect could be remedied with such species without
inconvenience to an enthusiastic traveller, and without any
particular risk to live stock which do not depend on insect food
exclusively. Of these there are many so sparsely represented
that whole genera, even families, are totally absent.

For the housing of animals, including the birds, extensive
alterations are at present in progress, or to be taken in hand
shortly, when a replenishing of the aviaries would probably
receive the attention of the authorities.

Several large avairies have been built or are in course of con-
struction, in which Australian birds might find a suitable home.
One which has been erected on the north side of the Gardens is
a spacious structure, destined to accommodate certain Parrots
during the summer months. Whether its position (on the
banks of the Canal) is a well-chosen one it is perhaps too early
to decide.

The " birds of prey " are sparsely represented by a handsome specimen
(which lias lived in the Gardens for some years) of the Wedge-tailed Eagle
{UroaiHiis audax). Hawks, Buzzards, and Falcons, as well as Ospreys
are unrepresented.

Of the Owls, the only member of the family was the Winking Owl {Ninox
connivens), which died during the time I visited the gardens. The Lesser
Masked Owl {Strix delicatula) also died.

Amongst perching birds in the Crows' Aviary may be seen the Raven
{Corone australis) and two specimens of the Grej' Jumper {Struthidea
cinerea).

Birds of Paradise (sub-family Epimacliitice, as well as Paradiseincs) and
the Australian representatives of the family Oriolidce are unrepresented.

The numerous Wood-Shrikes are also wanting. These being principally
insect and grub-eating genera, one is not surprised to find them absent,
as well as all the Flycatchers and Warblers.

Amongst the Timeliidce, or Babbling Thrushes, we have the Satin or
Silky Bower-Bird {Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) represented by two speci-
mens only, and luckily a Regent-Bird {Seri cuius melinus).

Babblers and Titmice are absent, but among the Laniidce, or Crow-
Shrikes, both a male and a female of the Black-backed Magpie {Gymno-
rhina tibicen) and a splendid male bird, as well as a young male, of the
White-backed Magpie {G. leuconota), delight the ear of the visitor.

All the genera of the sub-family of P achyce phalince , as well as the whole
of the representatives of the families CerthiidcB and NcctariniidcB, or
Sun-Birds, are absent, and among the long list of Meliphagidw the Warty-
faced Honey-eater {Meliphaga phrygia) is a solitary bird, which has been
placed in the Parrot-house.

The numerous species of Wood-.Swallows have one representative —
namely, the Masked Wood-Swallow {Ariamus pcrsonatus').

Of Weavers there are several, all placed in the Parrot-house or the
Insect-house, such as the

Chestnut-eared Finch {TcEniopygia castanotts).

Banded, or, as here called, Bicheno Finch {Stictoptcra hi'chcnovii).

Chestnut-breasted Finch {Munia casianeithorax),

Modest, or, according to bird vernacular nomenclature, Plum-head
Finch (^Aidcniosyne niodestd),

Vol. IV.
1904

1 DegeN, Australian Birds in Zoological Gardens, London. I ^

Black-thi-oated (here Banded) Grass-Finch {Poepliila cincta), and

The Scarlet-headed Finch — truly called here the Beautiful Finch
{Poepliila niirabilis) — not to forget what ought to have preceded the
last — e.g.,

The Gouldian Finch {Poepliila gouldia;).

The only Lyre-Bird (a female specimen of Menura victorice) died a few
months ago.

Pittas might do very well. Other Polynesian species are to be seen.

Amongst Picarian birds the Brown Kingfisher or Laughing Jackass
{Dacclo gigas) is represented by three healthy-looking specimens in the
Eastern Aviary.

The Australian section of the Parrots contributes largely to the present
exhibition in the house especially devoted to this noisy community.
Amongst the Loriidce one finds : —

Blue-bellied (here Swainson) Lorikeet {Trichoglossus novcB-hollandicB)
and the scarce Red-collared (Red-banded) Lorikeet {Trichoglossus rubri-
torquis) from N.W.A., not less resplendent in colours.

Of the family of the Cacatuidce there are the rare Gang-Gang Cockatoo
{Callocephalon galeaiuin), White (here called the Great Sulphur-crested)
Cockatoo {Cacatua galeritd), Pink Cockatoo {C. leadbeateri), Bare-eyed
Cockatoo {C. gymnopis). Blood-stained Cockatoo {C. sanguinea), Rose-
breasted Cockatoo {C. roseicapilla). Long-billed Cockatoo {Licmetis
nasica), and in the Western Avairy the Cockatoo-Parrakeet, or Cockatiel
{Calopsittacus novce-hollandice), male and female.

Among true Parrots the sub-family Palceornithince is represented by
the following : —

Green-Leek Parrakeet {Polytelis barraba>idi).

Red-winged Lory {Ptistes erythropterus), and

King Lory {Aprosniictus cyanopygius).

The true Parrakeets, or Platycercince, are in force, and comprise the
following : —

Crimson or Pennant Parrakeet {Plaiycercus elegans).

The always magnificent Masters Parrakeet {P. masterianus).*

i^delaide Rosella {P. adelaidcs).

Yellow Parrakeet {P. flaveolus).

Pale-headed Parrakeet {P. pallidiceps).

The rare Smutty or the Brown Parrakeet {P. browni).

Rosella, originally named Rose-hill Parrakeet {P. cxiniius).

Yellow-cheeked Parrakeet {P. icteroiis).

Yellow-banded Parrakeet {Barnardius zonarius).

Mallee Parrakeet {B. barnardi) ; a hybrid between the Golden-shouldered
Parrakeet {Psephotus clirysopierygius) and the Many-coloured Parrakeet
{Psephotus multicolor^.

The Red-backed (really Blood-rumpcd) Parrakeet {Psephotus hcemato-
notus') ; and finally the

Betcherrygah, or Warbling Grass-Parrakeet {Melopsittacus undulatus).

The Peristerida;, or Pigeon family, have three species to represent them : —

Brush Bronze-wing {Phaps elegans).

Naked-eyed Partridge-Pigeon {Geophaps sviithi).

Plumed Pigeon or Ground-Pigeon {Lophophaps plnniiferd).

The interesting Megapodes are represented by the Brush-Turkey
{Catheturus {Talegallus) lathami), which seems to do very well. These
birds have attempted and nearly succeeded in breeding. They were
reared in the Zoological Gardens, Melbourne.

* Said to be a variety of/", elegatis. Vide Eiini, vol. ill., p. 197. — Eds.

lA DEGE^,Aus/>ahan Birds in Zoological Gardens, London. r,^j'"]",| ,

Heinipodcs arc missing.

Of the Fulicarice there is only the Pectoral Rail {Hypota'nidia p/iilip-
pinensis) to be noted.

The Native Companion, or Australian Crane, and Bustard arc also
absent.

Plovers are represented only by the Spur-winged Plover or so-called
Wattled Pewit {Lobivanellus lobatus), and a

Lesser Golden Plover iCharadrius fulvus), which was caught at sea.

Amongst sea-birds there are only to be noticed the

Silver or Jamieson Gull {Larus nover-hollandice) and the

Skua {Megalestris antarctica).

The families PelicanidcB, Plotidce, Phalacrocoracidce, Fregatidce, Pha'c-
thontidcB, and Sulidce, all composing the order of Steganopodes, with the
exception of the Pelican {P. conspictllatus), and the orders of the Pygo-
podes and Impennes, are unrepresented.

In the order of ChenomorphcB and family of Anatidce we have amongst
Cygtiince the Black Swan {Chenopis atrata), which from time to time
breeds in the Gardens.

Anseranatince represented by the Pied Goose {Anseranas seniipal-
matd) and Cape Barren Goose {Cereopsis novce-hollandice), male and
female.

Among the Ducks are only the Shieldrake or Mountain-Duck
{Casarca tadornoides) and Black Duck (Anas superciliosa).

The list of "Australian natives" closes with the Struthionide bird whose
name has aptly lent itself as title to the offlcial organ of the Ornithologists'
Union, namely the Emu {Dromceus novce-hollandics). Another specimen,
at one time suspected to be its " Spotted " congener {Drotnceus irroratus),
failed to prove its identity as a separate species, and the Cassowary
{Casuarius australis) is no longer in the world, so far as the Zoo is con-
cerned.

Bird Notes from Wilmot, Tasmania.

By (Miss) J. A. Fletcher.

Part III.

During the season just closing the Tree-Swallows or Martins
{Petrochelidon nigricans) have been very numerous. In previous
years I have only seen an occasional pair, but since last October
they have been present in flocks of eight to twenty. They nested
in the hollow limbs of the dead trees close to the township. On
rainy days they would settle in the yard or would amuse them-
selves by flying round the house several times ; then all would
suddenly settle on the ground ; up they would rise, then round
the house and down again. It was very amusing to watch
them, and they will be greatly missed when they leave us next
month (April).

In our dark, damp gullies the Large-billed Ground-Thrushes
{Geocichla macrorhynchd) are to be found, but as civilisation is
being extended these birds are withdrawing into the at present
untouched scrubs. Last winter (June) I came upon a venerable
myrtle tree and discovered three nests of this Ground-Thrush
in various parts of the tree. I regret being unable to revisit

Vol. IV.
igo4

] Fletcher, Bird Notes from Wihnot, Tasmania. I 5

the spot since that date, so do not know if the nests were used
for the season now closed. Two years ago, on a patch of heath-
covered ground, these Thrushes were so numerous as to be
remarked upon by many people who were not naturally ob-
servant. For what food they were searching I could not find out.
Observations were made very difficult by the numbers of bull-
dog ants that frequented the spot. But the birds did not seem
to eat the ants.

The mention of heath brings to remembrance the little Honey-
eaters. It is a great happiness to stay quietly on a log and watch
these merry little birds. My great regret is that we in Tasmania
have so few varieties of them. Conspicuous by its lively action
the first Honey-eater noticed will be the Crescent (jVleliornis
atistralasiana). In a patch of "stink-wood" scrub I found,
last October, five of their nests. One was quite finished but
contained no eggs. The owner was there also, and made a
great fuss until the human stranger had gone. The nests were
very slender, and covered on the outside with tiny clumps of
moss, which resembled the stinkwood leaves in colour.

The Black-headed Honey-eater {Melithreptus melanocephalus)
and the Fulvous-fronted Honey-eater {Glycyphila fulvifrons) are
both to be found in this district ; the former generally amongst
the young saplings, the latter on the more open heathy patches.
The Black-headed is the bolder bird and will go on merrily
chirping while hunting for food, heedless of an intruder, whereas
the Fulvous-fronted seeks shelter or a hiding place at once.
Last November I tried hard to find a nest of the Black-headed
which I knew was being built in a clump of eucalyptus saplings,
but I was not successful.

Amongst the young growth and shrubs in the clearer pad-
docks several pairs of the Strong-billed Honey-eaters {Meli-
threptus validirostris) may always be seen. I have found their
nests built in ferns and fireweed bushes.

During the breeding season the Yellow-throated Honey-eaters
{Ptilotis flavigulciris) keep in pairs to a particular and restricted
spot. Here they build their nests. Their loud, cheerful call
quickly betrays the locality and a little patience on the part
of the watcher will result in the finding of the nest. One evening
I watched one of these birds filling its mouth with hairs from
the back of a cow. A tug and a hop, a tug and a hop, and as
soon as it had sufficient of this unpleasant tickling burden it
flew ofT to a clump of tree-ferns. I followed it, and in a little
time found the nest artfully concealed in the dead pendent
fronds of a tree-fern. A visit paid to it a week afterwards found
the bird sitting on two eggs.

Last autumn I noticed the Brush Wattle-Birds {Acantho-
chcBva mellivora) in an orchard on the banks of the River Forth.
I also heard they had built there this season, but did not see
the nests to verify them.

The little White-eye {Zostcrops ecvruleseeiis) is a frequenter

1 6 Fletcher, Bird Notes from Wilmot, Tasma)iia. [,st "July

of the orchards. I found a nest in a plum tree ; it contained
two eggs.

This district has been settled seven years, but it is only within
the last two years that the Ground-Lark {Anthus australis) has
made this its home. It seems to have followed the grassy pad-
docks, which are superseding the felled scrub. Early in the
morning these birds may be seen running about the gardens
after the insects.

The Fire-tailed Finches {ZoncBginthus bcllus) are about in great
numbers. Last year they were building early in October, and
two years ago this month (March) 1 found a nest with fresh
eggs.

Of the Pardalote family I have noticed two members — the
Spotted or Diamond-Bird {Pardalotus punctatiis) and the Yellow-
tipped (Pavdalotus afflnis). Once I found a nest of the former
driven in a bank. xA. few days afterwards I returned and
cautiously peeping in saw a snake had possession. Which of
us was more astonished was hard to say.

In the tussocks of the swampy flats the Field-Wren iCala-
manthus fuliginosus) may always be seen, and its nest sometimes
found in a tussock. In the same localities the timid Emu-Wren
{Stipiturus malachmus) may be watched if the observer is a
quiet person. They flit from clump to clump, chirping to one
another so happily, and rarely show themselves above the level
of the grass. Their nest is dif^cult to find.

In all parts of the district the familiar Long-tailed Blue Wren
{Malurus gouldi) is to be seen, generidly together in numbers
of four or five. In winter they become very fearless of human
beings, and their trust is very rarely ill repaid.

The Dusky Fantail {Rhipidura dicmcnoisis) is to be seen
and heard near all our creeks, and in the quieter gullies it builds
its nest — a beautiful structure.

Addenda. — Early in September (1903) a pair of Dusky Robins
{Petro'ca vittata) was noticed to be constantly about the back
verandah, and after the course of a few days their actions
plainly showed they were nest-hunting. The spot selected was
in the corner where the school verandah joined the house — not
a quiet situation by any means.* Both birds worked earnestly
at the nest, bringing rootlets principally. These they pro-
cured from the playground, where several loads of loam had been
spread. The situation of the nest was very secure, consequently
the nest was ill-constructed. Feathers were used as lining.
Before September was past the female was sitting on three eggs.
When she had been sitting about ten days our pair of Swallows
{Hirundo ncoxcnd) returned, and then a war began. They
were dreadfully indignant to find the verandah was in strangers'
possession, although their own last year's nest was untouched
in its corner. Backwards and forwards m front of the sitting

* Most unusual for this bird to seek human habitations in nest-building. — Eds.

The Emu, Vo/. JV

PLATE III

Boobook (Jwl ( A'liiox boohook).

FROM A PHOTO. BY D. LE SOUEF.

Vol. IV.
1904

■| FLliTCHKR, Bird Notes /ruin Wibnot^ I'asinaiila. 17

Robin they would fly, oftentimes snapping at her, until she, driven
to anger by their persistency, would dart out and chase them.
This decidedly unpleasant state of affairs continued for a few
days, until the Swallows seemed to have made up their minds
to go to the front verandah, but that would not do, so they went
round to the side, but finally came back to their old place, and
the war recommenced. But during the few days of peace the
baby Robins had been hatched, and both parents were busily
feeding them, though every time they came with the food (grubs)
they were attacked by the Swallows, who even ventured on
the nest. When the young Robins were about four or five days
old, they strangely disappeared, and their disappearance was
placed against the Swallows. One little naked dead body was
picked up in the yard, but the two others were not found. It
was impossible for a cat to get at the nest, owing to its situation.
I feel certain that the death of the young Robins was caused by
the jealousy of the Swallows. Being now rid of their rivals,
the Swallows repaired their previous year's nest and succeeded
in rearing their four young ones in safety. These latter had
been on the wing a fortnight when their parents commenced to
build again. They chose the Robins' nest, and for four days
carried mud and tried to repair it, but it evidently proved too
ditftcult, so they left it and again repaired their own. Four
young this time, and these were safely reared. Early in December
the same Robins were again noticed to be constantly about,
and it was discovered that they were building a nest on a beam
in an outhouse. Three eggs were laid, but only one young bird
arrived at maturity, though all the eggs hatched. During the
time the female is sitting the male bird feeds her constantly.
She keeps up a constant crying call, resembling the word " Jim"
very much drawled. So the children called him " Jim." Some-
times at a call from him she would fly out to receive the grub,
but as a general rule he gave it to her on the nest. I must find
out next season if the female maintains the same cry when sitting
on eggs in the paddocks ; if so she would speedily betray her
nest.

During November the actions of a pair of Wrens {Malurus
gouldi) attracted some attention. Regularly every clay for nearly
a fortnight they would dash themselves against a small fixed
window, the male bird becoming particularly excited in his
eftorts to get through. Several experiments were tried to see
if it was their reflection in the glass they were attacking or whether
they were trying to catch flies. But neither of these seemed
to be their object, and the mystery remained unsolved.

The Cuckoos left us, as usual, early in February, but as a rule
generally come back in April for a fortnight.

Edward Thomas was fined i=2 at the Canterbury (Vict.) court
for shooting a Magpie-Lark, a protected bird, on Sunday, 17th
April.

1 8 iM'GkliGOR, The Use oj Sclent ific Bird Sanies. [is^'july

The Use of Scientific Bird Names.

V>\ Richard C. M'Gre(;or
(yPhili ppinc Mnscu)u, Mcniilii).
In The Emu for October last I notice a communication in re the
use of common bird names. To some this matter may seem of
Httle importance, but when we consider that it affects the value
of our records I think it will be admitted that the subject deserves
our attention. The subject, one in which I have taken con-
siderable interest, was discussed in The Condor a couple of
years ago, and perhaps a few remarks from an American may
be of interest to your readers.

When the A.O.U. formulated its code and worked out the
North American " Check-List " there was adopted a list of
English bird names along with the scientific ones. In the case
of the latter class of names the list has been a great boon to bird
students in the United States, especially to the beginner.
Unfortunately the A.O.U. , with the best intent, no doubt,
changed many of the English names in common use, substituting
for them names more appropriate, perhaps ; but these new names
have had a hard time to hold their own. Unfortunately these
changes were made in the names of many common and well-
known species. Mr. Hill asks if there is anyone anywhere who
calls the Laughing Jackass Brown Kingfisher (ii ;;/?/, iii., p. 139).
We have the same feeling with regard to the changes made in
American bird names. With sincere loyalty to the A.O.U. we
tried to remember that the California Quail should be called a
Partridge ; that the Snow-Bird is a Junco ; the Turkey-Buzzard
a Vulture ; the Rosy Finch a Leucosticte, &c. But there has
been a growing tendency among writers in the United States
to drop back to the old names or to coin new ones. It may be
iidmitted that we should be able to have fixed common names,
but for all that common names, with us at least^ are very apt to
be equivocal.

I will here quote part of a letter from Dr. C. Hart Alerriam,
one of our leading American systematists : — " Your inquiry with
respect to the A.O.U. tendency in common names gives me an
opportunity to state that I place no weight whatever on the fact
of the adoption or rejection of a particular name, or form of
name, among the common names of birds as used in the A.O.U.
'Check-List.' In other words, my position is, and always has
been, that the A.O.U. ruling on points of scientific nomenclature
should carry great weight, but that in matters of common
English names of species every man is at liberty to use whatever
name he pleases. Whatever one's views may be on this matter,
the fact remains that so large a number of writers do use common
names different from those in the code that it is absolutely-
necessary in many cases to give the scientific name if the record
is of any value" {Condor, iii., p. 52).

Unquestionably the fact that birds have been supplied so

Vul. iV.
1904 ..

M'CikEGOR, 17/c Use 0/ Scicnli/ic Bird Names. ig

generously with common names has greatly popularized their
study. But trivial names are inaccurate, and the wider the
territory over which they are used the more inaccurate they
become. For instance, the name Yellow-hammer in England
means a Bunting (Emberizd), in the United States it refers to
a Woodpecker (Colaptcs). Similar curiosities of nomenclature
occur with regard to Blackbird, Warbler, Flycatcher, and others.
At the same time there are hundreds of birds for which we have
no names other than the scientific ones. The latter we must
know and should use if we wish to be exact. The common name
may be useful over a limited area, but it becomes useless as this
area widens, as stated above, while the scientific name has a
value any and everywhere. For example, I see the name
Mistletoe-Bird in The Emu. Now this conveys to me no idea
whatever, but as I see it belongs to the genus Diccetim I am able
to locate it. Working with my native collectors I find that they
learn the scientific names much more readily than they would
English names. True, the natives here have names for many
birds, but these are seldom of more than generic value.

I am well aware that a general narrative article cluttered with
scientific names makes a bad appearance and smacks of pedantry,
but this niay be avoided by giving the list of scientific names at
the end of the article, together with the trivial equivalents. In
a faunal list, however, the scientific names must always be
used, with or without the common ones as the author may
fancy.

I am glad to see that The Emu prints names of species de-
dicated to persons without the " 's," a system, which is, I believe,
fast finding favour among American scientists.

In conclusion, I can do no better than to quote the following
pertinent words from Mr. Robert Ridgway, Curator of Birds in
the Smithsonian Institution, and the highest authority in
America on systematic ornithology : — " No reasonable person
can make serious or well-founded objection to the use of ver-
nacular names in such publications [popular or semi-popular
bird books and journals], but since there are evidently some
who regard scientific names as wholly superfluous I desire to
present one good reason why the latter should always be given,
whether accompanied by the vernacular name or not.

" So far as I am aware, no one has yet desired a better index-
to the literature of a particular species than a carefully pre-
pared ' synonymy,' by which I mean not only the various
synonyms themselves but also judiciously selected references
under each, arranged in chronological or some other methodical
sequence. For several years past the collation of references for
such a synonymy of the birds of North and Middle /\merica
has occupied a very considerable portion of my time, during
which there have been numerous occasions to deplore the absence
of the scientific name in connection with some note which
records a new fact of geographic distribution, habits, or nidifi-

20 M'Gkkgou, The Use of Scicitlific Bird Nantes. r,sr'"iul '

cation. Necessarily, these have had to be passed by, since
vernacular names are unavailable for citation.

" It may be urged that vernacular names are citable as well
as scientific names. While this is in one sense true, neverthe-
less it is impracticable, unless the compiler is willing to double
his labour and add unnecessarily to the bulk of his book. In
other words, since scientific names must, for various paramount
reasons, be cited, the addition of vernacular names would but
increase the labour of the compiler and still further complicate
the topography of the synonymy.

" Personally, 1 am in favour of the use of vernacular names ;
but by all means let us have the scientific names also " {Condor,
ii., p. 41).

Stray Feathers.

Incubation .vfter Removal from the Nest. — During the
breeding season of 1903 a nest of the Hoary-headed Grebe
{Podicipcs poliocephalus) was found by some friends of mine
about 20 miles from Casterton. It contained one egg, and was
taken to be sent on to me. The specimen was not blown, and
after it had laid in the house for a couple of days a chick within
was heard chipping. The egg was kept warm until hatched,
and the young replaced in the nest. Soon afterwards the chick
was seen, accompanied by its proud mother, swimming about the
swamp. Miss Carmichael, who informed me of this, said it was
hot weather at the time, but that no special attention was paid
to the egg in order to facilitate its incubation. — (Dr.) E. A.
D'Ombrain. Casterton (V.), 18/4/04.
-* * *

Yellow-RUMPED Finch {Mimia flavipvymnd). — A pair of

these bright little birds are in the Melbourne Zoological Gardens,

and are just at present busily constructing a bulky dome-shaped

nest of grass. The male is of a richer hue than the female ;

his breast is pale chestnut, back and wings rich dark chestnut,

especially on the shoulders ; his rump is reddish-yellow, and the

tail feathers dark chestnut, with the outer edge of a much lighter

hue, the two central feathers have a dark centre and light on

each side ; all the tail feathers are pointed ; top of head and

neck greyish-fawn, the centre of each feather slightly darkened,

and only indistinctly discernible ; just over and below the eye

a much lighter shade, almost white ; vent white ; bill and legs

blue. They are altogether very neat and trim little birds in

appearance, and seem fairly hardy. This pair came from

North-Western Australia, inland from Cossack. — D. Le Souef.

1 1/3/04.

* * *

Swifts and Swallows. — This autumn has been remarkable
for the number of times the Spine-tailed Swift {Chcetura cauda-

Vo'- 1^-1 Stray Feathers. 2 I

1904 I -^

t2<!/fl) has appeared round Launceston. 1 find that the afternoon
of the 13 th February was the first occasion on which I noted
them. The time was 5 p.m., and the wind from the S.E. The
birds came with the wind right behind tliem and disappeared
shortly afterwards in a north-westerly direction. The next
birds were not observed until the i8th March, but after that
up to the beginning of April they put in many appearances.
The time of visit varied from 12.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The
sky was always more or less overcast, and the wind in the same
direction, S.E. The birds always came right with the wind,
and always disappeared at a great elevation almost due N.W.
The flocks never exceeded a couple of dozen birds, and they
never wasted much time circling round. On the 20th March
Messrs. H. and A. Weedon, both of Launceston, who were
spending a holiday at Low Head, counted 600 Swallows {Hii undo
neoxena) perched on the telegraph wires. This was at dusk.
Next morning not one was to be seen in the neighbourhood.
It was on this date the bulk of the Launceston Swallows dis-
appeared. Two or three pairs stayed behind, and were to be
seen about the streets of the city until the middle of April. But
this was nothing unusual, as last winter a pair stayed with us
the whole time. — Frank M. Littler. 10/5/04.
* * *

Clarke Island (Bass Strait) Notes. — loth September. — The
Cuckoo-Shrike (Graucalus parvirostris) has just made its
appearance here, in the usual small flocks of 6 or 8. Unfortunately
they do not nest here to any extent, and I only know of one
clutch of eggs being secured. The Black Oyster-catcher and
the Pied Oyster-catcher are busy getting ready for nesting, and
one can see the various holes in the sand as a preliminary per-
formance before laying.

20th September. — The Wood-Swallow {Artanius sordidus) is
also visiting here. It is a very pretty bird — colour deep grey
above, breast white and grey, with mottled black and white under
belly and butt of tail. A few Swifts were seen to-day, but, unlike
most years, have not appeared in any numbers. I have just
seen a most beautiful Parrakeet, very rare indeed here; colour —
green back, breast orange, bright red bands on either side of
face ; very long tail (bright green) ; size of a Wood-Swallow.

15th October. — The Painted Quail {Turnix varid) have begun
to lay. This is remarkably early, as November is the usual time.
They simply make a hole in the ground, wherein are deposited
four eggs, smaller than those of the Brown Quail, grey-brown,
covered with chocolate and grey spots. The White-eye (Zosterops)
is nesting too. Being of a green colour, they instinctively choose
the young twigs of trees to build their nest in, which is quite a
work of art, composed of cobwebs and fine hair on the outside,
by which it is bound to the branch, and lined inside with black
and white hair. They almost always choose the mountain tea-
tree.

2 2 Stray Feathers. \

Emu
St July

8th November. — Whilst examining one of the small ponds
on Reservation Island, I came across a pair of Mountain-Ducks
with five fledglings. This is the first time for years they have
bred here. They were about a week old, black and white in
colour. The instinct of self-preservation was strong in them,
for upon observing me they instantly hid amongst the rushes
which bordered their home. Found also some young teal on the
same island, but was unable to locate any nest. It is very diffi-
cult in any case, as Teal, &c., often lay half a mile from water.
The Brown Quail (Synoecus australis) is now laying, but not
to such an extent as toward the end of the month. On Cape
Barren Island the Quail is very scarce, and one can go a day's
journey without encountering one bird, except close to the coast,
where they are a little more numerous.

14th November. — Wood-Swallows are still here in small flocks,
but are not laying. The Black and the Pied Oyster-catchers are
nesting in great numbers along the coast. One will often find
the nest of the Black Oyster-catcher close to that of the Pacific
Gull, with whom he always seems to be on good terms. Perhaps
it is for mutual support against intruders. The Gull is most
interesting when he has any hard article of food to deal with.
One will see him emerge from some cleft with a large whelk in
his bill. The cunning fellow will select a flat rock, rise above
it to the height of about 40 feet, and then drop his booty. The
shock will generally break the shell, but if not, he will fly up
again and again, until his efforts are crowned with success.
One will see conspicuous flat rocks along the coast littered with
the evidences of the bird's pertinacity. The Mutton-Birds are
said to be very scarce this year, which shows that they must
be steadily getting worked out. I think that the remarkably
wet season we are having has drowned thousands of the young-
birds. This has been the wettest summer down here on record.
— J. D. MacLaine. 4/2/04.

Forgotten Feathers.

Allusions to Australian Avifauna in the Journal of a
Voyage of the " Nijptang." — In an early part of The Emu it
was suggested that the journals of explorers might be consulted
for allusions to Australian birds. The voyage of the squadron
under the command of Willem de Vlaming at the end of the
17th century contains some interesting items, which I give,
as translated from an anonymous volume published in Amster-
dam in 1 701 (^' Journaal Wegens ecu Voyagic na het onbckcnde
Zuid-land en wyders na Batavia") The journal records the
course taken by the hooker Nijptang, of which vessel Gerrit
CoUart was captain, Theodoris Heermans " adsistant," and
Gerrit Gerritszoon first mate. 31° 43' S. is the latitude recorded
on the 13th of January, 1697, at which date the vessels were

Vol. IV.
1904

'■ 1 Forgotten Feat keys.

otf the west coast of Australia. On the previous day the first
mate of the Nijptang and other members of the ship's company
(the writer of the journal being present) had been ashore. " No
human beings," says the " Journal," " were to be seen, so that
it was evident that no good could be done here." And the writer
makes the further observations : — " As for the country, it is
sandy, and, in part in which we were, it is covered with trees,
amongst which some were from three to four fathoms in diameter
at least, but they bear no fruit ; in short, it abounds in thistles
and thorns. Several of the trees yielded a kind of resin, almost
like gumlac, of a brownish-red colour. Everything was shy,
human beings and also birds, such as Swans, Gannets, Pelicans,
Cockatoos, Parrakeets, &c. The best of the place is that there
are no vermin (ongedierte) to be seen, but in the daytime one
is sorely tormented by flies (vliegen)." * On the i 5 th day of the
same month our author again records the ship's position —
30° 17' S. — and again goes ashore with two boatloads of men
and officers. " We went," he says, " about six (statute) miles
inland, but found no men and no fresh water, only a few human
footprints and some resembling those of a dog and a Cassowary. "I

On the 30th day of January the ships anchored near South
Passage, leading into Denham Sound, and on the ist of the
following month two of the captains went ashore. In the entry
for the 2nd of February we read: — "The two captains (for De
Vlaming also had gone ashore) returned on board late in the
evening ; they had proceeded inland for a distance of from 24
to 28 (statute) miles. Our captain brought with him the head
of a large bird ; they said that they had seen two nests built
of branches and three fathoms at least in circumference."

On the 4th of February, 1697, at about 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, the ships anchored at Dirk Hartog's anchorage, at
the north end of Dirk Hartog Island. In the entry for the day in
the log-book of the Gcclvntk, De Vlaming remarks : — " The country
here is everywhere dry and sandy and treeless, and one can
catch or turn over at night as many turtles as one desires to
have, and also procure as many turtles' eggs as one requires.";]:
And the author of the N ijptang " Journal " says : — " On the 6th
(February) there was still much wind. We made but little
progress during the day, and returned to the land at night.
We saw many turtles and an exceedingly large nest on the top
of a great rock, made after the fashion of an ' oyevaar's nest.'§
I have not been able to trace the word " oyevaar " and can onl}-
conjecture that it may be a misprint and that " byenaar " may
be the word which was used by the writer as a .synonym of
"bijenvalk." (Honey-Buzzard). — James R. M'Clvmont. Sandy
Bay, Hobart, 3/5/04.

* "Journal," p. 16. + "Journal," p. 18.

J Extracts from De Vlaming's "Journal" are given by Mr. 1*. A. Lcupe in
" De Reizen der Nederlanders naar ket Zuidland," pp. 153-184.
§ "Journal," p. 21.

24 From Magazines, &c. [isf'july

From Magazines, &c.

Feather-plucking. — In the February number of the Avi cul-
tural Magazine Mr. A. G. Butler points out that this " disease "
is due to " two causes — incorrect feeding or insect pests." He
proceeds, after many comments : — " I think it possible that . .
if .... a little magnesia is stirred into its drinking water
occasionally, and its diet is strictly attended to, the irritation
may pass of^," &c. In some species the habit is cured by giving
the bird — presumably a Parrot — wood or bark to gnaw at.

* * *

The Auk. — The April number of this magazine (vol. xxi.,
part 2) contains some valuable papers on the bird-life of North
America, with some good photo, plates. An article from the
pen of Mr. William Morton Wheeler deals with what he describes
as the " myth-nimbus " which has grown around so many birds
and animals, particularly in what are called " nature books."
Some interesting correspondence between the great xA.ubudon
and Spencer F. Baird is included in the number.

* * *

" On the Breeding of Some of the Waterfowl at Goochest, in
the Year 1903," is the title of a paper by F. E. Blaauw, C.M.Z.S.,
in The Ibis (January, 1904). Included is an interesting note
on Cape Barren Geese {Cercopsis 7iovcB-hollandice), concerning
which some of our members have information of their own.
A full clutch of five goslings was reared to maturity, notwith-
standing the occasional frost and snow of their adopted northern

home.

* * *

The Pectorvvl or White-breasted Finch. — A fairly good
black and white figure of this Finch is given by Mr. D. Seth-
Smith in the February issue of the Avi cultural Magazine. In
the accompanying reading matter the author furnishes a full
description of the species, also of its habits and habitat. " Muni a
pectoralis" the author of the article says, " appears to be con-
fined to the north-west of Australia ; " and (in England) " the
birds appear to be hardy and easily kept in health on a diet of
canary and millet seed, though grass in flower is appreciated, and
should be supplied when obtainable." Have none of our Aus-
tralian members any experiences in this matter ?

* * *

Bird Distribution. — An extract in The Ibis from " The
Journal of Edward Wilson, M.B., Surgeon and Zoologist to the
National Antarctic Expedition," mentions such familiar species
as Gannets, Terns, and Petrels, and describes the habits of some,
as well as giving some idea of their habitat. As the problem as
to whether Antarctic birds and those of ^Australasia are as closely
linked as seems probable is one still remaining for solution, the
article should be of interest to our readers. To solve the prob-

'^'l From Magazines, Sxc. 2 ^

1904 J b ■) - J

lem of the lines of distribution of species, with its intricate
geological and aerial underlines, would need more than a Wallace
amongst us. Is he to be found ?

* * *

Birds' Eggs in the Dresden Museum. — The study of oology
as a branch of natural science is proceeding apace. The birds'
eggs from the Australian region alone in the Dresden Museum,
according to a list compiled under the direction of Dr. A. B.
Meyer, reach the respectable number of about 550 species,
including many, especially from New Guinea, possibly not
described, and certainly not yet figured. Among those little
known, or undescribed, of purely Australian species, may be
mentioned Sericornis Icevigastra, Sittella leucoptera, Cyclop-
sittacus maccoyi, &c. ; but it would be extremely interesting to
learn the history of the egg or eggs of the extinct Kangaroo
Island Emu {Dromatis ater), said to be in the collection.

* * *

The Ibis, vol. viii., No. 14, contains a coloured plate by Mr.
Goodchild of Mirafra degeni, which may possibly only interest
Australian readers from the fact that its specific name is based
on that of a gentleman who not only did good work in Australia,
but is pursuing his investigations to good purpose in Africa.
There are two more coloured plates in this number — one by
the same artist, the other some admirably figured eggs of
Palaearctic birds. Reviewing a work on the latter subject the
editors favour the binomial system of nomenclature, and
" prefer adding typicus to the name of the type species, when it
is required," to such an alliterative system as ''Pica pica pica','
%iQ.. They are staunch advocates of what seems the more

sensible course.

* * *

Bulletin of the Philippine Museum, No. 3 (30/1/04) contains
an important paper by Mr. Richard C. M'Gregor on " Birds
from Benguet Province, Luzon, and from the Islands of Lubang,
Mindoro, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo." This is the second of a series
of reports on zoological collections made for the Philippine
Museum, and contains a record of all identified species of birds
collected or observed on recent expeditions directed by Com-
missioner Dean C. Worcester, Secretary of the Interior, to the
Islands of Lubang, Verde, Cagayancillo, and Agutaya, and
to the Province of Benguet, Luzon ; also species recently secured
in Cuyo and Mindoro, which are believed to be new to those

islands.

* * *

Wing-Beats of Birds. — Dr. Jonathan Dwight, jun., writing
on wing-movements in The Auk (April, 1904, vol. xxi., p. 286)
says : — " On several occasions I have had opportunity for
watching Herring Gulls {Larus argcntatus) following in the wake
of a steamboat running at the rate of 10 or 12 miles per hour,

26 From Magazines. &c. \ 5"}"i

■=• ' List July

and on calm days I iind the wi no-beats in this species average
about I (So to the minute. . . . Laboratory experiments
abroad, with harnessed birds, show that the wing-beats of a
Sparrow are 780 a minute, of a Duck 540, of a Pigeon 480, and
so on." Dr. Dwight points out that this is an ahiiost un-
touched field of study, and everyone will agree that bird-flight,
both in this and other phases, presents some most interesting-
problems.

* * *

Bird Protfxtion Abroad.— Contrasting the measures adopted
for bird protection in New Zealand with those provided in the
U.S.A., Mr. T. S. Palmer {Bird-Lore, Jan.-Feb., 1904, p. 36)
says of the latter : — " In marked contrast with our practice, she
has found it advantageous, in spite of her varied climatic con-
ditions, to have a uniform open season of moderate length for
all game, instead of seasons of varying length extending over
eight or nine months for difterent birds. Spring shooting is
thus done away with, and more eftectual protection given to
migratory shore-birds and water-fowl than is possible under our
present laws." But what as to other birds ? Will not most
observers think that ;i modification of the zone system is better
for Australasia ?

* * *

St. Kilda and its Birds.— In a lecture delivered before the
Liverpool Biological Society by Dr. J. Wiglesworth, F.R.C.P.,
M.B.O.U., and which has been published in book form, with
some good photo, illustrations, the author describes the little
island oft the coast of Inverness-shire. Not only are the in-
habitants of historic Hirta depicted, and their mode of life
described, but a list of its birds, notes on their habits, &c., are
given. Beyond the fact that at one time a large proportion
of the islanders migrated to Australia, the book will possess
interest for local readers from the fact that it deals with, amongst
the 25 species listed, such birds as Gannets, Fulmars, Cormorants,
Gulls, &c. The publication was kindly lent for review by Mr.

D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S.

* * *

Honey-eaters in Captivity. — In a recent number of the
Avicultural Magazine is given an article (illustrated with some
very good photo.-prints) dealing with the interesting experiment
which Dr. and Mrs. G. Home, and their niece (Miss Bowie)
have been carrying out for some time with many species of
these birds. Their success has been great. Many forms have
become so familiarized to their new surroundings (an aviary
in which living shrubs are grown) that they look on human
visitors as friends, and boldly endeavour to extract their favourite
food from flowers which the visitors wear. There are many
points in bird life which can only be studied when birds are
under such close observation as is possible in a case of tliis kind,

Vol. I
1904

^'- 1 From Magazines, &c. 2 J

and it would be well if more bird-lovers accepted the advice —
" Go thou and do likewise." The author of the paper is Mr.

A. J. Campbell.

* * *

Bird-Lore. — The frontispiece in the March-April issue of this
magazine (vol. vi., No. 2) is a coloured plate of two species of
Warbler (Wilson's and the Canadian), executed by Mr. L. A.
Fuertes. A subsequent coloured plate depicts two other species
of this family (the Black-throated Green and the Golden-cheeked).
Many interesting bird photos, (and notes) are given. In the
editorial article it is said : — " A bird's economic value ....
is not to be ascertained by ' common observation.' . . . Nor
can the best-equipped observer hope to reach satisfactory con-
clusions merely from observing the bird out of doors. This is
an important side of his work, but must be supplemented by
detailed stomach analyses wherein he avails himself of the
services of specialists in other departments of science — entomology,
botany, mammalogy, &c." The Audubon Society's chairman
hardly seems optimistic on this occasion over the state of matters

re bird protection.

* * -*

The Geelong Naturalist. — After many vicissitudes for thirteen
years, the organ of the Geelong Field Naturalists' Club has been
revived in the shape of a quarterly journal, with which has
been incorporated The Wombat, under the hon. editorship of
Mr. John J. Cary. No. i (March, 1904) of the second series is
to hand, and the local club is to be congratulated on endeavouring
to maintain a journal of its own. In these days, when so-called
" law of priority " is so much worshipped by naturalists, it is
just as well to have one's "proceedings" in type, although it
would be difficult to prove that priority does not really count
from the time when a paper is read and accepted before a pro-
perly constituted meeting of a club or association, notwith-
standing the paper and facts are only recorded in the official
" minute book." The present issue of The Geelong Naturalist
contains " District Bird Notes " — brief field observations of half
a dozen common species — by " G. F. B.," and a note on the
White-browed Wood-Swallow by Mr. W. Shaw.

* * -Sc-

The Avicultural Magazine. — In the number for April, 1904
(vol. ii.. No. 6, p. 179) Mr. Reginald Phillipps deals with the
White-throated Ground-Thrush (of which an admirable coloured
plate by Mr. Gronvold is given), and chronicles its habits in a
way that should be most valuable to ornithologists. " Turtle
Dove Hybrids and their Fertility" (Mr. T. H. Newman, F.Z.S.)
raises some problems which have a bearing both on these birds
and some of our own ; and in " Notes on Parrakeets " Mr. John
Sergeant records amongst other interesting items that many
of these birds do not seem to be affected by any severity of

28 From Magazines, &c. \ .^"i",

* ' L i^t July

weather. "Red Rosellas, Mealy Rosellas, Crimson Wings and
Barnard's I have found equally hardy ; all took their bath
summer and winter alike with no sign of either distress or dis-
comfort." Blue Mountain Lories have proved quite hardy with
Mr. Sergeant, who gives them "the ordinary seed diet with two
or three times a week a tablespoonful of honey and some sponge
cake." This number also contains the announcement of the
resignation by Mr. Phillipps of his position as business secretary
of the Avicultural Society. Mr. T. H. Newman succeeds him.

* * -;!:•

The Zoologist, No. 754 (April, 1904) contains an article which
under the heading " Biological Suggestions " opens up some
tields of thought which are worth further study — even amongst
ourselves. The article is but the first of a series, and has for
sub-heading "Rivers as Factors in Animal Distribution." Al-
ready some of our own observers (such as Mr. Lane, of Alexandra)
have noted the effect of riparian influence on some phases of
bird life, and the writer only emphasizes how much there is to
be learned, not only as to course of migration, but also as to
difterentiation of species, when he says : — " As far as his know-
ledge extends, in a general way rivers do not qualify the dis-
tribution of genera and species, but in a much more limited
sense they do.''' Another noteworthy paper is that in which
Mr. G. H. Paddock controverts the theory of Professor Coues
("Field and General Ornithology"), who holds that "the egg
traverses the passage small end foremost, like a round wedge,
with obvious reference to ease of parturition." Mr. Paddock's
experiments prove that the egg was delivered " invariably ' blunt '
end first." Reargues that this is only natural ; "mammalian
births, when normal, are head ones, and the large end of the
egg contains the head of the chick." Mutton-Bird-eggers on
the islands of Bass Strait who occasionally deliver a female
Mutton-Bird (Petrel) of her egg will uphold Mr. Paddock's con-
tention.

* * »

The Ibis (January, 1904) contains the " Ornithological Journal
of a Voyage round the World in the Valhalla (November, 1902,
to August, 190^)." By invitation from the Earl of Crawford,
F.R.S., Mr. M. J. Nicoll, M.B.O.U., the author, accompanied
him as naturalist, during a cruise through the Straits of
Magellan to the South Pacific, thence through Torres Strait
and the Austro-Malayan Archipelago, returning to England
by the Red Sea route. Besides oceanic birds noticed in the
southern seas, the most interesting parts of the journal to
Australians are probably the accounts of how the yacht
touched at Pitcairn Island (a coloured figure of a remarkable
little bird — Tatarc vanghani — known to the islanders as a
" Sparrow " is given), Tahiti, Upolu, and Fiji. Australia was
touched in Torres Strait at Thursday Island and Prince of

1 From Ma^aziitcs, &c. 9n

1904 J s ) zy

Wales Island. On both of these 12 well-known Australian
species were secured, including the Dusky Honey-eater {Myzo-
rncla obsciira), a nest of which, containing one &gg, was found
suspended in the leaves of a " willow " tree on the latter island,
and on a coral reef off Thursday Island a Curlew-Sandpiper
{Tringa subarquata) was shot on the i8th May in full winter
plumage, the only specimen seen. Two hundred and twenty-
five specimens of birds were collected during the voyage. These

have been presented by Earl Crawford to the British Museum.

* * *

Audubon Societies in Relation to the Farmer. — Under this

title is reprinted from the U.S.A. Y car-Book of the Dcpartmoit

of Agriculture for 1902, a pamphlet (just to hand) which records

the immense work done by these societies in the field of bird

protection, and some able arguments in the good cause. Mr.

Henry Oldys, the author, points out that " with proper restraint

and the adoption of systematic measures to maintain the supply,

such as are in vogue in some sections of the country, the United

States might easily have a stock of game birds so abundant as

to furnish a cheap and readily attainable food supply worth

many million dollars annually." He also directs attention to

a fact which every ornithologist — everywhere — knows, " that

various investigations .... show the importance of the

service rendered by birds in keeping down the floods of insects

and weeds that assail crops." Fashion decrees re aigrettes,

&c., came in for some severe handling in the commients, in which

it is mentioned that a single shipment from Archangel (Russia)

consists of 10 tons of Ptarmigan wings, and that a Government

record shows a slaughter of nearly 2,000,000 Grouse in four years

in that province. Egg-collecting is rather hardly handled,

apparently with good cause. The pamphlet contains a " Bird

Chart issued by the Massachusetts Society " figuring 26 useful

birds, and a coloured plate of the Wood-Thrush, as a specimen

page of that society's illustrations adapted for " school work."

There is a great deal in the pamphlet (space precludes quotation)

which would furnish valuable reading to residents in Australasia,

and which would teach us all some admirable lessons. Valuable

hints are given as to the direction our action should take.
« * *

Bird Protection in North America. — Mr. William Dutcher,
chairman of the A.O.U. committee appointed to supervise this
matter, reports that the Audubon Societies and subscribers to
the Thayer Fund have every reason to congratulate themselves
on the steady progress being made. The A.O.U. model law
has been adopted in nine States during 1903, and a glance at the
accompanying maps {The Auk, vol. xxi., p. 99 ct scq.) shows that
quite half the States have now fallen into line. In five States
it is admitted the committee were unsuccessful in their efforts
to bring the Game Laws up to date. " Day by day and year
by year " (Mr. Dutcher says) " there is a steady growth of

30 from Maiiaziucs, &c. [xsPjuiy

sentiment in favour of bird proteetion." One of the most
important advances during tlie year lias been an agreement
arrived at between the members of the. Millinery Merchants'
Protective Association and the bird Unions, by which the former
undertakes to discourage the use of the plumage of many specified
birds, either native or imported. The Audubon Societies and
the A.O.U. undertake to prevent illegal interference with the
millinery trade and to refrain from aiding the passage of laws
which would hinder the use or sale of feathers from domesticated
fowls or those mentioned in a list given. Steps have been taken
to protect the fast-diminishing game birds of even such outlying-
possessions as the Philippine and Midway Islands. As is the
case between our own States — Victoria and New South Wales,
for instance — anomalies in the Game (sometimes non-game) Laws
cause trouble, and the matter of a border-line presents a serious
difficulty. Efforts are being made to remedy this, as they should
be here. From many of the States the sentiment against the
useless destruction of bird life is reported as growing, and the
whole movement in favour of bird protection seems alive. In
some cases States have gone so far as to " limit the bag which
anyone may make in a day." Mr. Butcher's report is accom-
panied by some very good half-tone illustrations.

Review.

'• CATALOGUE OF BIRDS' EGGS.

The catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British
Museum has reached its third volume. Owing to the un-
fortunate ill-health of Mr. Oates, the Museum authorities have
found it necessary to invite the co-operation of the well-known
ornithologist. Captain Savile Reid, to complete the "Catalogue."
Captain Reid revised the manuscript of Mr. Oates and the
proof sheets.

The third volume is continuing from the Psittaci formes to
the end of the family Pycnonotidce of the order Passcri formes,
corresponding with the orders in vols. ii. and iii. in the
" Hand-List of the Genera and Species of Birds " by Dr. Bowdler
Sharpe. Nine hundred and seven species of eggs are carefully
catalogued and described, of which number over lOO are Aus-
tralian, I I of them being figured in the beautifully coloured
plates (I. to X.) The following five .species are figured for the
first time, namely : — Pctra^ca pha'uicca (Flame-breasted Robin),
P. rhodinogastcr (Pink-breasted Robin), P . vittata (Dusky Robin),
Pcecilodryas capito (Large-headed Robin), and Graucaliis parvi-
rostris (Small-billed Cuckoo-Shrike). One new description of
especial interest pertains to the Spine-tailed Swift {ChcBtura
caudacuta), called the Siberian Spine-tailed Swift, two eggs
having come through the " Crowley Bequest," collected at
Sega, "N. Mongolia, by A. Riickheil. The dimensions furnished
are 1.22 x .75 and 1.2 x .75 inches, the colour, of course, being

Vol. IV.

iyo4

] Rc

plain white. Phid many of the " Gould Collection " of eggs
been described by that author when they fell into his hands,
their description would have anticipated many later day
authorities. Of these, such rare eggs may be mentioned as
Ncophema splendida (Scarlet-chested Grass-Parrakeet), Pscudo-
gcrygonc culicivora (Southern Fly-eater), Graucalus lincatus
(Barred Cuckoo-Shrike), &c., &c.

It is most interesting to notice regarding the Australian eggs
how many well-known collecting grounds are given — Dawson
River (Q.), Dobroyde (N.S.W.), Dandenong Ranges, Oakleigh,
Somerville, even that old-time collecting haunt Albert Park
(Vic), Reed-Beds (S.A.), and so on. Exception, however, may
be taken to Tasmania for Calopsittacus novce-hollandicc (Cockatoo-
Parrakeet), and Melbourne for Halcyon niadeayi (Forest King-
fisher). The respective species are not found within the States
to which they are accredited. But it is just possible that
authenticated eggs may, by exchange, have passed through
collections in these places.

Ornithological Association of South Australia.

The bi-monthly meeting of the association was held at the residence of
Dr. A. M. Morgan on Friday evening, 13th May. Capt. S. A. White
presided.

Mr. Symonds Clark gave an account of the manner in which the Black
Duck (Anas superciliosd) conveys its young from the nesting-place to the
water — a distance often too great for the little ones to traverse on foot —
the information being vouched for by a relative of Mr. Clark (Mr. Thomas
Goodwin, of Yelda Mission Station, on the Lower Murray). The parent
bird was observed to fly in from the scrub and alight near the water's
edge, whereupon several ducklings appeared upon the scene from the
duck's back. These were secreted closely by the inother, who departed,
and in about 20 minutes returned with the remainder of her brood — eight
or nine in all — who were soon enjoying their natural element.

The hon. sec. (Mr. J. W. Mellor), who had been appointed by the Aust.
O.U. at the annual meeting in Hobart as the South Australian repre-
sentative of the special committee to revise and bring up to date the
" Check-List " of Australian birds, brought the subject before the meeting,
with the object of coming to a decision as to uniformity. After a lengthy
discussion as to both classification and vernacular names, it was decided
to pass the matter on to a sub-committee, who will report to a future
meeting of the association.

Amongst specimens shown were soine by Dr. A. M. Morgan, who had a
series of sternum bones, and explained the peculiarities of the various
species of our birds, as well as the modus operandi of determining the
species to which they belonged. His exhibit comprised : — Eggs of the
Crescent-marked Oriole (Mimeta flavocincta), the Honey-eater Ptilotis
fusca, and the White-throated Nightjar (Eurostopus albigularis).
Mr. J. W. Mellor exhibited specimens of the Rock Pebbler {Polytelis
melanurd) and the Least Swamp Quail {Excalfactoria lineata — austraiis).
Capt. S. A. White showed a series of species of the African Weaver
F'inches and their nests, collected by himself while in Africa. He pointed
out the peculiarity of these birds in placing their nests in most inacces-
sible places and the well-defined limits of the various species.

22 ExP/n/^al Islands. \ ^mu

•J ' ^ L'St July

Expunged Islands.

With a view to exploring the Royal Company's Islands, said to
be situate about 400 miles southward of Tasmania, and discovered
iibout 1840, to ascertain their avifauna and the geographical
distribution of certain birds, the Council of the Aust. O.U. heis
been in communication with the Admiralty authorities, to fix, if
possible, the exact position of the supposed islands, or if they be
non-existent to establish the fact, because the islands appear on
some of the Admiralty's own charts as well as on many up-to-date
maps. Consequent upon the correspondence the hon. secretary
of the Union, Mr. D. Le Souef, has received a letter from Mr.
W. J. L. Wharton, Hydrographer to the Admiralty, accompanied
with a copy of the following " Notice to Mariners " : —

Royal Company's Islands— Non-Existence of.

On old charts of tine South Pacific Ocean, in the area south of Australia,
a group of islands, named Royal Company's Islands, are marked as
existing in lat. 50° 20' S., long. 140° o' E. They have consequently been
inserted for many years in the Admiralty publications.

These islands are not mentioned in any Sailing Directions, the original
report of their existence cannot be traced^ nor ha\'c they apparently been
seen by any passing vessel.

Since 1890 the Hydrographic Department of the Admiralty has been
collecting data showing where ice and icebergs may be met with in the
Southern oceans, and this has necessitated plotting the tracks of many
vessels passing south of Australia, several of which have passed over or
close to the position assigned to the Royal Company's Islands without
seeing them, or any sign of land near them ; — thus in 1892 the Pakeha
passed i mile north of their assigned position; in 1893 the Crusader
passed 5 miles north of them ; in 1 894 the Rangatira passed 1 5 miles
north of them ; in 1895 the Maori passed 2\ miles south, and the
Rangatira 15 miles south of them; in 1889 the Rangatira passed 1
mile south of them, and the Matatiia 2 miles north; in 1900 the
Matatiia passed over the position in which they are supposed to be
situated ; in 1901 the Karamea passed 40 miles south of them, and in
1902 the Pakeha passed 12 miles south of them.

As no certain information is available as to why these islands were
originally placed on the charts, and as it is evident from the tracks
plotted that no land exists in the locality in which they are marked on
the charts, they have now been expunged from the Admiralty pub-
lications.

This notice affects the following Admirality charts : — Atlantic and
Indian Oceans, &c., No. 2,483 ; Pacific Ocean, Nos. 2,683 ^"d 788.
By command of their Lordships,

\\. J. L. Wharton, Hydrographer.
Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 2nd April, 1904.

About Members.

Mr. a. Mattingley (hon. treasurer Aust. O.U.), Custom House.
Melbourne, has a duplicate copy of " The Birds of Australia," by
G. J. Broinowski, comprising 300 full-paged coloured illustrations,

Vol. IV.
1904

1 About Members. T^t

with descriptive matter, &c., of over 700 species. The whole cost
£21, and is newly bound. Can be had for seven guineas.

The great Boer War brought the bond of British brethren all
over the world closer together in more ways than one. The
prominence which it gave to the colonies caused the British
Ornithologists' Union to create a "colonial membership." This
distinction fell upon two members of the Aust. O.U. last year —
namely, Col. W. V. Legge, F.Z.S., Tasmania, and Capt. F. W.
Hutton, F.R.S., New Zealand; while the honour this year — the
sole one for Australasia — has fallen to Mr. A. J. Campbell.
Colonial memberships are limited to ten residents in the British
■colonies and India.

Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. (President of the Aust. O.U.),
and Mr. James Drummond are publishing a work, " The Animals
of New Zealand," which should be valuable to all Australasian
naturalists. The aim of the authors has been " to combine
popular information with the purely scientific," and in their
prospectus they acknowledge that they have drawn freely on
the work of others to make their own complete. This is as it
should be. The contents embrace almost everything from mam-
malia to the N.Z. batrachia, and the list of birds dealt with is
so full that to ornithologists the work should be a treasure.
Whitcombe and Tombs Limited are the publishers, and the
specimen illustrations are as excellent as the text.

• The following are extracts from a private letter received from
Mr. Ed. Degen by Mr. A. J. Campbell : —

"Once more I am happy to inform you I am on my way to the
Dark Continent, on which we hope to land within a few hours.
This time I am a inember of the exploring staff of a private expedition
of French enterprise — namely, that .of the Baron Maurice de Roths-
child of Paris, a young and enthusiastic traveller. As usual, I am to
look after the preserving and collecting parts, but it offers a good
deal of other opportunities to make oneself useful, such as anthropo-
logical research, photography (of which we have about a dozen different
apparatus, as well as cinematographs, &c.) The actual leader will be
the Marquis de Bonchamps, a famous explorer, and a companion for
some time to Colonel Marchand, of Fashoda fame. I am engaged as
second naturalist, and my colleague, Dr. Neuville, of the Paris Museum,
to my exquisite delight, is a capital chum. So also is our medical
member. Dr. Roger, who also had some previous experience in
Abyssinia. We shall go through that country again, going up to
Addis Abbeba, the capital, and thence south via Lakes Zual, Hogga,
Lausana, Abaya, Stephanie, and Randolph, finally picking our way to
the south-west into the districts between the Victoria Nile and the
sources of the Albert Edward, and west and south of them to the
Semliki Forest of the Upper Congo, having, if possible i^seasons and'
circumstances permitting), a peep at the Mountains of the Moon, an
ambition we all cherish. In magnitude ovir caravans will assume
considerable proportions, and will not be very much inferior to those
of such explorers as Livingstone, Stanley, or Burton. Time permitting,
a decent ' bag ' ought to be obtained (providing we have not to leave

34 '■^^^'"' ^'^i<^^^"bers. ['..''■'h.lv

behind our own valuable skins), in which case an Okapi might be one
of the results. But this is anticipating. There will be over 500 camels
ready when we get into the desert country from the heights of
Abyssinia, to the latter of which we shall avail ourselves of mule
transport from Harrar. This will be our actual starting point, the
latter being now made accessible by the railway line from Djibontil
up some 250 miles, within a two-days' journey."

Big Bags of Game.

The Kerang New Times, under date 7/6/04, gives two " record "
bags of Quails obtained on the Benjeroop (Murray) stubbles — a
party of four shooters in five hours securing 171 brace of birds,
and the second party (2 guns) obtaining 98 brace. A thoughtful
sportsman is satisfied with 10 brace of birds for his day's enjoy-
ment, or, say, an outside limit of 20 brace; but these ardent
Kerang shooters have each exceeded by one hundred per cent,
the latter number. Surely this is killing " the goose that lays
the golden egg." In the near future, in the interest of the
birds, as well as the shooters themselves, the law may step in,
as it does in America, to " limit " the number of bags.

Since the above was written, the following clipping has been
taken from The Argus, 18/6/04: — "Three well-known sports-
men of the Western District — Messrs. De Little, Hood, and
.Affleck — left Murtoa on Friday with a bag of 1,003 Quail, the
result of three days' shooting."

In connection with " big bags." attention may be called to
the follo\\ing passages from a lecture delivered last year by
Mr. E. North Buxton before the British Society of Arts.
They have a definite bearing on the subject ; — " While in
Vienna the other day I saw, at the taxidermist's, the bag of a
sportsman just returned from Somaliland. Amongst other
things were 70 heads of Soemmering Gazelle. What can any
man want with 70 specimens? But the remarkable thing about
them was that nearly the whole were females or immature
males. ... I am here to-night to try and focus and unite
the growing public sentiment in favour of the restriction of
that class of sportsman whose frenzy and ignorance have been
responsible for such terrible destruction." Once the fauna of
South Africa was the richest in the world ; for many years all
the region from the Cape of Good Hope to Orange River has
been denuded of game, much of Central Africa as well. Since
Lord Milner has been in power some reserves have been pro-
claimed ; but is it not a fact that it is almost an impossibilit}-
to get anything like the full number of species of bird or beast
back to a place where it has been ruthlessly slaughtered ?
According to Mr. Buxton, "every British protectorate in Africa
has now a series of ordinances for the protection of wild animals
and birds." Some of the larger species of game are altogether

""^'J-] Big Bags of Game. 35

protected. A license must be taken out to shoot game ; the
number of each bag is limited, and a return of the number and
sex of each species killed must be furnished. Theoretically,
even Africa is in advance of Australia. It would be most in-
teresting to know how many birds in the Victorian " big bags "
so gloried in were " females or immature males." Is not such
heartlessness a menace to any species ? In America, as pre-
viously pointed out in The Emu, not only the shooter of illicit
game (over-large bags included), but what the law terms a
" common carrier," and the railway authorities who convey such
freight by train, are liable to penalties: From India, as well as
South Africa, the export of certain forms of game, as well as
their products (plumes, &c.), is forbidden, save by special license,
and ruthless shooting is thus discouraged.

Corrections,

TURNIX TAXKI. — Air. D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S., points out that in
a reference to an article of his on this bird the range of the species
was given not as he intended it to be read (see Enni, vol. iii.,
p. 195). The editors regret that Australia was inadvertenth'
given for the species instead of for the genera.

The Varied Lorikeet. — Mr. Reginald Phillipps, in a letter
to the editors of The Emu, desires them to correct a statement
on p. 195 (vol. iii.) His male bird of this species, he says, "had
not the red crown when first received, because it was immature,
not because it was a male. . . . It was the owner of the
birds who was trying to pass them off as true pairs, the mature
specimens as niales, the immature as females." It is regrettable
that this misreading occurred, and the editors apologize.

Notes and Notices.

The fourth annual session of the Aust. O.U. will be held in
Sydney on the 28th, 29th, and 30th November next. From
preliminary arrangements already afoot the function promises
to be the most successful yet held.

The following appeared in the Melbourne Age under " Sporting
Notes " : — " Mount Gambier. — The annual Parrot match was well
competed for, and was won by Dr. F. D. Jermyn from H. E. F.
Sturm with 15 birds, first miss out conditions. H. Hammer
won two sweepstakes afterwards." Why do not the many
bird protection societies of South Australia protest against this
cruel destruction of indigenous birds? If the Gambier Gun
Club must have such sport (?) there is plenty of vermin, and to
spare — to wit. Starlings — to shoot.

o

6 Notes and Notices. Li-^t'Tuly

Donations to the Coloured Figure Fund : — Dr. E. D'Ombrain,
5s. 6d. ; Mr. H. Ouiney, los.

Notes, &c., received : — " Migratory Birds," C. G. Lane, Alex-
andra; "Heron, &c., Rookeries," A. J. Simson, Ulupna West;
" Yellow Grass-Parrakeets," T. Hurst, ^lelbourne ; " Flight of
Cockatoos," photo, by W. Grant, per favour Dr. E. D'Ombrain,
Casterton ; " Young Crested Tern," photo, by J. W. Beattie, per
favour J. R. M'Clymont, Hobart.

Mr. Cyril Grant Lane, of Alexandra (Vict.), v^-ho has already
made a name by a work on dogs, has, at the request of
Messrs. Hutchinson and Co.. of London, prepared a book dealing
with some phases of the natural history of Australia.

The Illustrations.

Plate L, " Nest and Young of the Frogmouth," is from a
photo, by Mr. C. P. Conigrave, interesting particulars of which
are found in Mr. A. VV. Milligan's article on the Wongan Hills,
Western Australia.

Plate H. represents an adult Frogmouth {Podargiis stvi-
goides) in characteristic attitude near its nest and young. This
picture was taken at the opposite side of the continent to Mr.
Conigrave's, on the eastern shores of Port Phillip, by Mr. J. Sears,
on the grounds of Dr. Chas. Ryan.

Plate HL is from a photo, by Mr. D. Le Souef, and represents
the well-known Boobook Owl {Ninox boobook), taken at the
Zoological Gardens, Melbourne. It is strange that some " bush "
naturalists and tyros still confound this Owl with the Frogmouth,
averring (erroneously, of course) that the Frogmouth and not
the Owl utters the familiar cry of "mo-poke" at night.

The photo. -blocks are, as usual, engraved by Messrs. Patterson,
Shugg and Co., 256 Elizabeth-street, Melbourne.

N.B. — T/ic Iiaiidsoiiic iiin'fonii cases jar back volumes of " The
Emu " may be had 011 aj^plicatioii to Messrs. George Robertson
and Co. Limited, Elizabeth-street , Melbourne.' Price (iiiclu/li iig
l)inding), 2s. 6d. each.

Thk Emu, I'o/. /J'

PLATE IV.

tvl^

.. ,:,>• > ■ • ^-^p ^^»,,^.

• . ■ v'Ifcv

Playhouse of Great Bower- Bird { Chlainydera nuchalis ).

FROM A PHOTO. BY A. CAMPBELL IWYNDHAM),

©fficial ©rgan of the ^iistralasiatt ©niithologiets' itnion.

" Bir^s of a feMbcr.'

Vol. IV.] isr OCTOBER, 1904. [Part 2.

A Trip to the Ord River (N.^W.A)

By James F. Kilgour, Williamstown.

■The Ord River takes its rise in the rough country in the north-
west of the Kimberley goldfield, and, after a circuitous route,
passes through the Hardman Range and flows thence in a more
or less northerly direction until it empties its waters into the
Cambridge Gulf about 1 5 miles to the north of Wyndham.
During its course it absorbs the flood waters of the Nicholson,
Osmand, Negri, Ban, Behn, and Denham Rivers, besides
numerous smaller streams. It abounds throughout the whole
of its course with bird-life, and no matter where an ornithologist
strikes it he will be sure to find forms that will greatly interest
him.

It was, then, with real pleasure that I stepped ashore at
Wyndham, on the 3rd of April last, from the s.s. Moira, intent
upon spending two years collecting in the Ord valley.

The next morning I was pleasantly awakened by the carol
of a Pied Butcher-Bird {Cracticus nigrigularis picatd) on the
hill that overlooks the little township, and during the subsequent
drive to the Six-Mile Hotel I was enabled to notice that the
wet season, against expectations, was not ended. Egrets, Jabirus,
Ibises, and other waders were to be noticed here and there along
the fringes of the marsh.

A few days were spent at the Six-Mile, and during that time
I had several rambles in search of birds. The Finches, Tcsnio-
■pygia castanotis, Poephila acuticatula, P. personata, and P.
mirabilis {gouldia;), were common. A nest of the Chestnut-
eared variety was situated in a small gum-tree in front of the
hotel, and contained five fresh eggs. The Great Bower-Bird
{Chlamydera nuchalis) was to be seen close to the hotel, and
also several bowers. One, newly made, was beautifully con-
structed. The actual bower was about 2 feet through, of small
twigs, closely woven ; height, 16 inches. Stones, shells, and glass
were laid to a distance of 2 feet from each end of the bower,
and some were also placed in a depression in the centre. This
model is always followed. I have never seen any brilliant objects,
such as feathers, used, and the stones are always waterworn,

38 KiLGOUR, A Trip to the Ord River {N.-W.A.) [,sf"oct.

generally limestone. The birds nest during the wet season, in
common with the majority of birds in the district. The nest
is placed in the forks of a bauhinia — sometimes, though rarely,
in a river-gum ; it is placed at a height of about lo or 12 feet,
roughly constructed of twigs, with a few eucalyptus leaves for
lining, and adjacent to water. One ^^^ is laid, very seldom
two.

A large flock of Bare-eyed Cockatoos {Cacatiia gyiiinopis)
passed over the hotel before sundown every night, going to
their roosting-places in the hills. I estimated the number at
between sixty and seventy thousand.

Horses being unprocurable at Wyndham, I was obliged to
accept a friendly ofTer of a lift with a party taking up some twenty
odd head of Western Australian " brumbies " to the Ord River
station, about 200 miles from Wyndham, where some friends
of mine would be able to let me have horses suitable to my work.

The experiences of the trip, apart from the observations of
bird-life, would fill a book. Between shortness of " tucker,"
half-broken horses, wet clothes and blankets, swimming flooded
rivers and wading for miles through swamp and bog, we
had quite sufficient to keep our minds occupied. However,
after some little trouble in mounting our horses, and with
the packs all secure, on the loth of April we started our
journey. The horses were bad to drive, and had such a dislike
to water that we were only enabled to travel about 10 miles
that day, the last four miles being through water of an even
depth of about 2 feet, and very heavy going. We camped on
a small stony rise known as the Twelve-Mile. Here I noticed
that several Ducks were nesting in the grass and undergrowth
between the rocks. Two nests were found, much incubated, of
the Whistling-Duck {Dcndrocycna arcuata), containing respect-
ively twelve and thirteen cream-coloured eggs. I also found
an egg of the Masked Plover {Lob iva it ell us miles) upon the bare
red ground within 30 feet of the edge of the swamp. At sun-
down large flocks of Whistlers passed overhead from the rough
country in the rear, going down to the swamp to. feed. In a
large channel of the swamp Pelicans {Pclicaiius conspicillatus),
Egrets {Mcsophoyx plumifera, Hcrodias timoriensis, and Gar-
zetta nigripes), Black T)uc\<is {Anas superciliosd). Pigmy Geese
{Ncttopus pidchcllus). White and Straw-necked Ibises {Ibis
nioliicca and Carphibis spinicollis\ and the Herons Notophoyx
novcE-hoUandicT' and A^. pacifica were to be seen.

After some horse-hunting in the morning we got all our
charges mustered and packed up. The next 10 miles was through
a continuous swamp with deep channels through it ; and what
a sight for an ornithologist ! Everywhere were to be seen the
heaps of reeds that had formed the nests of the Pied Goose
{Anseranas scmipabnota), while in and around the channels
and pools were hundreds of the Egrets before mentioned ; but
the most plentiful of the lot were the interesting Pied and Allied

Thk Emu, Vo/. IV.

PLATE V.

^

Vol. IV.
1904

] KiLGOUR, A Trip to the Ord River {N.-W.A:) 39

Egrets (Notophoyx fiavirostris and TV. arucnsis). After a weary
and wet ride we arrived at Goose Hill (Wyndham 26 miles) and
camped. The next morning a start was made for Mantini
Swamps ; soon after starting I espied a Coucal's nest {Cenlropus
phasianus) in a low bush. Looking into it from the saddle,
I saw there were four young in down, about the size of a young
Lyre-Bird newly hatched. As the horses took most of our
attention I was unable to make any observations riding along,
but here, although water is very plentiful, the aquatic birds
and waders decrease, while the other birds begin to increase
in numbers. At Mantini I noticed a Babbler {Pomatorhinus)
whose note was unfamiliar to me. Here also were numbers of
Cockatoos {Calyptorhynchus macrorhynchus, Cacatua gymnopts,
and C. roseicapillci). The breeding season of the Cockatoos and
the other members of the Psittaci or Parrot tribe extends from
the end of the wet season to about July, the main months being
March, April, and May.

At daylight next morning the cornet-like notes of some Native
Companions (^Antigone aiistralasianci) were heard.

The track is through some very barren hilly country, where
birds are scarce, with the exception of the Red-collared Lorikeets
(Trichoglossus rubritorquis), that were to be seen in flashes of
colour flying over the hills to the river. Emerging from Button's
Gap we find ourselves on the Ord River frontage, about four
miles below the stud station belonging to Messrs. Connor,
Doherty, and Darack. As we were anxious to get across the
river, we pushed on past the homestead to the crossing place.
Here a tremendous current was coming down over the ford,
the water there reaching half-way up the saddle flaps. After
some swimming and one or two attempts we managed to get
our " brumbies " over without mishap, although alligators are
plentiful here while the river is in flood.

On the next stage nothing of particular interest was seen, and
we camped on the edge of a sandy belt of country between Emu
and Cockatoo Springs. The bird-life consequently began to
alter. Owing to the sugar grass being in maturity travelling
was anything but comfortable. This grass has much the
appearance of gigantic oats, growing from 6 to i 5 feet high. It
stood at an average height of 8 feet all along the track for
about 30 miles, and the least touch would cause it to send its
javelin-like seeds in a shower about you, and as they had a
barbed point, which entered the skin, the language of the
whole party during our passage through " the sand " was
decidedly lurid. A eucalyptus with a large salmon-coloured
flower, almost identical in appearance with E. ficifolia, was
everywhere in blossom, and afforded food for immense numbers
of Red-Collared Lorikeets {Trichoglossus rubritorquis^. Some of
our horses got separated, and in looking for them I flushed a
White-quilled Rock-Pigeon {Pctrophassa albipcnnis) from its
nest, which was a slight hollow in the sand and. lined with grass ;

40 KiLGOUR, A Tr/f to the Orel River {NAV.A.) [isf'oci.

the eggs were two in number, cream-coloured, pointed at both
ends, and about half as big again as those of the Lophophaps.
As will be noticed, I subsequently saw the Rock-Pigeons in
great numbers in this same place.

The next camping place was Golden Gate. Here we were
drenched early in the evening, and had to sleep in wet blankets.
All through the night I could hear a " toot " coming from the
hillsides, which the black boy said was made by a Quail. This
was afterwards verified by several observant bushmen. The
next stage was to Nick's Creek, where all night we could hear
the sound of an immense flock of Great-billed Cockatoos {Calypto-
rhynchus macrorynchus). On the road to Argyle station the
Finches were becoming numerous as we were getting into good
grassed country. Tceniopygia castanotis, Munia pcctoralis,
Bathilda r24flcaudn, Pocphila acuticauda, P. per sonata, P.
mirabilis (^gouldia;), and Ncochmia phaeton were to be seen in
numbers feeding on the grass-seeds. Amongst insectivorous
birds were the ever-common Black and White Fantail {Rhipi-
diira tricolor'), Little Flycatcher {Sisura nana), Red-backed Wren
or " Brigham Young " {Malar us dorsalis), and the Honey-eater
— Golden-backed {Mclithreptus la;tior) and Red-throated {Ento-
mophila rufigularis).

From the Argyle station we ran the Behn River up for 25
miles to what is known as the Top Crossing. Along its course
we saw many interesting sights. I here saw for the first time
a White Hawk. No doubt I had seen many before, but at a
first glance one is so apt to take them for White Cockatoos, as
they frequent the trees along the rivers. A few weeks later
I saw two of the Goshawks (Astur novcc-hollandia') in company
with Kites {MiLvus affints) and Whistling-Eagles {Haliastur
sphcnurus), wheeling in the air on the Negri River in the
Northern Territory. The blacks say that they lay a single ii^^
and nest near a stream, and that their food consists of fish and
birds, and that they often eat the fresh-water turtle. In a quiet
pool of the river a stately Jabiru {X cnor hync hus asiaticus) lent a
charm to the landscape as it stalked through the water. From
the Top Crossing to the Wild Dog Police Camp (16 miles) we
entered on a remarkable tract of country — volcanic soil covered
with pieces of basalt from an inch to a foot in diameter, and
stretching on either side as far as the eye can reach. With
the exception of the Finches and one or two small birds these
downs are rather bare of bird-life.

From Wild Dog on to the Negri River the most interesting
birds are the Finches, and in what numbers ! Pocphila mirabilis
(the Gouldian Finch) could be seen in companies of from six to
about twenty, and what a pretty picture they formed when
sometimes four or five perched on and bent a stalk of sugar-
grass.

The next stage from the Negri to the Ord River station, 30
miles, was travelled for the most part through heavy rain, and

Thk K^\\^, ]',>/. /i:

PLATE VI.

Nest of Ked-lhruated Honey-eater ( Lnloiitophila nijigulam ) in luanchlet of
Helcrodcndron oleifoliiim.

FROM A PHOTO. BY A. J. CAMPBELL.

Vol. IV.
1904

] KiLGOUR, A Trip to the Ord River {N.-W.A^ \\

we were not sorry when the roofs of the homestead came in
sight.

I had to wait in all six weeks on the Ord station before I
could obtain the horses I required, and whilst there I had many
opportunities of renewing my accjuaintance with my feathered
friends. Along the river the modest " queep " of the Little
Flycatcher {Sisuya nana) was heard. A nest I discovered in
February, 1903, was on the branch of a very slender cajeput
about I 5 feet from the ground ; it was constructed of fibres and
rootlets, bound together on the outside with cobwebs and
ornamented with small pieces of " paper bark." The Buff-sided
Robin {Pa'cilodryas cervinivcntris) is also common along the
river banks ; it has a very mournful note, although it is a bright-
looking and active little bird. With reference to Gould's Rhi pi-
dura picata, I am of opinion that such a species exists, as well
as the smaller race of R. tricolor. One bird has the plain black
throat and the other has the throat mottled and a distinct line
of white feathers from the gape along the side of the throat ;
beside this I have taken eggs from a " Chigareet's " (native
name) nest that were white with a belt of distinct spots around
them. My only regret is that circumstances have prevented
me from solving the question. One of the commonest birds
around the station is the Red-throated Honey-eater {Entomo-
phila rufigularis). During the wet season its pendulous nest
is to be seen everywhere. The diversity of markings of separate
clutches of eggs is indeed remarkable, but the commonest
markings are of chocolate, lightly sprinkled. Wherever there
is a fair-sized hole on the river one is sure to find a pair of White-
headed Sheldrakes or " Burdekins " {Tadorna rajah). They
appear to breed al-1 the year round, but the favourite time is
about June to August. My opinion is that they mate per-
manently.

During the wet season the Oriental Pratincole (Glareola
orientalis) makes its appearance in large flocks. They may be
seen skimming over the plains until they strike a suitable patch
of young locusts. Unlike Mr. G. /\. Keartland's experience*
in West Kimberley, they never make their appearance in East
Kimberley until the wet season has well set in. When the plains
are well soaked and the grass a good height the grasshopper
tribe are to be found in immense numbers on the plains ; it is
then that the Straw-necked Ibis {Car phibis spinicollis) is to be
seen in flocks of tens of thousands, feeding on the pest, and
beside them Wild Turkeys {Eupodotis australis) and the Kites
and Falcons, all of which get extremely fat.

In the beginning of the wet season the Black-faced Wood-
Swallow {Artamus nidanops) constructs its nest in the small
timber on the plains, almost every tree having at least one nest.

Almost wherever there is water the Purple-crowned Wren

* Troc. Roy. Soc. , S.A., vol. xxii. (1898), p. l6c.

42 KILGOUR, A Trip to the Orel River {N.-W.A.) [,sf"oct.

{Malurus coroiiatiis) is to be seen. It is indeed a beautiful little
creature, and has an exquisite little collection of notes.

During a trip along the Negri River, within the Northern
Territory, I noticed particularly that the White-bellied Plumed-
Pigeon {Lophophaps leucogaster) was breeding everywhere
amongst the spinifex, and a nest that, judging by the tracks
was within an inch of being crushed by the buggy wheels of
the musterer's cook, contained four creamy-coloured eggs.
This, however, is exceptional, as the general number is two.
These are indeed lovable little birds, and great favourites with
bushmen. They are so tame that the black boys often kill them
with a stockwhip from the saddle.

On my trip down the road to Wyndham there were one or
two interesting experiences. At Nick's Creek I camped in the
middle of the flock of Great-billed Cockatoos mentioned pre-
viously. The noise was indescribable. The birds were feeding
on the fruit of the " pear " tree and also on some plant growing
between the sugar grass, but what it was I was unable to find
out. The ground under the trees was strewn with branchlets
that had been nipped off with their immense bills.

At Golden Gate during a wet night I was awakened by some-
thing pulling at my mosquito net, and looked up to find a dingo
amusing himself by tearing it in ribbons. Passing again
through the sand, and being this time alone, I had an opportunity
of seeing the rare Rock-Pigeon {Pctrophassa albi pcnnis) in
numbers. They were to be seen every 20 yards along the road
feeding in company with the Brush Bronze-wing {Phaps clegans).
On being disturbed they would fiy away with a distinct peculiar
metallic sound, and are easily recognized by the white patch
on the primaries. I am told by bushmen that immense numbers
are to be seen in a certain sandstone range to the west of the
Ord River, and that at the end of the season, when the water
is drying up, they live in holes in the rocks. I am also confident
that the Rufous-quilled species will be found in the same locality.

For a week or so before I was compelled to return home I
camped on the Goose Hill Swamps, where I had an opportunity
of studying the various water birds that are to be found there.
A friend of mine had a pair of young Jabirus {Xcnorhynchus
asiaticus) that were almost full grown. The bright plumage
and colouring of the legs had not been assumed, the colour being
a uniform brown. I afterwards saw the nest, which was built
on the edge of a swamp in a pear-tree about 20 feet from the
ground and of large proportions. On the swamps the pretty
little Green Goose-Teal {Nettopus pulchellus) was common, and
I found its flesh excellent eating. Pied Geese {Anscranas scmi-
palmatd) were also found in good numbers, both old and young.
The young have not that peculiar development of the trachea
Mr. A. J. Campbell mentions,* and I have noticed that single
individuals will often perch on a tree-top.

* " Nests and Eggs of Aiistinliaii Birds," p. 1,018.

Vol. IV.
1904

1 KiLGOUR, J Trip I0 ihc Ord River (NAY .A.)

The Night-Heron {Nycticorax caledonicus) is very numerous
in the thick jungle that grows in the centre of the swamp. I
shot a Jacana (Hydralector gallinaccus) and a Fawn-breasted
Kingfisher (JDacelo ccrvind) — a female. In a patch of flowering
Grevillea were numbers of Red-collared Lorikeets, Red-throated
Honey-eaters, Little Friar-Birds (Philemon sordidus)^ Black-
faced Wood-Swallows {Artamiis niclanops), and several other
birds. That patch of Grevillea will be long remembered by me,
as the next morning I received an urgent telegram of a domestic
nature that caused me to catch a boat for Perth two days later.
However, I trust that I may yet be enabled to return and com-
plete my field work in this most interesting ornithological
reoion.

North Queensland Notes on Some Migratory Birds.

{March, igo2-Jnly, 1904.)

By Fred. L. Berney.

These notes are a continuation of others published in The
Emu, vol. ii., p. 210.

My district consists of a radius of ^o miles, situated just
below the township of Richmond, on the Flinders River, and
will be about 240 miles from the east coast and 280 from the
north.

As regards migration, the movements were normal up to the
spring of 1903, but the season mentioned, together with the
autumn of 1904, were very disappointing, most particularly as
regards the Limicoline family. These birds pass here in the
spring on their way south, only a small proportion remaining
through the summer, but we get the return wave of migration,
as a rule, in the following autumn. Both specifically and in-
dividually the number were short in the spring of 1903 and
almost totally absent in the autumn of 1904.

White-shouldered Caterpillar-Catcher (Lalage tricolor). — Summer
residents, during which time they are fairly numerous. The bulk of
them leave the neighbourhood in April, returning to us again in October ;
some few of them remain throughout the winter, but amongst these a
full-plumaged male is most rare. I feel very doubtful about their nesting
in this district.

White-shafted Fantail {Rkipidura albiscapd). — This pretty and
energetic little Rhipidura confines its visits to us to the winter months
alone. I cannot call it a resident, its numbers are so limited, and its appear-
ance unreliable. I saw it in 1899, 1901, 1902, and 1904, my records being-
confined from middle of x'\pril to middle of August. Only once have I
seen two together.

Red-capped Robin {Petroeca goodenovi). — My first meeting with the
Red-capped Robin was in the winter of 1902. Subsequently I saw it fre-
quently, becoming well acquainted with it. They are typical Robins in
all their actions. The female in her modest dress is a most charming

44 Bhrney, A^. Queensland Notes on Some Migratory Birds. [jsPo'ct

little bird ; she is such a dainty, delicate wee thing in form and manner.
In 1902 they were here from end of March to September, during which
latter month they entirely left. In 1903 they did not show up at all, but
this winter I saw the first of them on 20th May, and now (July) one may
generally be seen any day in their haunts — thinly timbered country where
there are low bushes for them to sit on ; they are particularly partial to
the prickly acacias {^Acacia farnesiana) growing along the gullies on the
open downs.

Black-breasted Song-Lark {Cindorhamphus cruralis). — A common
summer resident. We have them here, too, through most winters, but
in greatly reduced numbers, and in numbers, too, that vary one year with
another. This winter (end of July) they are more numerous than usual
for the time of year ; last winter they were entirely absent, with the
exception of an odd bird, while through the winters of 1901 and 1902
there were a good many about. But our summer Larks and our winter
Larks are different individuals, the former moving off in April or May,
and the latter taking possession within a week or two, but in the interval
there is a total absence ; but September again finds the winter birds
slipping away until we have practically none in November, and thus we
remain until our summer lot comes back to us during December. They
nest in the district. I have found eggs and young squabs through
February and March, my earliest date being 8th February (four eggs,
slightly incubated). I once found a nest with five eggs (14th February).
The male is rather grotesque-looking, with long legs and big feet, and he
does not add to his appearance when he sits on the top of a fence post with
his tail stuck up at right angles to his back — an attitude that doesn't
seem decorous. His song, too, is just such as you would expect from
him, quaint and unmvisical, but, being in no way discordant, is
pleasant to listen to. Although the winter birds sing while with us thev
do not don the black breast.

Rufous Song-Lark {Cinclorhamphns rufescens'). — A solitary male,
obtained on 24th February, 1904, is my only experience of this species.

Tricolored Bush-Chat {Ephthianura tricolor). — Undoubtedly, I think,
a migratory bird, but it is hard to distinguish its movements. It is in
the district all the year round, but much more numerous in the winter,
the influx commencing during March.

Swallow {Himndo neoxena). — A winter visitor only, never being seen
in summer. I have record of them from October to March inclusive ;
never at any time as numerous as its ally, the Fairy Martin {Petrochelidon
ariel). During the winters of 1903 and 1904 it was represented by one
solitary individual only each year. Previous to 1903 it appeared to arrive
during April and leave again in August, a few remaining into September,
but being all gone by the end of that month. On the wing it is easily
distinguished from ariel by its forked tail, which part in the latter bird
looks stumpy by comparison ; then the dark rump in ncoxena is in strong
contrast to the light rump of ariel.

Black and White Swallow {Chcramaca leucostemum). — May be seen
here at any time almost through the year, but never in any numbers,
twenty being the most I ever saw at one time. Though here at all seasons,
their appearance is very irregular and uncertain ; they are here to-day
and gone to-morrow, never staying long enough to nest. I believe there
is the same migratory movement with these birds as there is with
Petrochelidon ariel and Cindorhamphus cruralis — that is, our summer
residents go north at the approach of winter, their place being taken

Vol. IV. "j Bprn£y, A^. Queensland Notes on Some Migratory Birds. 45

here by birds from the south. I have no record of ever having seen
Black and White Swallows in either March or September ; those are
the two intervals.

Fairy Martin {Petrochelidon ariel). — Two lots, a summer and a winter
lot, the former arriving in November and leaving again in March, while
the latter arrive in April or May and leave us towards the end of August.
None about — practically none — from the middle of April to early in May,
and the same from middle of September to early in August. The birds
are very much more numerous in summer than winter. Both lots nest
in the district, December-February and July-August.

Ground-Lark {Anthus australis). — There is a migratory movement
among these Larks, but I have not so far given them sufficient attention
or collected the requisite data to say what its extent is. During the
past summer, 1903-4, it has been totally absent, but one showed up on
22nd May this year, since when they have been constantly in the district.
As to whether subsequent notes will confirm or upset this remains to be
seen.

Bush-Lark {Mirafra secunda). — Is with us all the year round, but
much more numerous in summer than winter, and I expect there is a
double movement with these as with the Swallows and Black-breasted
Larks, the summer residents leaving us during April. Nests with eggs
found through January and February, my latest date being 26th of the
latter month. Has this species been previously recorded for Queensland ?

WhitE-RUMPED Swift (Micropus pacificus). — Always more numerous
than their Spine-tailed relative. In 1902 they did not show up till 2nd
January, while in 1903 they made their first appearance on 5th November.
In both years they left again during the first week in April.

Spine-tailed Swift {Chatura caudacutd). — In the summer of 1902-3
they did not arrive till 2nd January, and in 1903-4 did not show
at all.

Roller {Eurystoums australis). — Arrives in these parts in October, my
earliest record being the 7th, in 1902. In the years 1903 and 1904 they
have been all gone by end of first week in April. In my previous notes
I stated that they were scarce out west, but my experience then had been
confined to the open downs country, which these birds avoid. As a
matter of fact they may be seen or heard any summer's day among the
big gums on the Flinders River, from Hughenden down.

Bee-eater {Merops ornatus). — Following on my previous notes the first
Bee -eaters to arrive in the spring of 1902 showed up on 28th August.
The succeeding winter (1903) they never left the district — a most unusual
proceeding, more particularly as we had some pretty cold weather in
June, with sufficient frost to kill the " pig-weed." Up to the end of that
month Merops were plentiful, but during July their numbers were greatly
reduced, though still there were a fair number that were " cracking hardy,"
but the early part of August found us with only a few individuals. From
this out they gradually increased again, and the summer of 1903-4 found
them as plentiful as ever. On two occasions I watched the capture of
specimens of the largest dragon-flies ; they were swallowed whole, wings
and all, after a few blows on a dead limb to break their bones. They
stayed a bit late last autumn, but were all gone early in June. Their
migrations appear to be made in daylight, as between the i6th and 27th
March this year I saw four flocks, consisting of 28, 50, 28, and 100 in
number, pass overhead, fairly high up, their pipe attracting my attention.

46 BerNEY, N. Queensland Notes on Some Migratory Birds. [,^""^^1

They were not hawking for insects, or sunning themselves, but attending
strictly to business, keeping a straight line and going north-west. They
were at the time crossing open, treeless downs, where as a rule they are
never seen. In some data kindly forwarded me by Mr. Smedley it is
curious to note that though the Bee-eaters remained here through the
winter of 1903 they were quite absent at Homestead that year from May
to 29th August.

KOEL {Eudynaniis cyanocephald) is a rare bird on this part of the
Flinders River, being but seldom heard ; its cry, " co'ey, co'ey, co'ey, co'ey,
co'ey," uttered most monotonously and finished off now and again with
" wo wo wo wo wo wo," is so strange and striking that it could not l)i-
passed over without being noticed. In 1902 I first heard it on 17th
December, and in 1903 on 27th November. The month of January
is my last date. Mr. Smedley writes me from Homestead, on the Cam-
paspe River, N.Q., that the Koels had all left that district by i8th May,
1903, and did not show up again till 26th August the same year.

Channelbill (Scythrops novceJiollandio'), or " Storm-Bird," as it is
universally called out here, was first heard in 1902 on 3rd December, and
in 1903 on 6th November, while Mr. Smedley reports their first appearance
at Homestead, on the Campaspe River, on iith September in 1903. My
latest date in 1903 is 4th April, while in 1904, although they had practically
all gone by the first week in April, yet I heard one on the 29th of that
month — an exceptionally late date — and on my expressing surprise, I was
told that the young Scythrops had been reared in a Crow's nest close
by, and was still following its foster-parents about.

COUCAL {Centropus phasianus). — From Homestead Mr. Smedley reported
on 1 8th October, 1903, that they had not so far shown up. In the autumn
of the following year he wrote that the Coucals had all left by i8th May.
Personally I have never come across it on the upper parts of the Flinders,
and I do not think it ever extends very far from the coast. Homestead
is 128 miles east of Townsville.

Pratincole {Stiltia isabella). — Through the summer they are here in
large numbers, but during the winter months they are practically absentees,
being represented by only irregular visits of odd birds and small parties,
which latter never remain any time. During the winter of 1902 they
were, I think, quite absent. In April they leave us, returning again after
middle of August. During the past two years I have found eggs or
youngsters from December to February.

Oriental Pratincole (Glareola orientalis). — In the summer of 1902-3
the Oriental Pratincole was seemingly behind time, the first occasion
I saw it being 2nd January, and I saw none after the middle of February.
In the spring of 1903-4 summer they arrived on 5 th November, and for
few weeks following were here in large numbers.

Red-kneed Dottrel {Erythrogonys cinctus). — Saw ten round a small
hole on 25th August, 1902, this being my solitary record for two years.

Orient.JlL Dottrel {Ochthodromus veredus). — Arrived 21st and 22nd
September, 1902, and my last note of them in the following autumn was
loth March. On 2nd October, 1903, their short, sharp note caught my
ear at daylight, and hurrying out I was in time to see three, the first of
the season, flash past. Later in the day I saw sixteen more, and those
are the only birds I saw that summer.

Red-capped Dottrel {Aigialitis ruficapilla'). — One solitary bird at a
lagoon on 24th March, 1904, is all I have seen of this neat little Dottrel.

Vol. IV.
1904.

Bernry, N. Queensland Notes on Some Migratory Birds. AJ

Black-fronted Dottrel {.-Egialitis melanops). — My previous notes lead
me to think vielanops was a summer resident with us, and that their
winter movements depended on tlie severity or mildness of the season.
My experience of the last two years leaves me in a state of uncertainty.
Time and further watching will be required before I can come to a decision
about them.

Australian Dottrel (Peltohyas atistralis) is a very irregular visitor ;
have only seen it twice in two years, 23rd and 25th September, 1902 — ■
three together on the first occasion, and nine, which is my record number,
on the second, of which nine a Black Falcon {Falco subniger), swooping
with terrible swiftness, carried off one before they had gone 200 yards.

LITTLE Whimbrel (JMcsoscolopax minutus). — I estimated there were
between two and three thousand on an open lagoon on 9th February,
1903, which number came down to seven hundred a week later, and by
the end of the month was reduced to -nil. The following spring I only
saw five and twenty, and these were distributed between the 17th and
30th October, with no further record till 6th March, 1904, when a solitary
bird passed, calling, overhead. The big lot I watched with my glasses.
It was a most interesting scene ; they were crowded down on to the water's
edge, the birds on the outskirts being pushed into the water. They were
all busily engaged preening their feathers, evidently having fed, keeping
up the while a constant chattering as they pecked at one another in their
endeavours to find elbow (or rather wing) room.

Greenshank {Glottis nebularius). — Single birds about during January,
1903 ; saw two together on 13th November following, and on i8th
February, 1904, I heard them calling as they passed overhead at night.

Little Stint (Limonites ruficollis). — 6th November, 1903, with my
field-glasses watched a party of seven on some swampy ground.

Sharp-tailed Stint {Heteropygia acuminata). — None in the spring of
1902, did not see any till iith January, 1903, and then only in very
small numbers. On 17th October, 1903, sixteen appeared and con-
stituted my only note of them for the summer of 1903-4.

[Such notes as those Mr. Berney has furnished are most
valuable, re bird habits and some of the abstruse problems con-
cerning migration, the latter of which should be more closely
studied by members of the Aust. O.U. It does not redound to our
credit that so little has been done as to the last-named phase of
ornithology. In what has already been contributed to The Emu
there is some valuable material available, and it would be a step
in the interests of science if some enthusiast would tabulate the
results already recorded. Has not too much attention been given
to mere " collecting," which perforce introduces a bitter personal
element, and the really scientific phase — observation, close observa-
tion, and still closer observation, re life and habits — been over-
looked ?—H.K.]

Bush-Chats and Song-Larks. — Last summer flocks of beauti-
ful Tricoloured Bush-Chats {Ephthianura tricolor) visited the
district of Murtoa, and this winter a few Black-breasted Song-
Larks {Cinclorhamphus cruralis) -remained, but they were
without the black markings on the breast, and did not sing. —
J. A. Hill. Kewell, 16/8/04.

48 MiLLIGAN, Some W. Australian and Allied Species. \ E"""

' ' L ist Oct.

Notes on Some Western Australian and Allied
Species.

By Alexander Wm. Milligan, Perth, W.A.
Pachvcephala OCCIDENTALIS (Ramsay) and Allied Species.

Dr. E. P. Ramsay, in separating P. occidentalis (one of the
white-throated, yellow-breasted section of the Pachyccphalce)
from P. gutturalis (Latham), relied on the following differences
in the males : —

{a) Tail grey, without olive wash on basal margins of

feathers.
{b) Width of blackish subterminal band of tail less than

one-third of length of tail.
(yC) Yellow neck-band very indistinct or broken.
{d) Olive of upper surface of a more greenish tint.
{e) Yellow of under surface paler.
Lately I have had the opportunity of handling and examining
a large series of skins of both sexes, adult and young,
collected at various places in Western Australia along the
western and south-western coastal districts, extending from
Perth to Albany. The results of the examination clearly in-
dicate that the differences relied upon by Dr. Ramsay are not
always constant or apparent. Difference («) appears to be
constant in mature birds. Difference {U) does not appear to be
well sustained, for in 12 adult male skins, forming part of the
series, the tail of every one measured 3 inches and in two in-
stances (Perth and Cape Naturaliste birds) the subterminal band
measured i:^ inches, or more than one-third of the length of the
tail. Difference {c) received partial confirmation in one skin
only, and in that one the neck-band was indistinct but not
broken. As to difference (<^), I am unable, in the absence of a
series of skins of P. gutturalis, to make a comparison, but as
regards difference {e) I found that the breast colour varied in
intensity from pale lemon colour to orange-yellow.

In distinguishing the females of the species mentioned. Dr.
Ramsay relied on the following : —

(i) Lower part of chest, flanks, and abdomen, and under
tail coverts rufous-buff, but not ashy-grey as in
P . gutturalis.
(2) Under wing coverts light rufous-buff, but not ashy-grey
as in P. gutturalis.
These differences are not borne out by the examination, as
the following cabinet notes, in reference to four adult females,
evidence : —

Specimen (c/). — Chin white-freckled, chest grey, abdomen
and under tail coverts huffish, under wing coverts
creamy or dull white.
Specimen {U). — Chest freckled-grey, abdomen paler shade
than preceding specimen, under wing coverts as
in («).

^'°''o'^' 1 MiLLIGAN, Some W . Australian and Allied Species. 49

Specimen (c). — Similar to last preceding except that the

throat-freckling is in regular crescentic lines.
Specimen {d). — Breast pale buff, under wing coverts as
in {a).

Leaving the comparison of the above species, the following
plumage phases of the young males of P. occidcntalis may
perhaps be interesting : —

Head. — Brown in fledgling, slate-blue in 6 months and 18
months old birds (these age-computations are only approximate,
and are based on the assumption that the young bird was hatched
in December) ; black in adult.

Breast, Abdomen, and Under- Tail Coverts. — Impure white in
the fledgling, buff in the 6 months old birds, deeper buff in the
18 months old birds. (In one of the last-mentioned the breast
was pinkish-buff, with yellow patches here and there.) Yellow
in adult.

Secondaries. — Exposed upper surfaces boldly marked reddish-
bronze in fledgling and 6 months old birds, blackish-brown with
olive-grey margins in the 1 8 months old birds.

Tail. — In all immature birds a plain uniform brown, with
narrow edgings of paler brown in the first two phases, but with
olive-grey edgings in the third phase. In mature birds, grey
with blackish band.

From the above it appears that there are three plumage phases
at least in the young birds. The last phase is either incomplete
or there is a fourth one ; for, although there are, in one skin,
evidences of a transition from the pre-mature to the mature in
the breast plumage — namely, from pinkish-buff to yellow —
there are not any evidences or indications of corresponding
changes to the black pectoral band, or the black head, or the
white throat or grey tail of the full-plumaged adult. I have field
notes (not my own) showing that the sexes breed before assuming
full plumage. This trait is not peculiar to the Pachycephalce, for
I have similar notes regarding Petrceca goodenovi. The young
male, in a general sense, resembles the adult female. The former,
however, is readily distinguishable by the presence of an incon-
spicuous and concealed tuft of undeveloped yellow feathers at the
vent.

In the course of my examination I was much struck with
many variations in the colouration of parts of P . occidentalism
which more or less have been relied upon as distinguishing
characteristics in allied members of the genus, both Australian
and extra-Australian.

In one skin of an adult male the under tail coverts were almost
pure white — one of the two differences urged in the separation
of P. glaucura (Gould) from P. gutturalis. In two skins the
yellow nuchal collar continued uninterruptedly to the yellow
breast, breaking the continuity of the black pectoral band with
the black head — characteristics, according to specific descriptions,
which are peculiar to at least 1 1 members of the genus, including

CQ MiLLIGAN, Some ]V. Ausit alian and Allied Species. 1_,^^ "q'^j

three Australian ones, and ones upon which Count Salvadori
sought to distinguish Strickland's P. niacrorhyncha. In all other
skins, except the two mentioned, the pectoral band was connected
with the black head. In one other skin the same crescent was
abnormally broad, and the area of the white throat-space, in
consequence, less, thus furnishing a resemblance to P. schlcgdi
(Rosenb.) of New Guinea. The breadth of the band in the skin
mentioned measured ^-inch, while in all other skins the breadth
of the same band varied from i-inch to :^-inch. In another
skin the breast was orange and the axillary regions and under
tail coverts were of the same shade, thus departing from the
type of P. occidentalis and approaching P. mentalis (Wall.) in
those parts. The slate-coloured head of the young male of P .
occidentalis furnishes a resemblance to the slate-coloured occiput
of P. irmominata (Salvadori).

Rhipidura preissi (Cabanis) and R. albiscapa (Gould).

I examined a series of these skins from various parts of the
State, including the Murchison District, in the north-west, and
in every specimen not only was the blackish chest-band present,
but, in addition, strongly marked. The birds from the Mur-
chison differ slightly from the southern birds in the plumage
colour of the abdomen, the ochreous-buff of the former being
almost lost. The brown (in some blackish-brown) shafts of the
two central tail feathers and the white shafts of the other tail
feathers are constant features. The upper and lower lines of
the chest-band of the northern birds were more sharply defined
than in the southern ones, the lower line in the latter being
irregular, uneven, and ragged. The same peculiarities are also
observable in specimens of Orcoica cristata, the northern birds
having the pectoral band as sharply defined as that of Pachy-
cephala occidentalis.

Petrceca goodenovi (Vig. & Hors.) and P. ramsayi (Sharpe).
Supplementing Mr. Robert Hall's observations on these species
in vol. i., part I , of The Emu, I have to record that, in a collection
of birds obtained at Wurarga, Murchison, last year, I selected
out of a number of skins of P . goodenovi one with a red throat.
In my notes on the Wongan Hills trip (see Emu, vol. iv., part i)
I recorded having myself shot a bird of the same species pos-
sessing a similarly coloured throat. I have already recorded a
field note (not my own) of a pair of this species having bred
whilst in immature plumage. If variations conversely occur
in corresponding parts of P. ramsayi I should be inclined
to agree with Mr. Hall's conclusions as regards the status of
P. ram.sayi. P. goodenovi is found on Rottnest Island, opposite
Fremantle (the port of Perth), but, strange to say, not anywhere
on the mainland between the sea-coast and the mountains. On
the inland side of the mountains the bird is, comparatively
speaking, plentiful in favoured places. The colour of the cap
of the Rottnest Island birds varies from pale pink to deep
scarlet.

Vol. IV.
1904

J MiLLlGAN, Some W. Australian and Allied Species. C i

ACANTHOCH^RA MELLIVORA (Latham) and A. LUNULATA (Gould).
In my notes of the Stirling Range trip {Emu, vol. iii., part i.)
I mentioned that I had shot 2lX\ Acanthochcera which bore a
striking resemblance to A. mdlivora, by reason of the white
central streaks on the mantle feathers, and I then entertained
the notion that both species would be found on comparison to
be identical. Since then I have compared a number of skins
of the Western form with a skin of the Eastern one, with
the result that I find that my surmise has not been justified.
In the latter form the head, hind-neck, and mantle are boldly
streaked, while in the former the streaks are confined to the
mantle only. The head and hind-neck are, however, in most
instances minutely spotted with white. The most striking
differences are those mentioned by Gould — namely, the very
much longer bill of A. lunidata and the presence of the con-
spicuous tracts of glossy white feathers extending from the gape
over the ear coverts, along the sides of the neck. Each form
has the remarkable " meteoric shower " on the chest and breast.
I do not know of any Australian species where individual members
of both sexes exhibit inter sc such variations in size as in A.
lunulata.

Ptilotis leilavalensis (North) vel P. carter: (Campbell).

I recently examined four skins collected on the Yule River,
in the North-Western Division of this State. Three of the four
were males, two of the four being adult, and the remaining two,
judging by their light horn-coloured bills and cinnamon-yellow
plumage, immature birds. Mr. North, in his specific description
of P. leilavalensis (" Australian Museum Records," vol. ii., p. 106),
stated that the species might be distinguished from P. pcnicillata
by (inter alia) the absence of the blackish line which separated
the silky-white patch of feathers from the ear coverts. In the
Yule River mature birds I find that the blackish line is present,
and that in one of the immature ones the line is also present,
but is smoky-brown in colour. I also find that the crown of
the head and hind-neck of the mature birds are pale brown (as
the mantle), but distinctly washed with lemon-yellow, thus
defining a shade-line between the hind-neck and mantle. The
lores, forehead, sides of the head, and cheeks, and also the chin
and throat, are bright lemon-yellow {not olive-yellow), the bases
of the feathers of the last-mentioned being greyish-white. On
each side of chest there is a patch of feathers of the same colour
as the mantle and connecting with it. These patches are, in turn,
connected by an obscure band across the breast of a paler brown,
and diffusely marked with pale yellow and greyish white, similar
in pattern to the same part of P. sonora. Mr. North does not
make any mention in his description of these brown chest-patches
or of the breast-band, consequently I am inclined to think, for
that reason and owing to the differences above specified, that
the Yule River birds and P. leilavalensis are not identical. After
examining Gould's coloured plate of P. flavescens and the letter-

c;2 MiLLIGAN, Some W. Australian and Allied Species. \ ^T

^ ' /^ L ist Oct.

press accompanying it, I should not be surprised if it were
hereafter found that the Yule River birds were nothing more or
less than a southern race of P. fiavcsccns.

MalURUS LEUCOPTERUS (Quoy and Gaim.) and M. LEUCONOTUS
(Gould).
In a collection of skins made in tlie Murchison district, the
collector drew my attention to the fact that the conspicuously
white wing-patch of two of the male skins sent not only extended
to but encroached on the back, but without encompassing it to
the extent existing in M. leuconotus . In one of the males shot
during the Wongan Hills trip I observed a similar condition of
things. As the ranges of the two species are to a great extent
identical, the above forms would appear to be intermediate ones
between the two species. Mr. A. J. Campbell states (" Nests
and Eggs of Australian Birds," pp. 174, 175) that M. leuconotus
was obtained by Mr. Tom Carter at Point Cloates, North-Western
Australia, where he shot one after a hurricane. Mr. Carter, in
his " Notes on the Birds Occurring in the Region of the North-
West Cape," does not refer to the species, but mentions M . leu-
coptcrus, adding that that species was abundant after the hurricane
of li

Some Bird'Life in British Papua.

By R. A. Vivian, Melbourne.

What British Papua lacks in big game it contrives to till the
bill with fowls of the air, which, though varied and numerous,
do not exist in that enormous quantity one would be led to
expect of a fertile country lying only a few hundred miles south
of the equator.

No classification of a technical nature, but a brief description
of the different species and their habits, where known, being
the object of this paper, further remarks will be unnecessary in
introducing to the reader the typical birds of Papua, or New
Guinea — viz., the Birds of Paradise, principally Paradisca rag-
giana. Our Teutonic neighbours evidently admire the birds so
much that they have given them the premier position by striking
local coinage on the obverse side with a somewhat exaggerated
design of the Greater Bird of Paradise {P. apodd).

The exquisite plumage of these birds having been already
treated to a presumably microscopical survey, it is scarcely
necessary to dwell further in that respect, but rather on their
apparent desire to be noisy. Their rapidly ascending, shrill
" caw-caw-caw," repeato, penetrating the ordinary stillness of the
forest, being akin to a clarion call, awhile on a tree limb their
prancing, which the natives introduce and imitate in their dances,
is very ludicrous. Moulting seems to take place about August,
which is near the end of the dry (or south-west) season. The

^°'igo4^'] Vivian, Some Bird-Life in British Papua. C3

noise of the rapids in large rivers and creeks appears to attract
them, as they congregate there chiefly.

The writer is not aware whether it is widely known among
ornithologists that a blue-plumaged Bird of Paradise exists in
Papua. * Neither can he recollect meeting anyone who has seen
the particular species in the flesh. The assumption is based on
seeing tail feathers of a sky-blue tint of a Bird of Paradise in
the head-dress of a chief of the Opi tribe. The latter could not
be induced to part with the rarity for an ample consideration.
Where and when it had been obtained the native knew not,
beyond pointing vaguely towards the mountains far inland. The
local name, " Damba," as for a raggiaiia, was also given.

The enormous Goura Pigeons {Goura coronata) are glorious
creatures. The noble crests, of mottled and slate-coloured hues,
give the birds an almost commanding appearance. A peculiarity
about these birds is that only in the River Musa district (lat.
9° to 10° south) are they to be found in considerable numbers.
Whether a special kind of fruit tree only exists in the locality
would be interesting to know, as otherwise that particular part
of the mainland scarcely differs in any respect from other
portions of the country east of long. 148°. It is well known, of
course, that a different variety of bird inhabits the Fly River
districts (G. d' albcrtis).

Pigeons of a lesser size — viz., the blue, white, black and white
Torres Strait and white neck-laced varieties — mostly inhabit the
mangrove trees on the coast, in flocks, and towards sunset can
be easily shot, flying with alarmed cries in circles above their
roosting-place and returning in a few minutes within the zone
of the sportsman's deadly gunfire. In the islands in the south-
eastern portion of the possession, the beautiful blue-green bronze
pigeon with white tail and long neck feathers (" Nicobar ") and a
species with a remarkable black fleshy protuberance at the base
of the upper mandible make their home in the thick scrub.

The varieties of Doves are numerous, amongst which might
be mentioned a very pretty parti-coloured one with green, white,
and yellow on its body and a patch of magenta above the beak,
found on the Conflict Group. Also the almost tame green and
brown species of the Lachlan Islands.

At all times of the day and night Cassowaries can be heard
uttering their peculiar plaintive cry as they wander through
the dense forest. They are very hard to approach, and only on
one occasion was the writer permitted to see a wild one, and that
was through the effect of a lucky shot by a recruit in the armed
constabulary. So far as it is remembered, the bird was of the
common type peculiar to the country, and stood about 5 feet
in height. A one-time planter in Milne Bay once kept a pair

* I have since seen in the National Museum, Melbourne, a skin, which is named
P. riidolphi. [This species is recorded in Wallace's list of the Birds of Paradise pub-
lished in " The Malay Archipelago," 1890 edition. The habitat is there given as
S.-E. New Guinea. — Eds.]

c^ Vivian, Some Bird-Life in British Papua. \

Emu
St Oct.

of these birds and trained them to perform the duties of watch
dogs. As would be expected, black, and also White (Triton)
Cockatoos {Cacatua ducorpsi) ; red, green, and blue Parrots,
Rifie-Birds (Craspedophora magnifica), and scarlet-breasted
green Parrakeets, are very numerous, and are to be found in
fiocks where cocoanut, bread -fruit, banana, wild cherry, and plum
trees are in bearing. Plait-billed Hornbills {Rhytidoceros undu-
latus) in particular devour these fruits greedily, and travel long
distances from their nests to satisfy their wants, making a start
from home regularly at daybreak and returning at sunset. The
male usually possesses a really fine head of golden feathers, which
extend from the base of the bill quite 4 inches down the neck.
The hen birds are all black, with the exception, as with the males,
of a few white feathers on the under part of wing. Corrugations
to the number of nine have been seen on the beak. What do
these indicate ? The rustling noise these birds make when on the
wing is of a weird character, and, together with the hoarse note
they produce, suggests to the imaginative the approach of some-
thing ill-omened. They fly in couples, at an estimated speed of
15 to 20 miles an hour in calm weather.

On a small island in the China Straits our boating party on
one occasion disturbed a huge Pelican {Pelicanus conspicillatus)
that was evidently seeking food on the shore. Preparing to
shoot it, we were discomfited by seeing it take a few bounds
and with an apparent effort rise on the wing, and, lazily sweeping
in gradually increasing circles, ascend until it was a mere speck
in the sky.

The musical note of a Magpie is heard occasionally in Papua.
There is no mistaking its carol. The bird may possibly prove a
new variety. Everywhere Obi Paradise Crows {Lycocorax
obicnsi) in moderate numbers split the air with their hoarse
cries, and plunder banana plantations, and are especially fond
of the paw-paw fruit.

Snipe (Gallinago australis) have been shot on the north-cast
coast, where in January they are found when migrating, though
from whence, or whither bound, it is hard to say. Wild Duck,
too, are plentiful in the same locality. On the south coast and
in the Gulf district small Duck with a broad patch of white on the
wing, and a variety about the size of Teal, have been obtained.

Vide extract of an expedition up the Morehead River, Western
Division, several years ago : — " There was a great variety of bird-
life, amongst which there were observed the White Ibis and
Great Heron, Shags, enormous Goshawks {Erythrotriorchis
doricB), Wild Geese and Ducks ; most beautiful long-tailed green
and scarlet Parrakeets ; tiny jewelled Kingfishers {Ccyx solitarid),
and a little dark chocolate-coloured velvety bird that lived in
the reeds (probably Megaliirus alboscapidatus), and quantities of
Pigeons, Cockatoos, and Parrots."

The black-feathered Scrub-Hen, or Brush-Turkey {T. jobiensis),
is far from being a rowdy bird, and for its modesty in that respect

^°'o^^1 Vivian, So))ie Bird-Life in British Papua. ^^

rarely tills the sportsman's bag. A sudden flutter of wings and
a dark object flying at a moderate rate towards where the scrub
is thickest complete the disgust of the man with the gun.
One receives some compensation, however, by being able to
rather easily raid the ground nests of these birds for eggs. The
nest, or rather natural incubator, is usually at the base of a large
tree trunk, where the hen lays her eggs and then covers them
over with a huge but light mound of dry leaves 2 to 5 feet deep,
and quite 12 feet in diameter. The heat of this rubbish does
the rest, and the young find no difficulty in scrambling out into
the daylight in due course. The egg is of a light pink colour
and is about the size of a domesticated Turkey's. Nests have
been discovered at a height of 2,500 feet above sea level.

On a Government banana plantation, and on large streams,
the writer often perceived hosts of Swifts {Collocalia terrce-
francicd) appear an hour before sunset, darting rapidly hither
and thither, as if feeding on minute insects of the air. This
generally occurred during the wet season — November to
February.

It was from the same point — Cape Nelson — that a coming
" blow " from the southward was always heralded some hours
before by the appearance of a few Frigate-Birds (Fregata aquila),
which hovered in the locality while the wind lasted, and as like
mysteriously disappeared. It would be more appropriate to call
them " Prophet-Birds." During a gale they meet the fierce gusts
with seeming equanimity, neither wing moving, but with bodies
rigid and heads to windward they remain almost stationary,
except occasionally a slightly perceptible swaying and moment-
arily opening and closing of the tail feathers — a steadying agency
probably, besides an aid to ascent — of which a few remarks will
be added later. Then with a lightning turn they gracefully
sweep at a downward angle with fearful velocity for any given
distance with the wind, and then with the most consummate
ease bring up " all standing," poised as before (see fig. 3), the
wings meantime remaining stifT, but scarcely horizontal, at the
time the bird prepares to turn. Such a resistance do they offer
to a storm that when sometimes a bird is balanced a short distance
overhead one can almost imagine seeing the wind rushing past
its form. They have never been observed to approach the water
closer than 300 feet, while on the other hand they often soar
upwards to a considerable height. The evident method these
birds adopt to ascend is peculiar, and very interesting to watch
at close quarters. For, though the bird itself is practically rigid,
except for slight movements — particular parts of which have
been alluded to — yet those simple actions really explain how the
bird rises. Thus, in addition to what has already been stated,
they consist of upward and forward motions, as if, while pressing
against the wind, advantage is taken when a lull occurs (see
fig. i) ; and, secondly, with head still to windward, allowing
itself to fall back a few yards as though for a " breather," but

56

Vivian, Some Bird-Life in British Papua.

r E m II
List Oct.

still maintaining a slight upivard tendency during the progress
(see fig. 2). Then repetitions ad lib. (see diagram).

^ Fi^.i.

Wind <-

■«i^

Their rate of speed when with tl^e wind would be quite 60
to 70 miles an hour, if not more.

Mr. Louis Becke, writing in The Pall Mall Gazette, mentions
the Frigate-Bird as the swiftest of all sea-birds, and in some of
the equatorial isles of the Pacific it is used as a letter-carrier. Taken
from the nest before it can fly, it is hand-fed on a fish diet by the
natives ; and in the course of a few months becomes so tame
that it can be liberated during the day, and will return to its
perch at sunset. In the records of the London Missionary Society
mention is made of the letter-carrying Frigate-Birds of the Ellice
Group (north-west of Samoa), and that writer, who resided in
those islands for three years, had frequent opportunities of
witnessing their performances.

In the Northern Division the following birds have been re-
corded as existing there, and it would be interesting at a future
date to learn of their respective peculiarities. They are the
Dollar-Bird {Eurystomus), New Guinea Pheasant, Weaver-Bird,
and Flycatcher {Monachella niuelleriana). Brilliantly hued
Finches, Wagtails, and Racquet-tailed Kingfishers {Tanysiptcra
tnicrorhynchd) also excite curiosity. White-headed Sea-Hawks
{Haliastiir girrencra) are not numerous, but are sufficient to

Vol. IV.
1904

J Vivian, Some Bird-Life in British Papua. C 7

make the owners of chickens very wrathful, owing to their
depredations in the poultry-run.

It may not, by the way, be out of place to devote a few
lines to the native breed of domestic fowls. The male is a
very pretty bird, very like a game-cock, with a long pendant
on either side of the tail. A pure white variety is also bred,
and is highly prized by the Papuans. Query — Where did these
birds originally come from ? All explanations are vague on the
matter.

In the islands and several parts of the mainland Curlews, Golden
Plovers, and Herons, both black and white, are free agents, and
at as high an altitude as 6,000 feet on the main range the rare
Orange-crested Bower-Bird {Amblyornis subalaris) has its play-
ground.

Respecting the " Death-Bird " of New Guinea, too much credence
should not be indulged in until confirmed. Native myths are
numerous and extraordinary, even precise in details. The moon
— we are impressively told by some Papuans — was originally
found in the soil by one of their number, who, in attempting to
carry the luminary to his village barely escaped with his life
through not relinquishing the prize as it ascended heaven-
wards !

The School in Wild Life.

By Frank M. Littler, F.E.S., Launceston.

The author of a paper under the above heading in Chambers s
Joiirnal for May, speaking of the song of both wild and cage
birds, evidently does not believe that birds inherit their vocal
powers from their parents, but that each and every young bird
has to " learn " how to whistle or sing its range of notes. He
states that breeders of cage birds often put the eggs of the Rose-
Linnet into the nest of the Canary^ who will hatch them out.
The young Linnets do not attempt their own song, but imitate
as closely as possible that of the Canary. Personally I am of
opinion that many birds do inherit their vocal powers froni
their parents, and would place birds on a higher plane of in-
telligence than of mere automatons. Those who have kept
Jackasses " and " Magpies " must have noticed that when
they are old enough they commence practising their native
notes so long as thqy have not had " Sweet, pretty boy," &c.,
&c., whistled at them. In a short while they will, without
ever once hearing another bird of their own species, whistle
as well as any in their native state. Tame birds of the species
mentioned are great imitators, and they will rather learn a
" foreign " language than allow their native harmony to mature.
The author of the paper under notice admits that young birds
inherit the aptitude for the song of their parents, but thinks
that this aptitude is equally strong in picking up the song of

58 Littler, The School in Wild Life. [is^^'o'ct.

any other species heard from its nest. But is he right ? To
transfer one of his examples from England to Australia, we
get the following : — A nestful of young Jackasses with silent
parents hear round them day after day the rich warbling
notes of the Magpie. The young birds, as soon as they are
old enough, commence practising, not their own notes, but
those of the Magpie, and when they are fully fledged they will
be Magpies in as far as their powers go.

What would happen if half a dozen or more species of song
birds were to bring up their broods close to one another ? Would
the species with the loudest or most harmonious song teach
the whole six broods its own song, to the exclusion of the other
parents ? I think not, but rather that each species would retain
its own note. Suppose clutches of eggs of half a dozen species
could be hatched and the young reared in an incubator, what
results, as far as vocal capabilities, would we have ? Each species
would develop its own particular song, independent of its
neighbour.

To pass on to another portion of the article, that which treats
of nest-building. The author asserts that the young birds,
aided by their natural sharpness, learn the art from their parents,
and that while they are nestlings, they make mental notes of
their cradle, inside and out. I quite reject the theory that
birds are mere copyists and automatons. Birds do not " learn "
how to make a nest, the gift being handed down from generation
to generation. Nor do they blindly build whether environment
be suitable or not. They display an intelligence oftentimes
marvellous, and build nests by " instinct ; " but it is their
" intelligence " that tells them whether it would be safe or not
to nest in a seemingly suitable situation. Birds are quick to
employ new materials in the construction of their nests should
they prove suitable. But how did they learn the suitability
or otherwise of certain materials ? How did Silver-eyes and
Robins become acquainted with the suitability of cow and horse
hair for their nests ? Or how did other birds — several may be
named — learn the use of string and wire?*

In conclusion, the author of the article deals with the evergreen,
ever-mysterious subject of migration. Speaking of the habit
many species of birds have of quitting the Arctic Circle on the
approach of winter, and returning again in spring to nest, he
says : — " There may have been a time, before the snow crept
so far down, when they spent the whole year farther north, and
being very much creatures of habit, they still return to the old

[* There is a subtle question as to heredity or instinct involved in Mr. Littler's
notes. Some of the problems ne propounds are not readily answered, and open up a
field of study the width of which has not been more than half realized by the {>t\^
Australasian observers who have ventured to treat it at all. The further one goes
into such a problem the more involved he becomes, unless he be one of those
fortunate individuals who, passing life out of doors, is not only exceptionally
favoured as to matters of observation, but does not shrink from sacrificing a theory
for truth.— H.K.]

Vol. IV.
1904

] Littler, The School in Wild Life. 59

home whenever the way opens. . . . What of the larger
ranges — of birds which leave the edge of the eternal snows and
do not stop till they sight the coast of Africa ? For a solution
the mind goes back to the Ice Age, when the hard conditions
extended so far that a winter in Europe, except in the extreme
south, was as cold as in the Arctic Circle now." He is of opinion
that in no instance do young birds start without leaders ; that
it is often a question of luck whether they will reach their
destination or perish on the way ; and will not admit that the
migratory instinct is inherent in the young of migratory species.
This is a matter on which many ornithologists will disagree
with him. To me it seems beyond doubt, so far as we can tell.
If birds could speak, it is questionable if they would be able to
say why they go south in the winter — and far south too, some-
times— and why they return north again to nest. They would
simply ansvver that what their parents and great grandparents
had done was good enough for them, and that they would expect
their children and children's children to do the same. Much
has been learnt and written on this fascinating question of
migration, but still very much more requires to be known before
we can say that we understand it.*

Bird Sanctuaries of New Zealand.

New Zealand has done two things thoroughly, as the follow-
ing paper from The Argus of 23rd July, 1904, will show.
One of these is to preserve those wingless birds so character-
istic of the country, and which, because of their helplessness,
would soon disappear as settlement increased ; the other is to
acclimatise the best game of other countries. Thus, in turning
down Canadian moose in their mountains, they brought a Can-
adian forester to look after the young calves, and a Scotch game-
keeper is now engaged attending to the Grouse. Resolution
Island, in Dusky Sound, West Coast, discovered by Captain
Cook, is named after one of the ships in which Cook made his
first voyage. There is material for a charming little book on
Nature in this official document, the last place where a Victorian,
knowing something of the character of his own Government

[* Here again we are only on the verge of knowledge. The heredity of a migratory
instinct, more particularly when one remembers that from extreme north to extreme
south there was virtually a bridge of land, and that, according to some theories as to
the origin of species, these began in noith and passed stage by stage to south,
possibly in search of food, or more possii)ly in search of favourable quarters for breed-
ing. The latter theory would seem most feasible. But how, after all, account for
the fact that birds desert comparatively warm and favourable regions in our south for
such places as the steppes of Siberia. Most of those who do pass feed either on
insects or the food which a sea-shore produces, and as tropical regions are especially
favoured in this way, why should they be passed by? The theory as to following the
line of an old sea-shore does not seem to fit in with every circumstance in the migra-
tion of those birds which are usually known as " Wanderers." — H.K.]

6o Bird Sanctuaries of Neiu Zealand. | ^^^ "q^^

reports, would look for it. And Mr. Henry's chat about the
birds which are in his charge, and have become, in some in-
stances, his pets and friends, is so homely, so sympathetic,
shows so much of close and loving observation, that something
material to the literature of Nature in New Zealand would have
been lost had the notes not been published.

The wingless birds that are being given sanctuary on Resolu-
tion Island are the Weka or Wood-Hen (Ocydromus australis),
the Kakapo or Great Ground-Parrot (Stringops hahroptilus),
the Roa (Apteryx haasti), and the Kiwi or Apteryx (Ap/cryx
oweni). In addition to these, which are his special charge, Mr.
Henry writes of all the birds which are either native to or visit
the island. It is the wingless ones, however, that are of chief
interest. Had New Zealand possessed amongst its native fauna
any destructive animals, such as the Australian dingo or the
Tasmanian devil, these birds would have been extinct long ago.
In settled country both dogs and cats play havoc with them,
and the English weasel, which, as Mr. Henry observes, would
never have been introduced had its habits been known thoroughly,
is also destructive. When rabbits became such a nuisance that
poisoned wheat was laid for them, some of the wingless birds
were killed in thousands, like the English Pheasants, which
had been so successfully acclimatised. In many of the public
reserves of New Zealand, such as the charming gardens at New
Plymouth, one can hear the Pheasant calling constantly in
the brush, and it is this thick native underwood which gave
originally complete protection to the wingless birds.

The Weka or Wood-Hen is evidently one of the most interesting
of the residents on Resolution Island. The quaint ways and
quick sagacity of two of them, " Chicken " and " Scrag," who
visit the caretaker's house on the look-out for table scraps, and
share the contents of the dog's dish without risk, are amusingly
described. These birds mate for life, and take turn about in
hatching and protecting the brood. One of them is never absent
from the nest from the tmie the first egg is laid until the young —
which look like balls of soft down — are able to protect them-
selves. This care is the more necessary as both the eggs and young
are destroyed by rats, weasels, and Sparrow-Hawks. Sometimes,
of an evening, when the tide is low, the Wood-Hens take their
families out on the beaches, and the Sparrow-Hawks watch for
them there, and kill the young by scores. The Weka is, in its
turn, destructive. Paradise Ducks {Casarca variegata), like the
Wild Ducks of Australia, cover up their eggs carefully with a mat
of down when leaving the nest, but the Wekas have an hereditary
knowledge of the trick, and a young bird, which has never seen
a Duck's nest, tears away the down to get at the eggs the moment
it discovers one. If they find a hen's nest with the eggs un-
covered, they always go through the motions of tearing away
the nest before starting to eat the eggs. Although on friendly
terms with the caretaker, they hide their own nests away from

Vol. IV,
1904

J Bird Sanctuaries of New Zealand. 6 I

him very carefully, and, if one of the pair come to the house
for scraps for its mate, it always takes a roundabout track to
the nest, and is careful to see that it is neither watched nor
followed. They kill each other's young, so that every pair on
the island has its own run, and no others are allowed to
intrude. Mr. Henry coiisiders these birds most valuable as
insect-destroyers in an orchard, and observes that, if they were
difficult to get, fruit-growers would be quite keen about them.
On the table-land above the Otira Gorge, when crossing from
the west coast, one often sees the Weka and her brood running
along the track in front of the. coach. When the first brood
have been hatched and are fairly grown, the hen hands them
over to her mate, and starts to lay again. The male shepherds
the young persistently, apparently gives them all the food he
can find, and, if they call for help in danger, he is with them
in an instant, keen for a fight. When he finds a rat he tackles
it instantly, though not strong enough to kill it single-handed.
The squeaking of the rat is a signal to another Weka, who rushes
up and helps to kill the enemy.

It is surmised that the Kakapo, or Great Ground-Parrot^
the only Parrot which does not fly — had once the use of its wings.
Finding in New Zealand no ground enemies and abundance of
food and cover, it ceased to use its wings, which only subjected
it to the risk of being taken by a Hawk, and as the wings de-
generated from disuse, the legs developed in the same proportion,
so that now it is a good runner. Tree Parrots in Australia are
awkward on the ground, but the seed-eating Grass Parrots all
run quickly. In addition to the islands, which are so convenient
a sanctuary, the Government has two preserves for Kakapos
on the mainland. They ' are night-feeders, though fruit-
eaters — an unusual combination, as Mr. Henry points out.
Like the Owls, they have a disc of prominent feathers about
the eyes, and near the nose those long hair-like feathers or
feelers common to nocturnal birds or those which have their
home underground. They are so feeble, so unconscious of
having enemies, that one may go up to them without their
showing any alarm. If touched they are resentful, but if you
sit down beside the bird a little while in daylight it tucks its
head calmly under its wing and goes off to sleep again.
Unlike the Weka, the Kakapo hides her nest away carefully
from her own mate, who is generally both fat and indolent.
These birds only breed every second year, and the curious
point about them is that all the birds lay in the same
season — a peculiarity which naturalists are quite unable to
understand. Their call at night is very much like the booming
of a Bittern in the swamps, and the night-drumming is only
heard just before the nesting time. In the following year they
are silent. The birds are always plentiful where wild berries
grow thickly, and New Zealanders speak of such spots as
" Kakapo gardens." The young, when first hatched, are

62 Bird Sanctiiaries of Neiv Zealand. [ist'oct

covered with a snow-white down. The holes so frequently
found in their gardens, where they have scratched, suggest
that they dig for truffles, and it is known that they eat mush-
rooms.

The Roa, another of the wingless birds, is distinguished by its
wonderful beak — long, slender, and slightly curved. This, too,
is a night bird, and rarely found far away from forests. It uses
its long, Snipe-like bill just for the same purpose that the Snipe
does its bill, except that it works in harder ground, and its chief
food is earthworms. Its sight is poor, but Nature, as is usually
the case, compensates for this defect by sharpening up its sense
of smell and hearing. When seen in the moonlight, it moves
slowly along with its bill outstretched, and often stands with
the point of its bill resting upon the earth, as though either trying
to scent the worms or feel for their movements underground.
The peculiar thing about their breeding habits is that a young
bird a week or so old and a fresh egg are frequently found in
the same nest. Like the Wekas, the parent Roas share the cares
of a family, though in another way — the male does all the
hatching. The young are born with all their feathers like
mature birds, and apparently all their intelligence as well, for
as soon as they are hatched they start to search for their own
food, and require no hints as to the best place to find it. The
single egg, like that of the Mutton-Bird, is exceptionally large.
Thus, in the nesting season the hen, always in fine condition,
weighs about 8 lbs., the " hatcher " 5 lbs., and the egg
18 ozs.

The Grey Kiwi is described as a shy, gentle little thing, that
seems to depend wholly for its existence on its ability to hide
away in lonely places. They are shaped much like the Roa,
but have straight beaks. It is a light-loving bird, that feeds
by day, mostly upon white grubs. It resembles the Roa in its
breeding habits, laying one large &gg, hatched by the male bird,
but while in the nesting season the pair of Roas are rarely
separated, the Kiwis are just as rarely found together. The
young are very beautiful little birds, quite silent, but so alert
and cautious that if you take your eyes off them for a while they
disappear. When grown, they have a shrill whistling note,
which Mr. Henry describes as like the guard's whistle in a
railway train heard a little way off. In summer both the Roa
and the Kiwi like to go up to the high ground, affecting naked
mountain crests, and their pathways are clearly marked. The
Kiwi builds in a short burrow underground, generally protected
at the mouth by the root of a tree. In the case of both the Roa
and Kiwi, it looks as though the male bird hatched continuously
for about 30 days. They go on the nest fat and plump, and
by the time the young bird is hatched are feeble skeletons.

Vol. IV.~| Lighthouses and Bird Observations. 6 X

I004 \ ^ ■ >~f

1904

Lighthouses and Bird Observations.

About twenty years ago the Zoological Society (Melbourne)
distributed to the light-keepers on the Victorian coast schedules
to record data regarding the movements of birds, chiefly those
that struck the glass of the lantern.

The data collected were scant and meagre, such as, for instance : —
" Queenscliff, 30/10/85, 7.50 p.m. — Stormy-Petrel struck lantern,
not killed; weather overcast." "Cape Nelson, 6/10/85, 11.25
p.m. — Parrakeet struck lantern ; weather dull." " Wilson's
Promontory, 25/3/85, 1.30 a.m. — Sparrow-Hawk struck
lantern, killed; weather misty." " Clift'y Island, 18/11/85,
10 p.m. — Several Mutton-Birds struck light, one killed ;
weather misty." " Gabo Island, 9/10/85, 4.30 a.m. — Two
Plovers struck light ; weather very hazy."

Mr. W. E. Cordell, formerly for many years in the Department
of Ports and Harbours, Victoria, has kindly furnished some
reminiscent remarks on the subject. He states : — " I have come
to the conclusion that migratory birds do not follow the coast
line. If they do then they fly very high and by night. I am
led to believe this by the small number of birds that have struck
the various lights where I have been stationed. At Gabo Island,
where I was for six years, the number was exceedingly small,
and on no occasion was a body recovered. The lighthouse
is built on an extreme point of land, and as the birds usually
struck in stormy weather they were carried into the sea. At
the Eastern Light, South Channel, Port Phillip, I was never
troubled with birds. At Cape Otway I can only remember one
instance of recovering a bird that had struck the light, and it
was not a migratory one. But I have had Parrakeets in numbers
sitting on the handrail for hours at a time, at night."

During the last twenty years ornithology, particularly field
work, in a general way has made rapid strides, and it has occurred
to the Australian Ornithologists' Union that the ever-watchful
light-keepers might again be approached with regard to recording
observations respecting birds, especially migratory ones. Handy
schedules have been printed, with concise instructions, and have
been kindly distributed in batches to all Australian lighthouses
through the goodness of the various State Harbour or Marine
Departments. Indeed, the Union's schedules have already
reached extra-Australian parts, notably New Zealand and some
of the Austro-Malayan localities.

The first acknowledgments of the schedules have come from
Tasmania, through Mr. J. Adams, Secretary Marine Board,
Hobart, with encouraging remarks and a willingness on the
part of the light-keepers to meet the Union's wishes.

Mr. E. Neilson, Superintendent, Table Cape, writes : — " During
the seven years I have been at this station the only time that
birds come about the lantern at night is during the latter part
of summer, when some come in foggy or misty weather. They

64 Lighthouses and Bird Observations. f ^

Emu
t Oct.

do not strike the light with great force, and usually remain about
the lantern till daylight and then fly away. I have never found
birds dead about the tower. The kinds that come are all land
birds. I have never observed any sea birds near the tower,
day or night."

Mr. G. P. Huxley, Superintendent, Currie Harbour (King
Island), writes : — " It is very seldom that any birds strike this
lighthouse other than small sea-birds, and then only in calm,
thick, rainy weather. They chiefly strike it on the west side,
but not hard enough to kill themselves."

Mr. Wm. Hawkins, writing from South Bruni, states : — " There
are no migratory birds in this locality excepting the Mutton-Bird,
which appears in September and departs the latter end of April
or early in May. In reference to birds striking the light, there
have only been two occasions that I recollect. On both occasions
the birds were Bronze-winged Pigeons and were stunned by the
impact."

From Cape Wickham (King Island) Mr. Superintendent G.
Johnston writes : — " The direction of birds striking the light is
varied ; in fact, I have reason to believe that this will not be
a guide as to the direction of flight. For instance, a bird may
be flying north and raise or lower its flight until it gets into the
focal plane of the light, when it flies straight at it, perhaps at
right angles to its previous flight. This is accounted for by
catching small birds (that gather round the light in fine overcast
weather) and putting them low down under the balcony. No
matter how they take off, when they rise to the focal plane of
the light they dash at it, sometimes from the opposite direction
to that which you release them. Migratory birds that strike
the lantern are Ducks of different species. Swans never strike
the lantern, although they often fly past N.W. or S.E. about
sundown — a sure indication of S.E. winds. Have made notes of
this for 25 years and have never known it wrong. The half-
caste islanders on the eastern side of Bass Strait always remove
their boats for S.E. weather on seeing Swans fly over. The
weather is always more or less overcast when birds strike the
lantern ; never to my knowledge in clear weather. The names
of birds known to gather round the lantern in fine overcast
weather are : — Flame-breasted Robin, Pink-breasted Robin,
Dusky Robin, White-eye (Zosterops), Olivaceous Thickhead,
Pallid Cuckoo, Bronze-Cuckoo, Larks, Ground-Parrakeet, and
Summer-Bird (Graucalus), and on two occasions Bronze-winged
Pigeons. Some larger birds flutter on to the lantern, but never
strike hard enough to disable themselves. I will be pleased to
forward any time information that the Union may request."

Mr. Tom Iredale, of Christchurch (N.Z.) writing under date
30/7/04 to the Hon. Secretary of the Aust. O.U., states: — "I
noticed in the daily papers here that notices had been distributed
to the lighthouses, and was very pleased, as I am certain much
that is new will be the result. I am an Englishman, and have

^°'- ^^- 1 Lighthouses and Bird Observations. 6 K

1904 J * «^

only been out here two years, but all that I have observed tends
to prove that much more migration takes place to New Zealand
than is generally accepted. At Lake Ellesmere, in 1900, the
first example of the Spotted Plover for the South Island was shot.
The first specimen of the Little Whimbrel for N.Z. was also shot
in June, 1900. In February, 1902, a specimen of the American
Godwit was obtained ; in March, 1902, a specimen of the Spotted
Plover in breeding plumage; in July, 1902, the Red-necked
Stint was added to the list, whilst in April, 1903, a specimen, or,
rather, a pair of the Curlew Sandpiper was obtained. I believe
I am correct in saying that these are all due to the efforts of one
man, Mr. Edgar Stead. I think it would be too much to try to
believe that the above are the only individuals that happen to
reach New Zealand.

" Speaking of migration, on the night of the 5th May there
was a migration of White-eyes over Christchurch. From 7 to
10 p.m. the air was full of their notes. It was a cloudy night,
with an east wind, and the birds were flying very low, and next
day odd parties were flying about and around the city. I saw
13 engaged upon the skull of a dead sheep one day the week
after."

The information is still very meagre, and contrasts strangely
with recorded observations from European lighthouses ; but it
is the first step in a good work. One fact is notable — the flight
of the birds which do strike the lantern cannot be as rapid as
that of the migratory species of the Northern Hemisphere.
There many are killed by the impact ; here, at most, but stunned.
A question suggested is — Are the flights on this side of the equator
as dense or as rapid as those on the northern one ? Stray
specimens only are here recorded. It is too early yet, however,
to form a definite opinion on the subject. When returns from
the mainland lights, more particularly those of the eastern coast
of Australia, come to hand, fuller information will doubtless be
available. But it will be a matter of years' observation before
really definite conclusions can be drawn.

The South African Ornithologists^ Union.

With reference to the formation of the South African Orni-
thologists' Union, Mr. A. Mattingley, hon. treasurer Aust. O.U.,
has received from Mr. Alwin Haagner, hon. secretary of the
African Union, the following communication, the latter part of
which is virtually the same as forwarded to some British
publications : — " It is very good of you to take such a kindly
interest in us, and I can assure you it is very greatly appre-
ciated by us all. Your balance-sheet proves very interesting,
and will no doubt be a guide to us in our initial efforts.
Of course, printing out here (Transvaal) is much more ex-
pensive than in Australia ; but we hope to have ours done

66 Tfic South African Oriiitholos.ists' Vnioii. f ^"^l'

' •= List Oct.

in England. At present we only number 52 members, but
they are really all enthusiastic ornithologists, and the Union
was only founded on Sth April this year. We hope to bring
our first No. out with the beginning of the new year, when I
trust we can effect an exchange, which would be of mutual
interest and assistance. Our subscription is one guinea, which
I am afraid is a little under what should have been the amount.
" Will you please tender our thanks to your Council for their
kind assistance."

Every member of the Aust. O.U. must be glad that in South
Africa an effort is being made to encourage the study and pro-
tection of birds, and wish the new society all the success it
deserves.

In connection with the founding of the South African Orni-
thologists' Union the following appeared in The Transvaal
Leader, 9/4/04 : —

" A number of gentlemen met in the Normal School, Pretoria,
in response to a circular letter issued by Mr. A. K. Haagner.
The object was to form an Ornithological Union for South
Africa, and the attendance, and number of letters received
on the subject, proved that the time was a most opportune
one.

" Mr. W. L. Sclater, M.A., F.Z.S., presided, and representatives
from all the South African colonies were present. Mr. Sclater
opened the proceedings by calling upon Mr. Haagner to read
his report on what had been done. The report showed that
40 gentlemen interested in the subject had sent in their
names. These were divided amongst the colonies as follows : —
Transvaal, 21 ; Cape Colony, 12; Natal, 4; Orange River
Colony, 2; Rhodesia, i.

" Dr. Gunning, F.Z.S., proposed — ' That an Ornithologists'
Union for South Africa be formed, and that a committee be
appointed to draw up rules and to inquire into and report upon
the possibility of publishing a journal.' This was seconded by
Mr. J. A. Bucknill, M.A., of Pretoria, and carried unanimously.
" The committee elected was as follows : — Mr. W. L. Sclater,
M.A., F.Z.S. (Director South x'\frican Museum, Cape Town) ;
Dr. J. W. B. Gunning, F.Z.S. (Director Transvaal Museum and
Zoological Gardens, Pretoria) ; Mr. J. A. Bucknill, M.A., Pre-
toria ; Mr. A. D. Millar, Durban ; Mr. W. Macdonald (editor
Transvaal Agricultural Journal), Pretoria ; Mr. J. A. Alexander,
F.R.S. Edin., Johannesburg ; and Mr. A. K. Haagner, M.B.O.U.,
Modderfontein, hon. sec. pro tern. It was decided to leave
the framing of rules and election of ofBcers to a subsequent
meeting.

" Mr. W. L. Sclater then read an interesting paper on the
history of similar societies, and the early South African pioneers
of ornithology.

" After a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting
terminated."

^"^^'•^'^•] Stray Feathers. 67

Stray Feathers.

Honey-eater New for Queensland. — I send a skin which
answers well to Gould's description of the White-fronted Honey-
eater {Glycyphila albifrons), but the total length measurements
do not quite agree, my bird being so much bigger. — Fred. L.
Bernev. Richmond (N.Q.), 3/8/04.

KOLORA (via Terang) Notes. — About the beginning of the
year I saw a small flock of Cockatoo-Parrots {Calopsittacus novcB-
kollandicB) here, which is very unusual. I have never seen
them so far south before, though once or twice I have heard of
them being in the district.

Large flocks of Crows (or Ravens) have been hard at work
lately turning up the ground in search of grubs. I noticed that
the White-eyed and the Hazel-eyed were in about equal numbers.
Last spring one of our onpLoyes discovered a young albino Crow.
It was being fed by its black parents when first seen. He tried
to capture it alive, but, as it could fly well, he inadvertently killed
it in the attempt. It is now stuffed and in a glass case. The
colour of the feathers is a rather creamy white ; the beak and
legs are also white. — G. L. DENNIS. Eeyeuk, 6/7/04.

Crossbred Parrakeets. — The following is a description of cross
between Pale-headed Parrakeet (Platycercus pallidiceps) and
Yellow-vented Parrakeet (Pscphotus xanthorrhous) in the posses-
sion of Mr. V. Heinrichs, Murtoa : — Bill light pink ; head
yellow ; cheeks blue, with a beautiful pinkish tinge ; back and
upper tail coverts dark green, four centre tail feathers being
dark green, other tail feathers being dark blue with light tips ;
breast and under tail coverts red ; humeral feathers dark red ;
primaries and secondaries blue ; wing coverts brownish-olive.
The feathers have a scaly appearance, particularly about the
head and neck. There is also a beautiful pinkish tinge on the
extreme edge of the back and neck feathers. The length of
the birds is about 14 inches, and they are very plump, and very
strong on the wing. They are very wild, and show no inclina-
tion to talk, although Mr. Heinrichs (who is a bird-fancier) has
used different methods to induce them to do so. He reared
three of them in 1898, two of which are still alive. — J. A. HiLL.

Kewell, 16/8/04.

* * *

COOMOOBOOLAROO (Q.) NoTES. — The great numbers of Cockatoo-
Parrots which the drought drove here from the west, and which
were breeding about here last winter, have quite disappeared.
The pink-eyed Little Dove (Geopelia cuneata), which is a
very rare visitor, was here in great numbers all last winter,

68 Stray Feathers. I ^^

Emu

Oct.

and nests and young birds were plentiful, but I have neither
seen nor heard them for months, so conclude they have also
gone w^est again. Another little bird that has been conspicuous
by its absence since the return to good seasons is the Orange-
backed Wren {Mahtrus melanocc phahis). They were always
fairly plentiful in the long grass, and we were seldom without
a little fiock of them in our garden. For some months past
I have noticed that we never see them now, and I cannot recall
having once seen any since the drought broke up. My brother
has noticed the same thing, and has not seen any during the
past two years. I have noticed the other kind, which we find
in our scrub — M. lambcrti, I think.

The Pallid Cuckoo, which either leaves us altogether in the
winter, or else is so quiet that it is unnoticed, has been much in
evidence all this winter, though I find in my notes for last winter
that the first one was heard on i8th July. Fairy Martins {L.
arid) seem to have been with us all the winter, and have been
interesting themselves in some old nests under one of the
verandahs, putting on spouts, &c., but so far, I believe, have
not laid. We always have one or two pairs of the Barred-
shouldered Dove (G. hiimeralis) in the garden, and one pair
has brought out two clutches of young since the beginning of
April last, and is now repairing the nest for a third attempt.
Good luck to them ! Last year the first Channel-billed Cuckoo
(Scythrops) was heard on 6th September, and Dollar-Birds {Eury-
stomiis) on loth October.— Chas. A. BARNARD. 10/8/'' 04.
* * *

Finches in Northern Queensland. — A short note on the
Finches of this district I think will reply to your query re Miinia
pectoralis in July's (1904) Ewu, on page 24. All the species
given below I have shot or taken alive within 25 miles either
side of Northern railway line from the Lower Burdekin River
to Warrigul Creek, a distance of about 80 miles, and from 700
to 1,500 feet above sea-level, mostly ironbark and box country,
with plenty of wattle {acacia).

Spotted-sided Finch {Stagano pleura guttata). — A few always
to be found on the Cape River.

Chestnut-eared Y\VLc\\{TcBniopygia castajwtis). — Very common
all over district.

Banded Finch {Stictoptera bichcnovii). — In the gullies under
the ranges ; fairly common.

Chestnut-breasted Finch {Munia castaneithorax). — Common in
wet seasons.

White-breasted Finch (J\i. pectoralis). — Saw first specimen in
1899, taken on Campaspe River; got a nest 26th April, 1895,
inside railway fence (homestead). Few to be seen here now.
I have some alive in cage.

Plumhead Finch {Aidejnosyne modest a). — Very common.

Red-browed Finch (JEgintha temporalis). — I have brought this

^fj^-] Stray Feathers. 69

handsome little bird from Cromarty, on the coast, and Sellheim
on the Burdekin, but cannot get them to live long.

Black-throated Finch {Poephila cincta). — Common all over
district. Have seen them catching and eating white ants {ter-
mitcs), the winged ones, any time after heavy rain. They seem
to enjoy a feed of ants.

Gouldian Finch (P. goiddice). — Common in the season, Decem-
ber to May. They breed here in holes in the various trees.
They leave after the young ones are able to feed themselves.
They seem to go northward.

Crimson Finch (Neochniia phaeton). — Not common, though
often to be seen in pandanus flats. — JOHN H. Smedley.

The Birds of Wongan Hills, W.A. — Referring to Mr. A. W.
Milligan's " Trip to the Wongan Hills " {Emu, Part I., vol. iv.), the
White-tailed Cockatoo {Caly ptorhynchis baudini) occurs plenti-
fully on the lower Murchison River, as mentioned in the opening
remarks of " Birds Occurring in the Region of the North-West
Cape" {Emu, part i, vol. iii.), that is, 200 miles further north
than the Wongan Hills, which locality Mr. Milligan gives as
the northern limit of this species. I can confirm his remarks
that further north of the Wongan Hills his east and west limits
of many species will not apply, as Glycyphila albifrons and
Acanthiza uropygialis occurred right down to the coast line
at Point Cloates, which is nearly 200 miles further west than
these hills. Mr. Milligan has apparently used the word " eastward "
in mistake for " westward " where he remarks that the Darling
Ranges form " an insuperable barrier to their eastward move-
ments " {i.e., his ultramontane species). A more probable theory
is that the great difference in vegetation (affecting the food
supply) between the east and west sides of the Darling Ranges
makes these hills a natural boundary for many species, as there
is nothing whatever in their formation to prevent birds of feeble
wing power crossing them. Were the vegetation the same on
both sides of these hills there would probably be no difference
in the species of birds occurring east and west of them. In
conclusion, referring to Mr. Milligan's description of the supposed
new Kestrel {Cerchneis unicolor), a glance at a map of this State
will show that it is misleading to speak of Yalgoo as being in
the north-west, as it is only 300 miles north (by east) of Perth
and is hardly even a central district, but naturally belongs more
to the south-west. Kestrels were numerous from the Gascoyne
River to the Ashburton River in the north-west, but although I
am now unable to refer to the collection of skins made by me
in that district, I am very positive that they were all referable
to the common form {C. cejichroidcs), and in my long residence
there no Kestrel was ever observed to attack poultry. Any
information extending the range of the new species will be
extremely interesting.— Thomas Carter. Perth, W.A., 30/7/04.

70 Stray Feathers [i^^i

mu
)ct.

Clarke Island (Bass Strait) Notes. — It is a serious fact, at
least as far as those who make a living by them are concerned,
that the Mutton-Bird {Puffinus tcnnirostris) is getting visibly
scarcer. Last season the catch was far less than usual, and
this year only about half the number have been taken, and
these much under the regular size and weight. The scarcity
may possibly be accounted for by this — namely, in November
and December, when the eggs were hatching, terrific downfalls
of rain occurred, which filled up a great many of the holes with
sand and water. As far as being thin and small, one can only
conjecture that the food supply was not so plentiful as usual.
The principal island (Chappell) has again been leased for grazing
sheep, as it is contended that no damage is done if they are taken
oft" shortly before the laying season. Granted that they are not
so harmful as cattle, still they do not certainly improve matters,
especially as the stock is never oft" to time.

The Cape Barren Goose {Ccreopsis) has laid very early this
year, as some eggs were taken in June, and were then found
to be hard set. Their breeding season is somewhat hard to
define, as one will also get fresh eggs in September. This is in
itself somewhat of a protection to the bird.

The Wild Duck of any species is a vara avis this year, and
one could spend a day amongst the numerous little lakes here
and would then perhaps see only half a dozen.

The Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon {Phaps clcgans), on the con-
trary, is very numerous, it being quite a common sight to see
seven or eight together. Their invariable haunts are under the
wild cherry (Jixocar pus) bushes, where they feed largely on
the old cherry-stones amongst the dead leaves at the foot of
the tree.

Brown Quails {Synoecus australis) are also in force. It is
curious to notice the difterence between the birds that frequent
the uplands and those that prefer the plains. The former will
be large and strong on the wing, while the latter are often so
feeble that they will only fly a few yards, and one can then often
catch them. They are mostly very thin.

The Olive Thickhead {Pachyccphala olivacea), which breeds
largely here, is noticeably numerous, but the difterent species
of Honey-eaters are scarce as yet. These, however, do not make
themselves conspicuous until August and September, lying close
during the winter months.

I have not seen a Black Crow-Shrike iStrcpcra fuUginosa) for
months ; generally these birds are a most constant companion,
frequenting the sea-beach and feeding on the numberless sand-
hoppers that exist in the cast-up sea-weed. — J. D. Maclaine.

21/7/04.

* * *

Remarks on Certain Melithrepti. — About three years ago Mr.
Fred. L. Berney forwarded from Homestead (North Queensland)
a Honey-eater which I could not altogether recognize. He

Vol. IV.

1904

1 Stray Feathers. 7 1

kindly caused other specimens, taken by Mr. J. H. Smedley,
to be forwarded later. Judging by this material (four skins)
there appear grounds for making a new variety, if not sub-
species.

The new bird most resembles Melithreptus Icetior, from which
it differs in its general darker tone of colouring and in the bare
space round the eye being greenish-blue instead of bright yellow
(Gould) or greenish-yellow (Hall- Rogers).* It has been stated
that M . Icetior niay be only a very fine example of M . gularis.
M. gularis is a much heavier species, and otherwise quite
distinct. It has been taken in Victoria, where M. Icetior is
never seen^ and appears to be the mainland form of the still
larger M. validirostris of Tasmania. Mr. A. J. North mentions
that M. Icetior is found in the Gulf district of Northern Queens-
land"]" and in the event of the " Check-List " Committee separating
the Eastern from the Western and interior form I would suggest
the name Melithreptus carpcntariana for the North Queensland
bird. Subjoined is its description : —

Male. — Head, nape, and ear coverts jet black ; band round
the nape of the neck pure white ; upper surface from hind-neck
to upper tail coverts greenish-yellow ; wings dark brown or
fuscous, the feathers narrowly margined with grey or light
brown ; tail dark brown, the feathers more or less margined
with greenish-yellow ; cheeks white ; rest of under surface (in-
cluding under wing coverts) buffy or ashy white, darkest on
throat, and blending into a distinct blackish chin. Bill black ;
tarsi light-coloured or yellowish ; bare space round the eye pale
greenish-blue.

Female. — A little less inferior in colouring and size.

Young. — Upper surface, including the head (excepting the nape
stripe, whitish), has a greyish-brown tinge, with the rump and
upper tail coverts only yellowish ; under surface darker, also
greenish skin round the eye darker than in adults. Bill yellowish
(like the feet) except the point of the upper mandible, which is
blackish.

Dimensions in inches: — Male. — Total length, 5.75 ; culmen,
.5 ; wing, 3.24 ; tail, 2.5 ; tarsus, .75. Female. — Total length,
5.5 ; culmen, .5 ; wing, 3.14 ; tail, 2.4 ; tarsus, .75. Young. —
Total length, 5.0; culmen, .5; wing, 3.05; tail, 2.3; tarsus,
.7. — A. J. Campbell.

Survey Camp Notes, 1903. — 14th July. — Betcherrygahs
{Melopsittacus undidatus), Martins (^Artamus leucogaster), and
Peewees (Grallina picata) breeding on Clermont lagoon.

24th July. — Grey Flycatchers {Myiagra albiscapa) with young ;
Magpies {Gymnorhina tibicen), with nest, chasing all and sundry
(Peak Downs).

1 8th August. — Cotherstone. — Channelbill (Scythrops novcB-

* Etiiu, vol. i., p. loi (1902).

t Proc. Roy. Soc. S.A., vol. xxii., p. 151 (1898).

72 Stray Feathers. ^ [Tsf"oct.

hollandicB) calling at night. Fire-tail Finches very numerous ;
also Quail, especially small Chestnut-throated ones {Turnix
pyrrhothorax) ; large grey Stubble {Coturnix pectoralis), and
Brown (Syncecus aiistralis) scarcer. Eggs and young of small
sort frequently seen.

25th August. — Blue Mountain Parrot {Trichoglossiis novce-
hollaiidice) is nesting.

26th August. — Young Yellow Robins {Eopsaltria magnirostris)
fully fledged ; Fork-tail Jays (Drongo-Shrike) just hatched ;
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos nesting.

28th August. — Caught young Squatter-Pigeon (Gcophaps
scripta). Saw Sparrow (^Accipiter cirrhocephalus) and Brown
Hawks {Hicracidea orientalis) nesting.

29th August. — Caught young Pale-headed Parrakeet {Platy-
cercus pallidiceps). Saw young Betcherrygahs.

^Oth August. — Tits (Yellow-rumped) {Acanthiza chrysorrhoci)
left nest at camp.

1st September. — Black-faced Graucalus {G. niclanops) with
young in nest.

4th to 20th September. — Shepherd's Companion {Rhipidura
tricolor) with nest about 6 feet from cook's fire, not a bit afraid
and not minding smoke. Male and female relieved one another
on nest at intervals. Cook reported that about 1 1 o'clock on
1 2th they made a great commotion, and, surmising that an
egg had hatched, he looked and found it was so. Magpie {Gym-
norhina tihiccn) with nest chased us morning and evening for
about a quarter mile, snapping its bill within a few feet of our
heads.

Clermont. — i6th October. — Wood-Swallows {Artaiiius Icuco-
gastcr) with nest in back yard in Clermont.

1 8th October. — Channelbill (Scyfhrops novce-hollandice) heard
at night.

14th October. — Numbers of Bee-eaters {M crops oriiatus) (about
50) roosting in young Moreton Bay ash, disturbed by storm at
sunset, flew to more rigid perch in a fig-tree.

Retro. — ist November. — Solitary Spine-tailed Swift over Retro,
2 p.m., flying south-east. No others seen.

4th November. — Four red-spotted eggs of small yellow-
breasted, white-throated bird found in beautiful hanging nest.*

6th November. — Four eggs of Black-faced Graucalus {Grau-
calus melanops) — three fresh, one partially incubated.

9th November. — Red-capped Robin (Pctrceca goodcnovi) in
garden. Bower-Birds (Spotted) {Chlaniydera maculaia) taking
young mandarin oranges to bower ; boundary rider reported
finding bower strewn with these and the usual snail shells.

20th December. — Shot two Spotted Bower-Birds devouring
the grapes.

27th December. — Peewees (Grallina) with young in the nest
referred to in July.

* ? White-throated Fly-eater {Gerygone albigularis). — 'E\j<„

Vol. IV.
1904

J Sir ay Feathers. 'i %

Clermont. — 3rd January, 1904. — Bee-eaters feeding four young
ones on my garden fence, Clermont.

Langton. — 8th January. — Quail very numerous on volcanic
downs, especially small chestnut-throated variety. Caught young
ones. — J. B. C. Ford. Clermont (Q.), 1 5/1/04.

From Magazines, &c.

At a meeting of the Linnean Society of N.S. Wales, held 27th
April, 1904 (see Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. xxix., part i,
p. 130) Mr. A. J. North exhibited, amongst other interesting
northern Finches, the rare Munia fiavi pryrnria (Gould) and
Poephila atropygialis (Diggles), recording that he considered
P. nigrotecta (Hartert) is a synonym of the latter species — a con-
clusion previously pointed out in another work.*

^ -j^ ^

Mr. G. a. Keartland is the proud possessor of the only known
clutch (two eggs) of the scarce Guttated Bower-Bird {Chlamydera
guttata). One egg was previously described by Mr. A. J. North.
The description of the second, by the same author, has appeared
in the " Records of the Australian Museum," vol. v., p. 131 (1904),
together with an illustration (plate xvi.) of a nest, the usual
flatfish, twig-built structure characteristic of the genera. The
nest was found during January, 1903, in a native orange tree
(^Capparis), and contained three young.
* * *

Mr. J. C. GOUDIE contributes an agreeable article — " A Summer
in South Gippsland " — to the Victorian Naturalist (August,
1904), wherein he records some of his pleasant reminiscences
of forest-loving birds. On climbing a few feet to look into a
Lyre-Bird's nest he was anticipated by meeting " eye to eye "
a tiger snake gliding out instead of seeing the wonderful Menura.
Mr. Goudie mentions having seen a small company of Ground-
Wrens {Hylacola cautd). This bird has never been previously
recorded so far east, it being a dweller of the Mallee and more
western parts. However, Mr. Goudie hails from the Mallee
himself, and with his good field experience he should be familiar
with both the species named and its congener, H. pyrrhopygia.
« * *

The rediscovery of the Ewing Tit {Acantkiza cwingi), as recorded
at the Hobart Session of the Aust. O.U.,t has raised considerable
interest. According to the Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, vol.
xxix., part i (issued loth August, 1904), p. 58, Mr. A. J. North
exhibited at a meeting of the Society held 30th March, 1904,
skins, nest, and eggs of A. ewingi, together with those of Acan-
thornis magna. The birds, it was stated, were received in the

* Campbell, " Nests and Eggs," p. 496 (1900).
\ E7nu, vol. iii., pp. 159 and 162.

74 From Magazines, &c. |_isf"oct.

flesh by the Trustees of the Australian Museuni two years pre-
viously. With regard to the Ewing Tit, had Mr. North critically
examined the birds sooner, he would, no doubt, have anticipated
the work of the Aust. O.U. at Hobart. Possibly the fact that
he has been in ill-health for a long time, and has had to entrust
much of his work to others, may account for the oversight.

* * *

Bulletin of the Philippine Mtiscum (No. 4, issued 15th May,
1904) contains a comprehensive paper by Mr. Richard C.
M'Gregor on " The Birds of Calayan and Fuga, Babuyan Group."
Mr. M'Gregor, who visited the islands, deals in a scientific
style with a collection of over 1,000 skins, which was made on
Calayan and Fuga, which belong to a group of small islands
due north of Luzon. A few species from Luzon and other
islands are also dealt with in their proper place.

The following species are described as new, viz. : — Turnix
worcestcri , Macropygia phma, Otus ctiyensis, Otus calayensis,
Eudynaiuis f rater, Zosterops fiavissinta, Hyloterpe fallax ;
while 1 5 species are enumerated as new for the Philippines.
The skins of Ttirnix worcesteri and Hyloterpe fallax are figured
in accompanying photo-blocks. Strange to state, the type-
specimen of the former (an adult female) was purchased in the
Manila Market — date, 30th August, 1902.

* * *

The Avieultural Magazine. — The July issue (vol. ii.. No. 9)
lacks the coloured plate which has been such a prominent
feature of this publication of late, but as a well-subscribed-to
fund has been initiated to continue the series it will not be long
before these admirable pictures are continued. (In this con-
nection the question arises, Is the mother-land once more taking
a leaf from the book of her Austral daughter ?) Save the con-
tinuation of the article on Bronze-wing Pigeons (noticed elsewhere)
there is not much to interest Australian readers in the present
issue. Some nest-boxes to encourage the breeding of birds are
photographed, and call to mind some much rougher, and possibly
equally effective, ones seen by the Melbourne members of the
Aust. O.U. who visited Adelaide some two years ago, and had
the opportunity of seeing what members of the Mellor family
were doing for the native birds.

Bird-Lore. — The Herring Gull forms the subject of an illus-
trated article in the May- June number (vol. vi., pp. 86-88).
The writers describe the colonies of these birds on Lake Superior.
Other articles in the magazine deal with " A Tamed Ruffed
Grouse," " A Blue Jay Household," and " Tree-Swallows in a
Bird-Box." In addition to the usual budget of news for
American ornithologists there are two good coloured plates of
members of the Warbler family. Yellow seems the pre-
dominating colour in them all. Dealing with the necessity

^°! J^"1 From Magazines, &c. 75

for accuracy in all observations of bird life, Mrs. Mabel Osgood
Wright (one of the editors of the " Audubon Societies' Section " ),
referring more particularly to " popular " writings on the sub-
ject, says : — " In all nature work, and especially in all investiga-
tions relating to birds and their protection, should the greatest
accuracy be maintained." It is hardly possible to miss the

point of this.

* * *

The Geclong Naturalist.— \]ndQ.r the title " A Record Clutch
of Emu Eggs " this magazine (pp. 25, 26) records an excursion
by Messrs. G. Russell, H. Anderson, and Yuille, during which
(the former records) they found an Emu's nest containing 19
eggs, and also a brood of young Emus feeding with the hen.
" With some difficulty I caught one or two to bring with me to
rear as pets, but they all died within a fortnight." In a subse-
quent paragraph, headed " Emu of Tasmania," the Rev. T. J.
Ewing, F.L.S., &c., is quoted as having listed the Tasmanian
Emu as of the same species as the mainland one {DromcBus novcB-
hollandicB). \ record is given (quoted from Launceston Adver-
tiser, 26/10/37) that importations of these birds had been made
from Australia 70 years ago, and the sentence goes on to say —
" If these birds were prolific (referring to two offered for sale by
Mr. G. Fisher on same date) may be they were the original stock
of most of those domesticated in Tasmania in 1852, when, as
Ronald Gunn states, tame Emus of Australian breed were common

in the island."

* * *

In the May issue of The Avicultural Magazine Mr. E. L.
Bertling, head keeper of the Zoological Society's Gardens, con-
tributes some notes on the nesting habits of the Brush-Turkey
{Catheturus lathami). Up to the time his paper was written
no young had been hatched. The author is surprised
" that many of the eggs do not get broken, considering the
rough treatment they undergo by being stamped upon, as they
are particularly thin-shelled ; " but what has puzzled him most
is the question " How does the male know the exact moment
that the female is about to lay ? for he opens the heap at the
right moment. Is it purely instinct, or an absolute knowledge
of the lapse of time ? " " On the Difficulty of Sexing the Bicheno
Finch " {Stictoptera bichenovii) is the title of a paper by Arthur
G. Butler, Ph.D., who considers that " the true sexual differences "
have yet to be discovered. Writing on a preference shown by
Bower-Birds in captivity for blue, and recording an experiment
he made at the Zoo with pieces of red, pink, and two shades of
blue cloth, Mr. A. E. L. Bertling asks the interesting question —
" Is there any connection between their preference for blue and
the brilliant blue of their eyes, which is a colour seldom found
in birds or mammals except as a sport or in a few domestic
species ? " Has the same preference for blue been observed
amongst birds in a wild state ?

76 From Magazines, &c. \^^^ "^q^^^

Western N.S. Wales in 1859-60. — In the Proceedings of the
Royal Society of Queensland (vol. xviii.), recently to hand, is a
paper read before the society on 17th October, 1903, recording
a trip which the author made from Sydney to what was then
the " Never Never " of New South Wales — somewhere about
Dubbo and Fort Bourke, as it was then known. Until the left
bank of the Barwon River was reached, 20 days after the party
had left Sydney, no bird-life save Budgerygars and Galas had
been noted ; but here reed-beds occurred — " which gave shelter
to innumerable wild-fowl. . . . On the clear water hundreds
of Ducks and other aquatic birds floated lazily. . . . Numbers
of White Cockatoos screamed discordantly at us from the branches
above our heads, and some of the Budgerygars and Galas, which
were so numerous along our track through the dry country,
were there to give us a welcome. Of Crows and Hawks we
saw but few, but pretty Crested Pigeons were not uncommon.
. . the little ' Shepherd's Companions,' called Jerica-jerica
by the blacks, were with us always."

[I was in the neighbourhood of Orange, a village (then) through
which Mr. Norton passed, until 1863, and regret exceedingly
that in the fertile tract surrounding that now prosperous town
he had not time to observe the many birds. We schoolboys
saw far more than he did. — H. K.]

Melanism and Albinism in Birds. — Dr. A. G. Butler, in
continuing a study in the Avicidtural Magazine (June, 1904,
vol. iii., No. 8, p. 242), which was begun in the Proc. Zool. Soc,
pp. 282-287, deals with this most interesting problem. He
had originally contended that there was strong evidence to
show that the first bright colours produced were from blue to
black, and from yellow to white, and that white indicated
delicacy of constitution if acquired by reversion. In a later
number of The Zoologist he contended that " albinism in birds
is due to constitutional weakness," and in the article under notice
he pursues the theme. Melanochroism in old age he is now
convinced is the result of unusual constitutional vigour. The
theory, so often held, that melanism is produced amongst birds
by unsuitable food in captivity he does not favour, but says : —
" If melanism were due to unnatural conditions apart from
vigour of constitution, albinism might also be the result of
artificial conditions apart from delicacy of constitution." Some
of the arguments in support of his contention seem very feasible ;
but, after all, one feels that only the beginning of the problem
has been attacked. Many instances of melanism and albinism
are on record amongst our own birds — specimens of both phases
exist amongst collections — and the matter is one on which so
much further light is needed that it is to be hoped other observers
will devote some time to the study.

'■]

From Magazines, &c. J J

Some " Audubon " Work. — One of the most praiseworthy-
features of the work of the Audubon Societies of U.S.A. is the
constant endeavour they make to keep their aims before the
public. During the last year or so no less than lo "educational
leaflets," one of them (No. 3) in duplicate, and two introductory
pamphlets have been issued. These, though published one by
one in Bird-Lore, are intended for use in schools, and are
admirably adapted for the purpose. In the leaflets every
possible detail of each bird is given, all its known habits as well,
and the reasons why it should be protected. Eight of the
leaflets are from the pen of Mr. W. Dutcher, whose name is
recognized as that of an authority all over the world. One
preparatory leaflet (" Ornithology in Schools ") was written by
Mr. Wilson Tout as a paper for the Nebraska O.U., and the
first leaflet, on the Night-Hawk, is contributed by Mr. F. E. L.
Beal, Economic Ornithologist to the U.S.A. Department of
Agriculture. Most careful investigations have been made as to
the food of each species figured and described, and though the
results are presented in a statistical form, it is one which is
readily " understanded of the many." As Mr. Tout says, " the
small boy is one of the chief offenders," and we here in Aus-
tralasia should recognize the fact, and, in taking precautions
against his inroads, emulate the good example set by our North
American brethren.

The Ibis for July (1904) contains an article "On the Birds
Collected by Mr. Robert Hall, of Melbourne, on the Banks of
the Lena River between Gigalowa and its Mouth," by Ernst
Hartert, Ph.D., F.Z.S., with an introduction and field notes
by Robert Hall, C.M.Z.S. Eighty-two species are catalogued,
and three interesting nesting-places, in situ, from photographs,
are given, but unfortunately the block depicting the nest of
Ember iza aureola has been placed upside down.

In his preface Dr. Hartert states that " the collection made by
Mr. Hall on the Lena is of great interest, as our knowledge of
the details of distribution of birds in Siberia is very limited. It
is interesting to note the forms of the Upper Lena differ in some
cases from those of the lower portion of the river. Near Giga-
lowa forms inhabiting the Baikal district were found breeding,
while the specimens from further north are referable to the North
Siberian sub-species.

" The journey having been rapidly made, and the collec-
tions having been entirely formed along the river, Mr. Hall
can only have obtained specimens of a portion of the birds
that inhabit that district of Eastern Siberia, and this is hardly
suf^cient to give us an idea of the avifauna, except so far as it
is exhibited in summer on the river bank. The skins are mostly
much worn and badly prepared, so that some difficulty often pre-
sents itself in making out the sub-species in question. Never-

78 From Magazines, Src. risf'oct

theless the collection increases our knowledge of Siberian orni-
thology considerably, and we are much indebted to Mr. Hall for
his energetic enterprise in making it."

* * » •

In the "Records of the Australian Museum," vol. v., p. 125
(1904), Mr. A. J. North describes a new Thickhead — Pachy-
cephala howensis — from Lord Howe Island, which is closely allied
to P . giitturalis of Australia. Mr. North also refers to a variety
found in South Australia which he believes to be intermediate
between P. gutturalis and P. occidentalis, and for which he
proposes the name P . meriodinalis. The new variety is like
the Western bird — P. occidentalis — " but has the basal portion
of the tail feathers of a slightly darker grey and the blackish-
brown apical band darker and broader."

Is not this another case of hair-splitting as to nomenclature ?
Such widely different environments as those of the Western
Australian Thickhead referred to and those of such a much
more eastern and much more isolated species as the one recorded
from Lord Howe Island — an ocean-surrounded habitat — are pro-
bably more than sufficient to account for greater differences in
the plumage of any given species than those described. When
an intermediate species is acknowledged, as by Mr. North in
this case, are not the probabilities that this question should be
answered in the affirmative all the greater ? Differences in
closely allied species (see Mr. A. W. Milligan's paper in this issue,
page 48) are " not always constant or apparent," and there seems
no doubt that mature and immature birds have been classed
as different species. Mr. Milligan records " many variations in
the colour of P . occidentalis, which have been more or less relied
upon as distinguishing characteristics in allied members of the
genus." Hence arises another question which must be considered
— Are the specimens newly named a fair average of, say, a whole
year's collection (which would include every phase of plumage)
or are they (possibly it only) some which have been obtained
during only one month in the year ? It is questionable whether
plumage phases have had due attention paid to them by collectors
of Australian birds, and again more manifest that a great deal
of revision on the part of the " Check-List " Committee of the
Aust. O.U. will be required.

* * *

The Straw-necked Ibis {Carphibis spniicollis). — A curious
example of the economy of nature has been given in the Western
District of late years, in connection with the grub pest. A small
yellowish grub, about three-quarters of an inch long, began to
play havoc with the pastures, revelling in the richer soils. This
grub burrows just beneath the surface of the soil, and cuts off
the stems of the grass, which then, of course, dry up, and are
blown away. The grubs begin work in the early autumn, and
keep on until the winter rains kill them off. Two years ago

Vol. IV.
1904

From Magazines y &c. 7 9

the autumn was a very dry one, and little rain fell until June.
The grubs did a lot of damage ; but they were hardly at work
before large flocks of the well-known Straw-necked Ibis came
along, from the north, and commenced a strong attack on them.
As the autumn wore on, the ffocks increased both in number
and size, until, in a single paddock, there would be some thousands
of the birds at work. As the Ibis is a big bird, he consumes a
huge quantity of grubs, and he seems to feed pretty well all day.
At that time, driving anywhere along the roads through the
grub-infested districts, huge flocks of Ibises could be seen covering
two or three acres at a time — one solid regiment of birds, all
diligently plunging their long bills into the soft earth. At sun-
down they furnished a very pretty spectacle as they flew, in
immense flocks, up into the timbered country, where they roosted.
The writer one evening counted seven huge flocks in the air
at once. Although big and rather ungainly birds, the Ibises
can fly splendidly, and when they get up from their feeding-
grounds they rise several hundred feet into the air before they
set out for their destination. They fly in long — and usually
double — strings, shaped like a V, with the point in the direction
they are flying. But the flocks are so huge and unwieldy that
it is rarely that the V formation is properly kept. Sometimes
there is an undulating single string stretching out for hundreds
of yards. At first the grazier welcomed the Ibis, and guarded
him almost as jealously as the ancient Egyptians used to protect
their Sacred Ibis. But it was found that the birds tore the
ground about so much searching for the grubs that it was
doubtful whether the cure was not as bad as the disease. Last
year the grubs were not so bad, and the rains came early, with
the result that very few Ibises arrived, although there are still
a few grubs about. Whether by some instinct the Ibises have got
to know that there is nothing much for them down here, or
whether, owing to better seasons, they have now good feeding
grounds further north, is an open question. — " F.R.," The

AustralasicDi, 6/8/04.

* * *

The Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon. — Mr. D. Seth-Smith,
F.Z.S., in notes on the habits in captivity of some speci-
mens of these birds {Aviadtural Magazine, May, 1904)
gives what he calls " the miserable history of, possibly, the
first young Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon hatched in England."
Three birds were procured in January last, and placed in a
warmed aviary. " High up in this aviary were some large
bundles of brushwood, securely fastened to the walls and roof,
and on these the Bronze-wings commenced to build a nest in
earnest within two or three days of their arrival from a London
dealer's shop. x'\ll three seemed to be building the nest together
at first." One cock seeming the more favoured bird, the other
was removed. " Nest-building now went on in earnest, the
hen remaining aloft while the cock fetched twig after twig. I

8o From Magazines, &c. [isf'o'ct.

noticed in this case a habit that I have before observed with
some other doves — namely that, when building, the cock generally
alights with a piece of twig on the back of the hen, the object
being doubtless to avoid disarranging the nest. Having settled
on her back he bends his head over hers, and she takes the twig
and arranges it in its place while he descends for another." Ten
days after their arrival the first egg of Phaps elegants was laid,
the second next day, and on 9th February one young bird was
hatched. On 22nd February, when the young bird was getting
well fledged, the parents appeared anxious to nest again, and
next day started another nest, still feeding the young bird. On
2nd March two eggs were in new nest, birds sitting. Next day
the young one was on the ground " in a very bad way, and
evidently starved." It died on 4th March. The second brood
was only a partial success, and whilst they were still unable
to feed themselves the parents were building hard at another
nest, and the young birds were found with their crops empty.
Three photo-prints of the nests are given. Continuing his
remarks on P. clegans in the next issue of the above-named
magazine (pp. 263-266, vol. ii., No. 9, July, 1904) the author
records a successful hatching, and makes some remarks which
are worth noting. On 3rd June " two remarkably strong birds
left the nest, strong fiiers," and the parent birds had another
nest and were sitting well. " The nesting habits of P. elegans
seem to be just the same as those of P . chalcoptera ; the male
appears to select the site for the nest, and having found what
he considers a suitable site invites his mate to inspect it by his
oft-repeated ' Hoop, hoop, hoop.' " Details of the structure of
the nest are given, as well as of some curious habits of the birds
whilst building. But what ought perhaps to more seriously
engage the attention of Australian ornithologists is the following
passage : — " It is extremely strange that so excellent an observer
as Gould, who must have come across many of these birds, should
state that ' the sexes differ so little in their plumage that dissection
is requisite to distinguish them,' for not only is it perfectly easy
to distinguish the sex of the adults at a glance, but the young
when in the nest are distinguishable by the brighter and deeper
tints of the young male." Has Mr. Seth-Smith realized the
advantages he had over Gould ? The latter saw them only in the
wild state, when impossible to handle.

* * *

The Auk. — In vol. x;xi.. No. 3, pp. 322-333, Mr. P. A. Taverner
faces a difficult problem under the title " A Discussion on the
Origin of Migration." He asks " Why should a bird leave a
warm land of plenty to journey to a country but half recovered
from the frozen embraces of an arctic climate ? " Proceeding to
mention a few of the many theories that have been put forward
on the subject, he cites" the most important and the most gener-
ally received." Starting with one which supposes " that the
northern nesting stations are safer than the tropical ones," Mr.

Vol. IV.
1904

J From Magazines, &c.

Taverner goes on, by what may be roughly called destructive
analysis, to the Darwinian theory that the movement is due to
" a natural desire of the individuals to disperse during the breeding
season," which opinion he advances some logical arguments
against. One fact deserving attention is thus stated : — " On the
whole I doubt very much whether the bird population in the
breeding season is any less per given unit of territory than at
other times." Dr. A. R. Wallace's idea, propounded in " Island
Life," that " the migrants are in search of soft-bodied insects
suitable for nestlings," is next considered. In answer to this it is
contended — " It may be objected that each species requires its
own special food at the critical nesting period, which may not be
obtainable everywhere. Now, if there is any truth in our present
evolutionary theory, great changes in food habits must have
occurred in all our species. . . . Food habits could never
have originated migrations, though migration has had a great
influence in modifying food habits. It must be remembered also
that migration is a dangerous undertaking to a race.
The one cause that seems adequate is ... . the suf^ciency
of the food supply." As to Mr. J. A. Allen's suggestion that
" migration is the only manner in which a zoological vacuum in
a country whose life-supporting capacity is a regularly fluctuating
quantity can be filled by non-hibernating animals," Mr. Taverner
considers it correct, but points out that there are arguments
against this also. The conclusion arrived at is : — " These migra-
tions, in their earlier stages, must have originated in a conscious
seeking for food. In course of time the movement became
habitual, and generations of repetition rendered it instinctive."
This forces us back on the theory of habit — one of those put
forward by Captain Hutton and Mr. J. Drummond, in a work
noticed elsewhere — and after all hardly solves the problem why
such extremely long and rapid flights as are taken by some species
during migration — from Siberia to New Zealand, perhaps beyond
— should occur, or the virtually entire desertion by certain species
of one hemisphere to proceed to another at a definite time ; and
hardly answers the question why birds go hence to arctic regions.
It would be more applicable to such facts as are recorded in two
other papers in the same issue of The Auk on migration, in one
of which the effect of altitude is discussed by Mr. Wells W. Cooke,
and in the other (" Spring Bird Migrations of 1903 ") it is admitted
in the first sentence that " bird migration is a very elusive sub-
ject." The author of the latter paper draws attention to the
" general relationship between weather and bird waves," but
admits that " it is not true that birds travel only with the aid of
favouring winds ; nor when the weather gets warm enough to
be grateful to their sensibilities." In a subsequent paper (p. 347)
Mr. J. A. Allen, one of the editors, has some remarks worth the
consideration of our nomenclature committee. The present
number also includes the 13th supplement to the " A.O.U.
Check-List."

[..■

Emu
Oct

Review.

" THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND."

[" The Animals of New Zealand : an Account of the Colony's Air-breathing
Vertebrates." By Captain Hutton, F.R.S., President of the New Zealand Institute,
and James Drummond. Christchurch, Wellington, and Dunedin, N.Z. , Melbourne
and London : Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. 1904. Pp. i.-xiv. , 15-381.]

New Zealand has a fauna and flora so peculiarly its own that
every attempt to solve the problems connected with either branch
of the study must be welcomed by naturalists, ornithologists more
particularly. Linked by many ties to the flora of the North-
Eastern i\ustralian coast and to New Guinea, by geological
evidence as well, and sundered only (in the New Guinea portion
of the belt to which it evidently belonged) by a narrow deep
belt of sea (according to Dr. A. R. Wallace's physical map) from
the Malay Archipelago, the question arises how it was that,
as the authors of the present volume point out, up to the end
of the Cretaceous age and well into the Tertiary, " so far as animal
life was concerned, it [New Zealand] was the abomination of
desolation, as the forests contained no birds, and the fern-lands
no lizards except the Tuatara." Australia has evidences of many
of the older forms of life — animals that have passed from northern
zones (where most are now extinct) to this continent, that these
bore probably so different a shape to what it does to-day. Did
bird and animal life pass down to the mainland first, and, if it
did, how account for the fact that so few forms passed over " the
bridge " that linked it then to our mainland ? Moa and our
own form of Dinornis being closely allied, how does it come that
the winged birds that did pass have so far differentiated from
Australian species of the same families ? And if some tentative
speculations in Captain Hutton's paper on Cormorants have
any validity (vide The Emu, vol. iii., part i, pp. 1-8), and the
theoretical opinion that these particular forms came by way of
South x^merica — and intermediate islands — is not the problem
more involved than ever ? That N.Z. birds should have more
sombre clothing is hardly so remarkable, though Messrs. Hutton
and Drummond specially call attention to it. There seems an
unwritten law, in Austral-Malaysian regions, that the further
north you go the brighter the birds' plumage becomes — and
vice versa.

Of course, in the present handsomely got up work, one which
is rather a popularly scientific than a scientifically popular book,
the authors have not attempted to go into such abstruse questions.
They have in preference confined themselves to matters which,
while helpful to the naturalist, will be of value and great interest
to the general public.

The section relating to Aves forms the greater portion of the
book, and, as it is well illustrated and printed, may be cordially
recommended to all. About 190 species, which is probably a
full list of N.Z. birds (many Australian also), are described,

wanderers being omitted. Each bird has a fairly full description,
both vernacular and scientific names being given. Scientists
will probably regret the absence of references, but these would
have unduly cumbered the book so far as general readers are
concerned. At the conclusion of the birds there is a delightfully
written article — " Vocal Characteristics of Some N.Z. Birds,"
taken from " Out in the Open," by the late Mr. T. H. Potts.

As to what happened during the Tertiary age the authors
say : —

" Towards the end of the age in the world's history called the Cretaceous
period New Zealand was a small group of islands with a very scanty fauna
and flora ; but later on, very early in the Tertiary era, it was gradually
elevated until it attained almost continental dimensions, stretching away
north through New Caledonia and Fiji, and joining the mainland at New
Guinea.

" Birds had only lately come into existence in the Northern Hemisphere,
but, now that New Zealand was joined to the mainland, they^'moved south
and colonized it. . . . Towards the close of the Eocene [period the
northern land sank. New Zealand was then isolated, and it has remained
so ever since. Yet it was visited every year by migratory birds from the
North."

And so in the last respect it is to the present day. Among
the most interesting portions of the book are those dealing,, with
migration, confined not alone to the introduction, but occurring
in the observations on the different species throughout the
work.

Notes and Notices.

Papers Received.— From Dr. E. A. D'Ombrain, " Field Notes
on Some Birds of the Casterton District (Victoria)." From Mr.
Fred. Lawson, " A Visit to Rottnest Island " and " A Glance at
the Birds of the Moore River (W.A.)"

* * *

Dr. a. B. Meyer, writing from Dresden, 8/8/04, desires to
say, in reference to the doubt raised in the last issue of The Emu
(p. 25) as to the eggs of the Kangaroo Island Emu being in that
Museum, the " copyist " had made a mistake in the list by in-
advertently writing Dromceus aier for D. novcE-hollandice when
copying the names from the " British Museum Catalogue."

* * *

Members are again reminded that the fourth annual session
of the Aust. O.U. will this year be held in Sydney on 28th, 29th
and 30th November. The Council will endeavour, on the occasion
of its first reunion in such an (Australian) historical centre to
make the meetings a thorough success. Sydney is connected
with days of Australian ornithology which are too apt to be for-
gotten— those when Cook and his collectors first landed (now
recalled so vividly by the discovery of one of his cairns on the
Queensland coast) and when many earlier observers whose names

84 Notes and Notices. [^^^

Emu
Oct.

have either been forgotten or grown famous sought out its
treasures in bird-life. Gould, Swainson, and Lewin, Masters,
Ramsay, Bennett, and other less known names — what sugges-
tions they offer as the " bird " possibilities of a strip of coast
whose flora is unique, whose bird-life has features, consequently,
of its own. These facts alone should be an inspiration for a
great gathering of present-day bird-lovers. In addition to the
usual formal business, including the consideration of a " Check-
List " of Australian birds, some most interesting papers will be
read at the meetings, and Mr. Robert Hall, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S.,
hopes to deliver a highly popular lecture on his trip through
Japan, Manchuria, and Siberia (regions possessing much interest
at the present juncture). A " camp-out " should prove one of
the most enjoyable features of the gathering.

A National Park. — Scarcely any other civilized country
under the face of the sun has done less in the way of preserving
its original fauna and flora than Australia. We are really behind
the English-speaking and even the Japanese race. New South
Wales and New Zealand are the only honourable exceptions
amongst our group. In the former a tolerable area of suitable
land has been vested in trustees ; in New Zealand several islands
around the coast are so strictly protected that no one without a
special " permit " may even land. Professor Baldwin Spencer
and several others have continued an agitation which was com-
menced some years ago by the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria,
to have Wilson's Promontory — an area of land virtually of no
use for anything else — proclaimed a permanent National Park,
where the few species that remain of what in a few years will
be obsolete (though really typical) may have room to exist for a
few years longer. Had our politicians the real interests of the
country at heart they would act as statesmen in America have
done — have areas permanently reserved for bird and animal
protection — not make a pretence of doing anything, as in the case
of the Victorian " National Park " at Wilson's Promontory, or
some others that could be named. One of the most suitable areas
in Victoria was " proclaimed " in the same way as Wilson's Prom-
ontory has been up to the present. Result — an invasion of
lo-acre men, who cut down, burned, destroyed all shelter for
our fauna and avifauna — went even beyond legitimate rights
to do so. A further result — they cannot even make a living
from their " blocks," hence want to pass on. Now the same
nonsensical process is wanted to be applied to Wilson's Promon-
tory. Why not take a lesson from the Yellowstone reserve in
America, or even from those nearer home, the two National
Parks in New South Wales? In both the latter cases fertile
country has been conceded. In Victoria the "selecting demon"
has his eye on every inch of land — worthless or not — which may
be burned and " cleared."

Thk Emu, Vol. IV.

PLATE IX.

fc/)

■^

Jhe £mu

®ffmal ©rijait ^f the ^xistvalasiau ©rnithologists' Enion.

Bir«as of a feather."

Vol. IV.]

5TH JANUARY, 1905.

[Part 3.

Australasian Ornithologists* Union.

SYDNEY SESSION.

The fourth annual session of the A.O.U., which was held at
Sydney, although not attended well numerically, was a decided
success. The following members took part in the meetings : —
From South xA-Ustralia — Mr. and Mrs. John Mellor and Mr.
J. W. Mellor ; from Tasmania — Colonel W. V. Legge ; from
Victoria — Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Coles and Messrs. D. Le Souef,
A. J. Campbell, R. Hall, and A. Mattingley ; from New South
Wales — Messrs. S. Le Souef, E. H. Lane, P. Peir, and E. N.
M'Kie.

On Monday, 28th November, members met in session at
8 p.m., in the Royal Society's House, Elizabeth-street, Colonel
Legge being in the chair. Apologies for their unavoidable
absence were read from Captain F. W. Hutton (president). Dr.
Geo. Hurst (vice-president), and others. A very encouraging
annual report and balance-sheet (published elsewhere) were read
by the hon. secretary and hon. treasurer respectively. An
interesting report on " Observations by Lighthouse-keepers " was
also presented.

A very able address by the president, Captain F. W. Hutton,
F.R.S., on the " Geographical Origin and Subsequent Develop-
ment of the Land Birds of New Zealand," was then read by
the hon. secretary.

It was resolved to alter rule 4 so as to increase the number
of members of Council from four to six.

Many new members* were elected, also the following office-
bearers : — President — Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. (N.Z.) ;
vice-presidents — Drs. C. S. Ryan (V.), G. Hurst (N.S.W.); hon.
treasurer — Mr. F. P. Godfrey (V.) ; hon. secretary — Mr. A.
Mattingley (V.) ; hon. editors of The Emu — Messrs. A. J. Camp-

* New Members :- r/<r/^;-/rt. — Miss Howard, Miss E. J. Turner, Mr. F, P.
Godfrey, Capt. Anderson, Admiral Bridges, George Robertson and Co. Ld. New
Zealand.— '&. M. Moorhouse, E. Stead, T. Iredale, H.Guthrie-Smith. Western
Australia. — E. A. Hassell. Great Britain, — H. Gronvold, W. H. Workman.
Philippine Islands. — R. C. McGregor.

86 Australasian Oniitkologists Union. [=;th"jan

bell and H. Kendall ; members of Council — Colonel W. V. Legge,
F.Z.S. (T.), Messrs. R. Hall, F.L.S. (V.), D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S. (V.),
F. R. Godfrey, J. W. Mellor (S.A.), and A. W. Milligan (W.A.)

Prof. Robert Ridgvvay and Dr. J. A. Allen, both of U.S.A.,
and Count Salvador! (Italy) were elected honorary members.

It was decided that members desiring to show their connection
with the Union when writing articles, &c., may use the abbrevia-
tion "A.O.U.," or for foreign correspondence "A.O.U. (Aust.),"
after their names.

Mr. J. W. Mellor (of Adelaide) brought up the subject of the
proposed introduction of " chicken cholera," or some " patent "
disease, suggested by the Pasteur Institute for the destruction
of the rabbit pest. In view of the dire effect upon native fauna,
especially indigenous birds, such an introduction may cause,
the Union placed on record its protest against the introduction
into Australia of any " secret " or unknown disease, until its
properties have been fully investigated by competent authori-
ties.

It was resolved to hold the next annual meeting in Adelaide
during October, 1905.

Second D.w.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, 29th, members attending the
session were entertained at the Zoological Gardens by the
Director, Mr. S. Le Souef. A very pleasant and profitable hour
or two were spent, and the visitors complimented the Director
on the good appearance of the stock and gardens.

In the evening, at the Queen's Hall, Pitt-street, Mr. Robert
Hall gave his popular lecture, entitled " A Naturalist's Tour
through Japan, Corea, Manchuria, and Siberia," illustrated by
over 100 photo. -views, which was much appreciated by those
privileged to hear it. Mr. J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Director of
the Botanical Gardens, occupied the chair, and at the conclusion
of the lecture pronounced it to be one of the most unique and
interesting he had ever listened to.

Third Day.

In the morning, Wednesday, 30th, members finished their
inspection of the bird-exhibits at the Australian Museum. The
inspection was commenced on the afternoon of the first day,
under the personal attention of the Curator, Mr. R. Etheridge,
jun., F.G.S., who conducted the visitors from the taxidermists'
workroom, where skins were being prepared, up to the splendid
group collection of birds in the galleries. By the way a superb
collection of Australasian ethnological specimens was critically
examined. This day the bird skins, especially many interesting
type-specimens, occupied the attention of the visitors, who by
the direction of the Curator were placed under the sympathetic
care of the veteran ornithologist and collector, Mr. J. A. Thorpe.
The visitors were so pleased, as well as profited, by what they
saw that a written vote of thanks was sent to the Curator.

Vol. IV

1905

1 Australasian Ornithologists' Union. q'J

The session was concluded in the evening at the Royal Society's
Hall, Colonel Legge again occupying the chair. Papers by
Colonel Legge on " A List of Birds Observed at the Great Lake
(Tas.) " and a " Note on the Owlet Nightjar," and by Mr. A. G.
Campbell on " Some Comparisons of Victorian and Tasmanian
Birds " were read and keenly discussed.

Mr. A. J. Campbell exhibited excellent photographs of two
old-time ornithologists — namely, John Gould, author of " The
Birds of Australia," and (on behalf of Dr. Paul Leverkuhn,
Bulgaria) Dr. George Bennett, author of " Gatherings of a
Naturalist in Australia."

The session closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the acting-
president, Col. Legge.

Outing to the National Park.

On the morning of Thursday, ist December, some of the
members visited the National Park of New South Wales for a
few days, to study particularly its avifauna. The visitors were
greatly enamoured with the beauty of the Park, which was
made agreeably accessible to them by the courtesy of Mr. Frank
Farnell, J. P., Chairman of the Trustees, who personally con-
ducted the visitors by motor launch or by buggy to the places
of greatest interest. On one occasion Mr. P. Peir, of Sydney,
took charge of visiting members, conducting them to a little-
known valley in the Park, where a number of birds were
observed. [A more elaborate account of the outing to the
National Park, by Mr. J. W. Mellor, together with a list of
birds identified, will appear in the next issue of The Emu.~\

Fourth Annual Report (1903-4).

During the past year steady progress has been made in the
affairs of the /\.O.U. The number of members is increasing,
and the circulation of The Emu, the Union's official journal,
extending.

Printed forms asking for information regarding the migration
of birds have been sent to all the lighthouses in the Common-
wealth, as well as those of New Zealand, and other countries
north of Australia, and valuable information on this interesting
subject is gradually being collected, but it will need some years
of observations before positive statements can be made as to
" fly-lines," &c.

Information is also being obtained regarding the nesting
season of wildfowl, and efTorts will be made to get the Game
Laws of the various States more uniform, especially between
New South Wales and Victoria, as at present they are at variance
on several important points, to the detriment of the birds.

Some islands off Wilson's Promontory, Victoria, have been
reserved as a breeding-place for sea birds, and we are glad that
the Promontory will probably be permanently reserved as a
National Park and breeding-place for our fast disappearing fauna.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE

For Vear ending

£, s.

d.

;f

s.

d.

39 3

6

Balance from last year.

Receipts by Hoii. Treasurer.

66

i6

o

Subscript:

ions, year current, 1904.

13

I

o

,,

in advance, 1905.

9

3

o

4 2

0 2

1 lO

2 4

8
o

o

o

in arrears, 1903.

Coloured Figure Fund.

Members' donations.
Further receipts, Melbourne

lecture.
Refund on Coloured Plate,

Maluri.
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99 I

2

PublisJicrs' Receipts.

7

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Sales

Em.

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Binding members' copies.

1-7 T •?

o

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discount.

150 18 o

AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION,

SOth June, 1904.

£.

S.

d.

£

s.

d.

£

s.

d.

Illustrations — Blocks, 17 Half-tone 10

6

9

„ ), I Zinco 0

9

4

Stuffing Acanthornis

. ■ 0

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0

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.. 0

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1 1

4

I

Coloured Plate —

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.. 8

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. . 0

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.. 3

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79

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3

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5

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93

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r for Emu

0

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Forwarding Books for Audit to Adelaide and return
Bank Charges —

2 Half-yearly Balances

I Cheque Book

Exchange, Foreign Bills

Poundage and Exchange
Balance at Bank^

Coloured Figure Fund

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A.G.B.

Examined and found correct.

M. Symonds Clark,

336

4
0

18
9

6

return

2

0 10

0

0 5
0 3

0

3

0
0

18
7

3

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6 3
6 2

II

5

^'>.

6

A

150 18 o

12/8/04.'^ " Edwin Ashby,

The above Balance of £\7. 6s. 4d. now at Bank.
A. H. E. Mattingley, Hon. Treasurer' A. O.U.
30/6/04.

Auditors.

90

Australasian OrnitJiolosists' Union.

[Emu
5th Jan.

STATEMENT OF COLOURED

Cr.

LECTURE

By Sale of Tickets at Hobart
„ Debit Balance

£ s. d.

240
I 5 o

^3

9

0

10

17

8

4

2

8

I

10

0

3

0

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2

0

£\g

12

4

By Balance from last Statement
,, Members' donations
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BALANCE-SHEET AT

Assets.

Emu journals in stock . .

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6 3 II
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Ai H. E. Mattingley, Hon. Treasurer A.O.U.
30/6/04.

Vol. IV."

1905 .

Australasian Ornithologists' Union.

91

FIGURE FUND, YEAR 1903-4.

ACCOUNT.

Dr.

To Hire Royal Society's Rooms
„ Lanternist . .
,, Advertising . .
„ Printing Bills . .

£

s.

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I

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9

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^390

To Lithographers — Plate of Honey-eaters

„ Postage and Exchange

„ Artist — Drawing

„ Debit balance, Hobart Lecture

„ Balance in hand

8 15 o

0 5 5
330

1 5 o
6 3 II

END OF JUNE, 1904.

£\<^ 12 4

Subscriptions in advance —
Received in year 1903

1904
Outstanding accounts . .
Surplus

Liabilities.

I

13

4

62

10
I
o

5

^80 16 4

Exatnined and found correct.

FRED. P^ GODFREY, j ^^^^^^ Auditors.
Edwd. D Ombrain, j

Q2 Australasian Ornithologists'' Union. T j|f"|",,

Through the representation of the Union the question of the
existence of the Royal Company's Islands has been carefully
looked into by the Admiralty in London. It has come to the
conclusion that they do not exist, and they have consequently
been expunged from the Admiralty chart.

We are glad that a South African Ornithologists' Union has
been successfully inaugurated, and congratulations were sent
from the Council of the A.O.U. wishing the new Union a suc-
cessful and useful career.

A Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club has also been started,
with its headquarters at Hobart, and it is expected that it will
i nduce some systematic work among the birds of that
island.

Since the last annual meeting, Mr. Robert Hall, F.L.S., has
safely returned after a successful but arduous journey through
Japan, Corea, Manchuria, and Siberia. The collection of bird-
skins he and Mr. R. E. Trebilcock made, principally on the Lena
River, were acquired by the Hon. Walter Rothschild for his
Tring Museum, and the interesting ornithological results were
published in The Ibis by Mr. E. Hartert.

Messrs. R. H. Porter and Co. have been appointed the London
agents for the Union's publications.

One coloured plate was issued with vol. iii. of The Emu, and
another is well advanced for vol. iv. The Council would be
glad if members could send in in January any notes they may
have made up to the end of the year, especially on the migration
of birds in their district.

D. Le Souef, Hon. Sec.

Report on the Lighthouse Schedules.

Since the last annual meeting notices have been printed and
sent to the lighthouses in New South Wales, Victoria, South
Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, New
Guinea, British New Guinea, Fiji, British North Borneo, Hong
Kong, New Caledonia, Java, and Japan, and the Marine Depart-
ments of the various States have lent their aid in kindly for-
warding the reports, and also have returned several replies, as
well as specimens. Many of the lighthouses of the latter
countries are looked after by natives, and it is probable that
very little information will be obtained from them, but possibly
a few specimens may be obtained. So far, Goose Island, in Bass
Strait, seems to be visited by far the larger number of migratory
birds — as the light-housekeeper expressed it, " in swarms at
certain times " — and there being no vegetation on the island
worth mentioning, the birds are more easily observed. We
expect to have a detailed list of birds passing there in September
later on.

Cape Wickham, King Island, is also largely visited, generally
in April and May, evidently by birds on their way north.

Kent Group also has visitors, principally Swifts, Cuckoo-

Vol. IV.
1905

1 Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 93

Shrikes, and Wood-Swallows, arriving from north end of
September and passing north again end of June.

At present the information obtained from the few notices
sent in is merely fragmentary, but enough has come to hand to
show that in the course of a few years much valuable information
on the migration of our birds will be secured, especially from
lighthouses situated on islands. The Administrator of British
New Guinea has kindly undertaken to preserve specimens of
such birds that he considers migratory for their identification,
together with dates as to their arrival, &c.

D. Le Souef, Hon. Sec.

Presidential Address — Geographical Origin and Sub'
sequent Development of the Land Birds of New

By Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S.

I WISH to thank the members of the Australasian Ornithologists'
Union for the honour they have done me in electing me president
for the year. I regret much that distance and professional duties
have prevented me from attending any of the meetings, but I
have read the papers in The Emu with great satisfaction, and
congratulate the editors on the able manner in which they have
conducted the publication.

It was with great reluctance that I accepted the position, for
I felt myself quite unequal to follow so eminent an ornithologist
as Colonel Legge ; and as I have no special knowledge of any
section of Australian ornithology, I must, I am afraid, in this
address, limit myself to a few remarks on the land birds of New
Zealand.

The avifauna of New Zealand, although very limited in numbers,
contains so many peculiar species that it has always been an
object of much interest to ornithologists. Of the non-migratory
land birds there are only 104 species, belonging to 60 genera
and to 24 different families. Of these, 83 species (80 per cent.)
and 28 genera (47 per cent.) are found nowhere else ; while
there are no less than five families (Turnagridce , Xcnicidce,
NesfoyidcB, StringopidcE, and ApterygidcE) which exclusively
belong to New Zealand. This shows long isolation from the
rest of the world, during which time the species which origin-
ally came to New Zealand have become much modified, while
in some cases their relatives, left behind in the old habitations,
are now extinct. Now, where were these ancient habitations?

By Dr. P. L. Sclater and Dr. A. R. Wallace New Zealand is
considered to be a subdivision of the Australian region. But
nearly one-half the genera of land birds show no connection with
Australia ; and the only birds which show a distinctly /Aus-
tralian facies are Petroeca, Pseudogerygone, Certhiparus, the

94 HUTTON, Land Birds of Nezv Zealand. [sth'Tan

three genera of Meliphagidee, and perhaps Cyanorham phus .
There is, therefore, much to be said in favour of the opinion
held by Professor Huxley and Professor A. Newton, that New
Zealand should be kept as a distinct region.
' There is a large body of evidence which goes to prove that
New Zealand was at some former time, probably in the early
Eocene period, connected by a land ridge with New Caledonia
and New Guinea, and there is ample evidence to show that the
Tasman Sea, which separates New Zealand from Australia, has
been in existence during the whole of the Tertiary era. It
seems evident that the ancestors of many of the New Zealand
birds must have come along this land ridge from New Guinea.
For example, Creadion and Hctcralocha are Starlings allied to
Calornis of India, the Malay Archipelago, New Guinea, and
Northern Australia. Turnagra is a much modified Thrush,
and its nearest ally is Myiophoncus of India and Java.
Sphencsacus is found only in southern Africa, with a near ally
in Madagascar. The Xenicida are related to the Pittas of
India, the Malay Archipelago, New Guinea, and Northern
Australia. Hcmiphaga has its nearest relatives in Carpophaga
of India, the Malay Archipelago, Polynesia, Northern Australia,
and New Caledonia. Nestor is a remarkable form, connecting
the Macaws of America with the true Parrots of Africa. But,
as it formerly occurred in Norfolk Island, we may assume that
it came to New Zealand from the north. Ocydromus also has
a close ally in Lord Howe Island ; and Hynienola'nius is related
to Salvadorina of the Moluccas. And we have further evidence
in the fact that at the present day our migratory land and shore
birds still come to us from the north. Also Glaucopsis, Urody-
namis, and Aptcryx show no connection with the birds of
Australia.

On the other hand we know that Zostcrops cceridesccus crossed
over the Tasman Sea in 1856, for it appeared first in the centre
of New Zealand, and worked its way up north. And it is highly
probable that HcBmatopiis unicolor, Spatula rhy}ichotis, and the
ancestors of Casarca variegata did the same at some earlier
period, for they are not found in New Guinea nor in New
Caledonia.

But in many cases it is dif^cult to decide from which direction
the first birds came. For there are two possible explanations
of the cause of the connection between Australian and New
Zealand birds. The ancestors of the present species may either
have crossed the Tasman Sea, and so have come to New Zealand
from the west ; or the relationship may be due to two branches
of emigrants from New Guinea southwards, one of which passed
into Australia, the other into New Zealand. In this category
we have Petroeca, Miro, P s end ogery gone, Rhipidura, Ccrthi-
parus, Mohiia, Pogonornis, Anthornis, Prosthemadera, Anthus,
Halcyon, Ninox, Sceloglaux, Cyanorhamphiis , Nesierax, Circus,
Coturnix, Hypotcenidia, Porzana, Porphyrio, Anas, Ncttion, and

Vol. IV.
1 90s

"1 HuTTON, Land Birds of New Zealand. 95

Nyroca. Some of these may have 'crossed the Tasman Sea,
but it is more probable that the ancestors of most of them came
to New Zealand from New Caledonia.

Thus we see that there is good reason for thinking that a
migration of land birds into New Zealand from the. north took
place in the Eocene period, for it is highly improbable that New
Zealand was ever again connected with the mainland. In the
Oligocene and Miocene periods New Zealand stood at a lower
level than at present by some 3,000 feet ; but in the older
Pliocene it had a much greater extent, and included the Chatham
and Auckland Islands, which were again separated from New
Zealand in the Newer Pliocene.

Now, if we knew in detail the history of the origin of the land
birds of New Zealand it would enable us to solve several interesting
problems in the development of species. But as that is impossible
we must do the best we can with the imperfect knowledge we
have.

In the first place we learn something about the relative ages
of certain groups ; for all those groups which are fairly well
represented in the fauna — such as the Psittaci, Rollidce,
Ardeidce, LimicolcB, AnafidcB, and Ratitce — must in all pro-
bability be old groups, unless they have crossed the Tasman Sea.
The Passeres are also fairly well represented, and, as they are
mostly forest birds and poor fliers, we may suppose that most
of them came to New Zealand in the Eocene period. But the
ColumbcB, the GallincB, and the Picarice are each represented
by a single species only ; and it is, therefore, presumable that
they have a later origin than the former. Among the Passeres
the absence of Oriolidce, La)iiid(S, Diccsidce, HirundinidcE,
PloceidcB, and others indicates that they are younger groups
than the Sturnidce, Meliphagidce, Muscicapidce, and Pittidce.
But this argument must be used with caution, because there
may be other reasons for the absence of a group of birds from
New Zealand than that it did not exist in the Eocene
period.

Another subject of interest is the relative rate of change in
different species. When we look at things on a large scale we
find some regularity in this connection. For New Zealand (not
including the outlying islands) has 85 species, of which 58, or 68
per cent., are endemic. The Chatham Islands have 25 non-
migratory species, of which 10, or 40 per cent., are endemic ;
while the Auckland Islands have 14 species, of which 7, or 50
per cent., are endemic. So that New Zealand, which has been
separated longer from the mainland than the outlying islands
have been separated from New Zealand, has a larger per-
centage of endemic species. Also, neither the Chatham nor
the Auckland Islands have any peculiar families. The Auckland
Islands have one peculiar genus in Nesonetta ; and the Chatham
Islands have Cabalus and Nesoiimnas, and formerly Diophor-
apteryx and Palceolimnas, all belonging to the Rallidce.

96 HUTTON, Land Birds of New Zealand. [5th Tan

But when we go into details we come across many anomalies.
Petrceca has varied between the two islands, but the South
Island species {P. inacrocephala) is unaltered in the Chatham
Islands and Auckland Islands. SphencBacus has changed in
the South Island, where the two species live together, but 5.
fulvus is alone found on the Snares, while 5. rufcsccns is confined
to the Chatham Islands. Anthornis has changed in the Chat-
ham Islands, but not in the Auckland Islands. On the other
hand, Prosthcmadera has not changed on any of the islands.
Ocydromus ear It remains the only species in the North Island,
but in the South Island it has split up into three or four species.
As might have been expected, no good fliers have representative
species in the two islands of New Zealand, but Anthornis, Anthus,
Cyanorhamphus, Hcmiphaga, and Thinornis are represented by
different species in some of the outlying islands. xAlso some
badly flying species, such as Sphcnceacus, Pseudogcrygone, Rhip-
idura, Acaiithulositta, and Xoiicus, are identical on both islands
of New Zealand. Again, some of the Rails, such as Hypotcenidia
philippinensis and Porzana tabuensis, remain unchanged; while
others, such as Ocydromus and the lately extinct Rails of the
Chatham Islands, have varied greatly. Once more, while
SphencBacus, Petrceca, Pscudogerygone, and Rhipidura have
undergone only specific changes since their ancestors came to
New Zealand, the New Zealand members of the ParidcB and the
Meliphagidce have changed considerably. But I have said
enough to show that not only do different species vary at difterent
rates, but that the same species varies at difterent rates in
different places.

New Zealand is well placed for studying the eftects of environ-
ment on variation, but it lands us only in puzzles. Certainly
there is greater variety of conditions in the South than in the
North Island, and the South Island has a larger number of
species ; but I find it impossible to connect the difference of
conditions with any of the specific changes. Why, for instance,
should the species of Ocydromus be darker in the neighbourhood
of the West Coast sounds, and lighter in subalpine ranges ?
Why should Sphcnceacus get paler in the south ? Or what has
the fawn-coloured breast of Xenicus gilviventris to do with living
among rocks ? But to take a special example. The green
Parrakeets belonging to the genus Cyanorhaniphus , although not
confined to New Zealand, have their headquarters there. Now
there are three species living together in the South Island, two
on Antipodes, two on the Auckland Islands, and one each on the
Chatham Islands and Macquarie Island. The Auckland Island
birds have not varied in plumage from the original stock in New
Zealand, although they must have been isolated for a long time,
as the crest of the sternum has undergone a reduction in size.
C. unicolor ^ on the Antipodes, has varied considerably, and C.
forhesi and C. erythrotis but slightly ; and it is impossible to
connect these changes with the surrounding physical conditions.

^'°'- '^- I HUTTON, Land Birds of New Zealand. Q?

1905 J ' ' '' /

But if we cannot claim these variations as due to the action of
environment, neither can we claim them for natural selection.
We can understand how natural selection may have strengthened
the bill in Turnagra and elongated it in Heteralocha, but I can
see no reason for believing that it has had a hand in bringing
about any of the specific changes that I have mentioned. For
natural selection can only affect changes that are useful to the
animal, and it is impossible to think that the changes in plumage,
or in the colour of the wattles, can have had any selective value.
Most of the cases are evidently connected in some way with
isolation, but there are exceptions as in Sphcnczacus, Rhipidura,
Ocydromus, and Apteryx.

The case of Ocydromus is especially interesting. Here we find
0. earli in the North Island and in Stewart Island, but not
in the South Island, which lies between them. Or if it occurs
in the South Island it is so rare that I have never seen a specimen
from there. In the South Island we have four other species,
each of which is fairly well confined to a distinct habitat. O.
australis inhabits the low lands all round the island ; O. hectori
is found on the hills, 0. brachypterus in the West Coast sounds,
and 0. finschi in the neighbourhood of Lake Te Anau. O. aus-
tralis is also found in Stewart Island, where it appears to inter-
breed with O. earli, if we may judge from the number of
individuals that come from there which are intermediate in
plumage between the two. And although hybrids are very rare
in a natural state, I am inclined to think that O. finschi is a
hybrid between 0. brachypterus and 0. australis.

Now, the only explanation of these phenomena appears to me
to be the supposition that at one time 0. earli spread over all
three islands ; that it remained unaltered in the North Island,
while in the South it gave rise to 0. australis and O. brachypterus
and then disappeared ; 0. hectori being afterwards derived froi^
O. australis. But why these differences should have arisen I
cannot surmise.

Another very interesting case is Cyanorhamphus erythrotis,
which occurs at the Antipodes and at Macquarie Island. It
differs from C. novcB-zealandice by its yellow tint. It is extremely
improbable that the Parrakeets of Macquarie Island came from
Antipodes, or vice versa. The islands are further apart than
either of them is from New Zealand ; and both Campbell and
Auckland Islands, on which the species is not found, lie close
to the track. On the other hand C. novce-zealandicB is often
affected by xanthochroism, due to the imperfection of the
feathers, and is therefore tinted more or less with yellow. I
have seen a specimen from Southland of a bright canary-yellow.
From Antipodes Island I have also seen a yellow variety of C.
erythrotis, which on being kept in confinement turned green,
owing, no doubt, to the large supply of food inducing the green-
making superstructure of the feathers to be developed.

Now it seems probable that C. erythrotis originated inde-

9 8 HUTTON, Land Birds of New Zealand. [5th"jan

pendently in Antipodes and Macquarie Islands, from different
flocks of C. }iovce-zcalandice from New Zealand. It is probable
that the small number of individuals on each of the islands
allowed the xanthochroism to obtain a permanent influence,
which it could not do in New Zealand, on account of the large
number of birds and the greater facilities for intercrossing. Thus
we have a new species produced by the isolation of a few indivi-
duals. And we also have a case of the double origin of the same
species. This last cannot occur often ; but it shows that the
great difterences between the climates and vegetation of Antipodes
and Macquarie Islands failed to produce any eftect.

Another curious case is the interbreeding of two species of
Fantails. That they are distinct species is proved by the fact
that Rhipidura fiabcllifera is common in both islands, while
R. fuliginosa is confined to the South Island. In the latter
place an individual of one species is commonly seen courting one
of the other species. But the most remarkable circumstance is
that the young in these union nests never show their origin by
their plumage. They are either R. fiabeUifera or else R. fuli-
ginosa. Sometimes all are R. fiabeUifera, sometimes they are
mixed ; but R. fiabeUifera is generally the more numerous in
a nest.

Again, New Zealand ornithologists have special advantages for
studying the eftects of the absence of enemies on development,
the most important of which is degeneration in the powers of
flight. Indeed, no part of the world ofters so many examples of
degeneration in the wings of birds as does New Zealand. There
are strong-flying birds, such as Nesierax novce-zealandioi , Nestor
notabilis, the Parrakeets, and Ducks ; as well as a chain of more
or less degenerate birds, passing through ProstJiemadera, Turn-
agra, Glaucopis, HeteralocJia, and Spfienaacus to Stringops,
Ocydronius, Nesonetta, and Apteryx, which cannot fly at all.
And in these non-flying birds there are some with large wings,
like Stringops ; others with small wings, such as Ocydronius and
Apteryx ; and none at all in the extinct DinornitJiidce, in most
of which even the shoulder-girdle had disappeared.

In some of the outlying islands the Snipes, Larks, and Parra-
keets are but feeble flyers, although their relations in New
Zealand fly well. So general an eftect upon birds of so many
difterent kinds must be due to some general cause, and we find
it in the baneful effects of the want of competition.

The fact that on some of the outlying islands we find several
birds with feebler powers of flight than their congeners in New
Zealand, although they have no more enemies in New Zealand
than on the islands, is very remarkable. We may accept natural
selection as the cause of loss of powers of flight when that loss
has been useful to the species ; as in the case of Parrakeets and
Larks on small islands much exposed to gales of wind, as the
Antipodes. But this will not apply to the Ducks of the Auckland
Islands, or to any of the birds on the main islands of New Zealand.

Vol. IV.
1905

] HUTTON, Lcuid Birds of New Zealand. Qg

Who can doubt but that Stringops and Ocydrotnus would be
benefited by being able to fly ?

I find that the pectoral muscles of Prosthemadcra have re-
mained unaltered in the Auckland Islands, while in the Parrakeets
and the Larks they have been reduced. But the Auckland
Islands are large and with plenty of shelter, and it is not easy
to suppose that Parrakeets and Larks would be blown to sea
from them, and it is quite impossible that the flightless Duck
{Nesonettd) should be in any such danger ; so that as the ex-
planation of natural selection here fails us we may doubt its
effects in other cases.

Also in New Zealand we cannot trace the action of natural
selection in bringing about the degeneration of the wings in so
many birds, some of which inhabit the forests and others the
open country. It is in the absence of competition, combined
with an abundant supply of food, and the consequent disuse of
the wings, that we must look for the cause of the loss of their
powers of flight.

An examination of the birds shows that in most cases the crest
of the sternum diminishes first, then the wings are reduced in
size — first the feathers, then the bones — until at last they dis-
appear altogether. That is, the muscles get weak before they
get smaller, while the wings remain large long after the muscles
are too small to employ them efflciently. (See Appendix.)

How to account for this has always been a dif^cult\'. It has
been shown that panmixia, although allowing detrimental
variations to exist, which could not be the case where competi-
tion is keen, cannot be a cause of progressive degeneration, for
it has no directive power. It has also been suggested that
natural selection, acting through the law of economic nutrition
in periods of scarcity of food, would tend to the degeneration
of an organ which was of little or no use. The useless organ,
it is thought, would not require nourishment and would dwindle
away, to the advantage of the rest of the animal. But for this
explanation to hold good it has to be established that periods of
semi-starvation actually occur, and that when they occur the
useless organs suffer more than the other parts of the body.
Let us see if the birds of New Zealand can throw any light on
this matter.

First as to the periods of semi-starvation. — Among the Passerine
birds there are in New Zealand four genera of Muscicapidce
{Petroeca, Miro, Pseudogerygone, and Rhipidurd), and three of
XenicidcB {Acaiithidositta, Xenicus, and Traversia), which live
chiefly on insects, and it seems almost certain that these birds
must be pushed very hard for a living every winter. There
are also nine genera of seed or grub eaters, and these can have
no periodical famine time ; for their food is abundant all through
the year. But none of the insect-eating birds show deteriorated
powers of flight, while among the others we have Heteralocha,
which seldom attempts to fly; Turnagra, which cannot rise into

lOO YLVTJO^, Land Birds of New Zealand. [5th^"jan

the air without making several preliminary hops ; as well as
Glaucopis, Sphcnceacus, and Prostheniadera, all of which are
feeble fiyers. x'\lso there is no reason for supposing that Ocy-
dromus, Strtngops, and Apteryx have any periodical periods of
semi-starvation, for all of them are as fat in the winter as in the
summer. Again, the Parrakeets of Antipodes and Auckland
Islands are as large as and as well fed as those of New Zealand,
although they have degenerated in the power of flight. And,
lastly, as the Moas were vegetable feeders, their food must, in a
climate like that of New Zealand, have been independent of the
season of the year. Consequently the hypothesis of the necessity
for periods of semi-starvation breaks down. Indeed, if a bird
was perishing from starvation wings would be useful to enable
it to search more ground and would be preserved by natural
selection.

After this it seems hardly necessary to inquire whether the
supposed law of compensation of growth is a true one. What
evidence is there for supposing that in a time of semi-starvation
an organ which is not used suffers more than one which is used ?
I cannot find that anyone has, as yet, tried to produce any
evidence for or against it ; it is always taken for granted. The
only person who has discussed the subject at all is, so far as I
know, the late Mr. Herbert Spencer. In the second edition of
his " Principles of Biology " (vol. i., p. 328), he says that " it is a
general law of nutrition that when there is a deficiency of food
the non-essential organs suffer more than the essential ones,
and the unlikeness of proportion hence arising constitute
unlikeness of structure." But I cannot find that he gives any
evidence for this so-called general law, and his only attempt to
establish it is by a misleading analogy between a human society
and a living organism ; the labour and capital of the one being
supposed to represent the food supply of the other. This is an
argument which will not satisfy any scientific man.

The thyroid and thymus glands are considered to be of little
or no use to the adult man. Do these glands suffer more than
other organs in periods of semi-starvation ? And in those tribes,
like the Australian blacks, which inhabit desert regions, and
are constantly suffering from want of food, have the glands
with them degenerated more than in other tribes ? This would
be a test case, but I have never heard that the facts support the
hypothesis.

The evidence from New Zealand is, therefore, to the effect
that degeneration is not primarily due to natural selection either
in the ordinary way or through a supposed law of compensation
of growth. Nor can it be due to panmixia. The only explana-
tion left is that degeneration is due to disuse-inheritance ; and
as these variations clearly come under the head of acquired
characters, we seem to have in degradation a proof that these
characters may sometimes be transmitted from one generation
to another. Disuse we know to be a true cause of degeneration

Vol. IV.
1905

1 H\]TTOH, Land Birds of New Zealand. lOI

in the individual — it is the only true cause that we know ; and
everyone will allow that it is the starting point, or originating
cause, of degeneration. The difficulty is to explain how varia-
tions, in an organ, caused by disuse, become progressive. That
is, how do they accumulate generation after generation until at
last the whole organ disappears ? Or in other words, how does
disuse give rise to disuse-inheritance ?

It has been suggested that disuse-inheritance is due to a reverse
process of development — a going back through the process on
which an organ was developed. This is, however, no explana-
tion, even if it were a true account of the facts. But in the case
of the wings of birds it is evidently incorrect ; for if true the
fingers of the wing would become free before the wing was much
reduced ; whereas we see in the Kiwi, and other struthious
birds, that the fingers are lost without becoming free.

Let us try for another explanation. We know that habits
are sometimes inherited. This must mean that some alterations
in the structure of the brain in one individual are transmitted
to its descendants. These inherited habits, when developed by
natural selection, become instincts. This is the only possible
explanation of the origin of instincts which are so strongly
developed in birds. These instincts are due to unconscious
memory, just as are the habits from which they spring. But
it is difficult, if not impossible, to draw a line between acknow-
ledged instincts and the development of the various tissues of
the body. If breathing is an instinct, so also is the beating of
the heart, so also is reproduction. And we cannot deny that
the process of growth is also directed by instinct. For if re-
production is an instinct, then the production of two individuals
from one is due to instinct ; but if the two cells adhere together
instead of forming two distinct individuals, we must allow that
this is also an instinct. In fact, all cell division must be due
to instinct — that is, to the autonomous working of unconscious
memory. This is Professor Hering's theory of heredity being
due to unconscious memory. The growth of one cell on another
recalls some action that took place when two similar cells were
similarly placed in a former generation. He says: — " When the
first germ divided it bequeathed its properties to its descendants ;
the immediate descendants added new properties, and every
new germ reproduced to a great extent the modi operandi of
its ancestors. Each generation endows its germ with some small
property which has been acquired during life, and this is added
to the total legacy of the race. Thus every living being of the
present day is the product of the unconscious memory of
organized matter."

Now this theory also gives us an explanation of disuse-
inheritance. For when an organ is not used the unconscious
memories of the part are weakened, and in the next generation
the organ is reproduced in a more feeble condition, until at last
it is not reproduced at all, the memory of the operation having

I02

HUTTON, Land Birds of New Zealand.

[Emu
Slh Jai

been lost. The process is exactly the same as the gradual loss
of an instinct from disuse; both are due to forgetfulness.*

I have thus tried — very imperfectly, I am afraid — to give you
some idea of the nature of the problems to which a study of
the avifauna of New Zealand leads, and I think that you will
all agree that, however imperfectly I may have explained them,
they are of no little interest to biologists in general and to
ornithologists in particular.

APPENDIX.
Measurements in Millimetres.

Sternum.

bii

.5
•s
'0

3 .

rtji

'0

.d

•£(£

—

X

X

T3

be
c

M

►J

£^

p

^

J

Prosthcmadcra novce-zealaiidia;

34-0

145

10.5

156

47

New Zealand

*' "

29.5

12.5

9.0

131

35

„

M '^

33-0

15.0

II. 0

139

42

Auckland Islands

11 "

32.0

14.5

107

i5i

43

51

AntJiornis inclatiura

21.0

9.0

7.0

86

28

New Zealand

—

—

—

85

26

,,

" !!

21.0

1 0.0

7-5

97

31

Auckland Isl.'mds

Anthus novce-zcalandicE

25.0

12.0

7-5

95

25

New Zealand

22.0

I I.O

8.0

—

—

Chatham Islands

Anthus aiicklnndicus

23.0

II. 0 80

91

24

Auckland Islands

A nthus steindaclieri

200

? ; 6.0

83

24

Antipodes Island

Cyanorhaniplius novce-zeala7tdice

37-0

15.0

130

124

18

New Zealand

,,

36.0

16.0

13.0

134

20

11

CyaiiorJiamplius aucklaiidicus . . .

3f>-5

16.0

12.7

130

20

Auckland Islands

11 11

390

16.0

13.0

134

20

,,

Cyanorhimplnis crytlirotis

38.0

18.5

12.0

132

23

Antipodes Island

11

36.0

17.0

1 1.0

127

18

.,

CyanorJiainphus auriccps

32.5

15.0

1 1.0

106

18

New Zealand

1

28.5

130

lO.O

116

21

n

Cyanorhdinphns forbcsi

—

126

18

Chatham Islands

Cvanorhamphus uiiicolor

38.5

18.0

12.0

145

28

Antipodes Island

Nesonctia aucklandica

50.0

24.0

lO.O

141

'32

Auckland Islands

Merganser australis ...

71.0

390

12.0

184

36

Auckland Islands

A Se.^-Bird on Land. — I saw a White-faced Storm-Petrel blown
on shore by a gale of wind at Wellington, New Zealand, and
it rolled over and over along a street until picked up, completely
exhausted. Also saw a light brown Sandpiper, but could not
distinguish the species, about half-way between Sydney and
Wellington, N.Z.— Lance Le Souef. Perth, W.A.

* See Nature, 18th February, 1904, p. 366.

Vol. IV,
1905

I Legge, Birds Observed at the Great Lake. lOT.

List of Birds Observed at the Great Lake in the
Month of March.

By Col. W. V. Legge, F.Z.S., &c.

{Read before the A.O.U., Sydney Session, ^otk November, 1904.)
The Great Lake is the largest sheet of water in Tasmania, and
likewise the most extensive for its elevation above sea level in
Australasia. It is 28,000 acres in extent, and its altitude is
3,330 feet. The so-called Lake Plateau of Tasmania, when
viewed in connection with its elevation above the sea, the large
number of lakes, great and small, which are embedded among
its hill ranges, and the noble tier of lofty basaltic buttresses which
uphold it on the north-western side, can well be looked upon as
one of the most remarkable features of the land area of Aus-
tralasia. Its chief point of interest, particularly for the angler,
is the lake under consideration. The usual route to this fisher-
man's paradise is by way of Bothwell, from the south ; and by
it the south-eastern side of the Plateau is negotiated by a
gradually ascending road from the lowlands. Of late years,
however, a much shorter and from a scenic point of view a
better track has been opened up via the pretty township of
Deloraine, from which a drive of 10 miles takes one to the foot
of the lofty outlier of the Great Western Mountains known as
Quamby Bluff. From thence a horse and cart track ascends
the gorge of the Liffey River and traverses a fine belt of beech
forest, in which a few species of hill birds, such as Sericornis
humilis,- Acanthiza ewingi, Geocichla macrorhyncha, Collyrio-
cincla rectirostris, and Sirepcra fuliginosa, are to be noticed. The
track, after winding upwards for nine miles, passes out to the
summit of the range, reaching at the Pine Lake an altitude of
3,700 feet or thereabouts, and descends through the hills of
the Plateau to the shores of the Great Lake, the distance being
23! miles only from Deloraine. Until this new northern road
was opened, mainly by the enterprise of some of the residents
of this township, the upper end of the lake was practically
unknown to all except the hill shepherds of the midland pas-
toralists, and thus, ornithologically, was a terra incognita. At
the present time there are two fine sailing boats, owned by
gentlemen of Deloraine, stationed at the north end, and until
recently there was a police station contiguous to the tourists'
hut, erected by the Improvement Association of Deloraine.
The policeman's cottage has twice furnished the writer with
comfortable quarters, and was at the time tenanted by a most
observant and intelligent trooper, Mr. F. Archer, who was in
every way a field naturalist, with a keen taste for botany and
natural history. The assistance of such an ally in a remote
spot such as this, was, as may be imagined, most useful, and
much valuable information was gleaned from him during my
trips.

The contour of the Great Lake is most singular, the character-

I04 IS-GG^, Birds Observed at the Great Lake. rsth'jan

istic features of the coast line being a series of peninsulas, locally
called " necks," which run east and west from both shores and
thus divide the lake into three main portions, which are called
by the shepherds and police in the district North Lake and
South Lake as regards those points of the compass, while the
middle division was named East Bay for definition purposes in
my paper on the " Physiography of the Great Lake " read at
the Science Congress at Dunedin last January.

The entire lake is remarkably shallow, and its floor extra-
ordinarily level, the variation in the depth of the water, after
the downward slope from the shore is passed, being not more
than I to 2 feet in several miles, and in some localities only 6
inches to a foot in a mile. In many parts this level floor is
covered with a remarkable weed of an erect, spinous, and bunchy
character, which is torn up by the violent undertow of the waves
in a gale of wind in such quantities that the rock-terraced shores
are covered with it as marine coasts are with seaweed. How
favourable to the habits of diving birds such conditions, when
spreading over many thousands of acres of water, are can well
be imagined.

The following enumeration deals chiefly with shore and water
birds, as most of the time available for observation was passed
on the lake during the course of sounding operations taken last
year : —

POKPHYRIO MELANONOTUS. Blue Coot.

One example of this species was seen on Lake Elizabeth, which no
doubt indicated the existence in concealment of not a few of its com-
panions. This Coot probably frequents the Shannon Lagoon, near the
outlet from the lake of the river of that name.

Chakadrius DOMINICUS. Lesser Golden Plover.

This species frequents the so-called Great Lake Plain, which is a rolling
down more than a plain, and comprises a good many thousand acres of
grass and low bush land, much of which is stony and affords a favourable
haunt for this Asiatic visitor. Only a few birds were met with in March,
1902, during a two days' " reconnoitring " trip made to the lake by my
son and myself. The Golden Plover is found more numerously on the
open grassy country in the Midlands than elsewhere, and is nowhere
a common bird in the island.

OCHTHODROMUS BICINCTUS. Double-banded Dottrel.

A flock of these birds were met with on the Great Lake Plain in March,
1902. They were in the immature stage, and much shier than usual.
It was a surprise to find them at such an elevation.

Gallinago AUSTRALIS. Snipe.

One exainple of our Snipe was seen in Swan Bay, at the south of the
lake, under singular conditions. It was feeding among the drift " lake
weed " on the stony shore, and when roused by the approach of our boat
flew a distance of about 150 yards and again settled on the weed like any
ordinary Limicoline species. The Snipe is very abvmdant further east-
ward, among the lesser lakes, particularly round Lake Sorell and Woods

Vol. IV.
1905

Legge, Birds Observed at the Great Lake. 105

Lake, and no doubt affects the oozy marshes at the north and wet end of
the lake, although we came across none during our shore excursions while
gauging the inflow of the northern streams.

HydrOPROGNE CASPIA. Caspian Tern.

A single example of this cosmopolitan species was seen on the North
Lake, March, 1902. It was flying at a considerable height above the
water, with its bill pointed downwards in the normal manner. All over
the old world where this fine bird is to be met with it is recognizable a
long way ofT by its large bill pointed downwards during flight. It is to
be seen all round the Tasmanian coasts, unsociable as usual, either alone
or in pairs.

Sterna (sp.)

Two Terns were seen on the North Lake in March, 1902, but, though
examined through the binoculars, could not be satisfactorily identified.
They were probably 5. frontalis.

Larus nov.e-hollandle. -Silver Gull.

This is perhaps the most interesting bird on the Great Lake, inasmuch
as it may safely be regarded as to some extent a resident species, and
therefore actually a freshivater bird. It used to breed on Garden Island,
a small rocky islet, for the most part covered with vegetation. A number
of old nests were seen in March, 1902, situated in the niches and hollows
of the greenstone which crops up at the west end of the isle. In 1903
(March) no new nests were observed, and the inference is that since the
erection of the police station and tourists' hut close by on the adjoining
shore the birds have deserted this spot and probably now breed on Pine
or Kangaroo Island. The stupid and senseless practice of firing the islands
in the lake has destroyed the interesting alpine vegetation which formerly
beautified them, and has no doubt tended to drive away the birds that
bred there. At the time the writer visited the lake in both years these
little Gulls were very plentiful, but, contrary to their normal habit on
the sea coasts, were very shy. They were never observed to come within
gunshot from the boat, the only time when any were seen close being one
afternoon in a gale of wind, when a little party came "coasting"' along
the shore after the usual manner of Gulls in heavy weather. Mr. Archer
informs me that when the lake is frozen over in its northern parts
L. novce-hollandicB disappears in part, but that individuals frequent the
partly frozen tributary creeks and so soon as a thaw sets in reappear on
the lake. No doubt a good many of those normally frequenting the lake
retire further down to the south, to the Ouse and Shannon Rivers, during
frost, and some may go to neighbouring lakes (Arthur and Woods), which
are at a considerably lower elevation.

PhaLACROCORAX CARBO. Cormorant.

It was satisfactory to find this troublesome species rare. Only one or
two individuals were observed, and their usual habitat must be the south
end — Swan's Bay and adjacent waters, where the trout are abundant.
Of late years there has been considerably less destruction of fish by this
Cormorant ; and it is almost certain that in the early nineties, when
they were so destructive, their numbers were caused by an irruption
of the species — that is, a heavy migration from Victoria. Rewards were
then offered by the Fishery Commissioners, and large numbers destroyed
as a consequence. Efforts have been made to discover the breeding

1 o6 Legge, Birds Observed at the Great Lake. [sth'Tan

haunts of the Black Cormorant, with a view to destruction of their eggs
and young, but they have been attended with but little success. It is
known, however, now that the species breeds on the Lake Plateau at
no great distance from the Great Lake. About 12 miles to the north-
west of the upper end of the lake lies an upper step of the Plateau which,
with grades and indentations into the hills to the westward, contains
probably some 25,000 or more acres. The surface of this area is thickly
strewn with one of the most remarkable groups of tarns and lakes in
Australia, when we consider the great elevation — 3,500 feet above the sea.
Among these sheets of water, known vaguely as the " Nineteen Lagoons,"
and some of which are said to vary remarkably in level though contiguous
to one another, are one or two largish lakes. To the westward of one of
these lies Lake Ada — a small lake with a greenstone cliff at some dis-
tance from the shore, and on which the Black Cormorant has been
found nesting in numbers. Some years ago a man, Mr. Archer informed
me, swam out to the rock and destroyed numbers of eggs and young ;
and as the birds are said to resort to this spot every year, an occasional
visit, so as not to make the birds forsake the site, might be of much use.

PODICIPES CRISTATUS. Tippet Grebe.

The Great Lake is the headquarters of this species in Tasmania. It
is no doubt found all over the Plateau, in the smaller lakes and tarns,
but in less numbers than here. It is a shy bird on this lake at all times,
not allowing the near approach of a boat. After the manner of its smaller
congeners, it not infrequently resorts to flight, and gets along just above
the surface of the water at a good pace. The Grebes, like the Musk-
Duck, reappear quickly on the lake after the spring thaw. In the
lowlands it is by no means a common bird, but is met with unexpectedly
in places where its presence is a surprise. It is occasionally seen in the
littoral region of the east of Tasmania, affecting the tidal waters — for
example, at George's Bay ; and it is doubtless to be found in the coves
and inlets of Macquaric Harbour. The extraordinary geographical
distribution of this Grebe has probably come about owing to a wandering
propensity which has forced it to move south-eastwards through Asia
and by way of the Malay Archipelago to Australia. Its presence in
New Zealand may be due to its having crossed Tasman's Sea — a not
impossible feat ; or, on the other hand, if Wallace's theory of a land
connection between Eastern Australia and the former New Zealand area
be the correct one, the solution of the problem is not difficult.

PODICIPES NESTOR. Hoary-hcaded Grebe.

Thiscuriously-plumaged species inhabits this " paradise " of diving birds.
I noticed several in a flock on North Lake, whore the lake floor averages
from 10 to 15 feet and is much covered with that curious weed, Isoetes
lacustris. This Grebe is not so numerous as the next in the lowland
waters of Tasmania, but it is met with occasionally in tidal estuaries, as
well as on the smooth " reaches " of many rivers, especially those fringed
with the common reed {Arundo). Mr. Campbell gives instances of this
Grebe being found at sea. Some day, perhaps, it may make its way from
North-Western Australia to some of the Austro-Malayan islands, and so
extend its geographical distribution.

PODICIPES NOV.i-HOLLANDL^. Black-throated Grebe.

The Dabchick is found sparingly on the lake. It is universally dis-
tributed throughout Tasmania, being met with in a variety of situations
— rivers, lagoons, lakes, tarns, tidal waters — anywhere, in fact, where it

^°'- I^-l Is^CGY., Birds Observed at the Great Lake. MO?

1905 J ' /

can procure its food and find the requisite shelter for its nest. In the
rivers of the eastern and open country portion of the island its favourite
resorts are the still, reed-fringed- reaches which are their chief charac-
teristic, and likewise the shallow brackish lagoons of the East Coast.

Chenopis atrata. Black Swan.

The Swan used to be numerous, more particularly at the south end,
where the shallow, weedy waters, now the haunt of fishermen, used to
furnish it with good feeding grounds. Its breeding grounds have
evidently been invaded, with the inevitable result. Small parties of
three to six were seen, chiefly in East Bay and South Lake ; and
a mob of about 17, containing one pure white bird, was observed on
Lake Elizabeth, mentioned above, which is situated in Howell's
Neck, half a mile from the shore of the Great Lake, and discharges
into it, by a normally dry watercourse, in flood time. This small lake
has reedy shores like an Indian jheel, and in all probability serves as a
breeding haunt. Swans are now scarce in all the smaller bays and brackish
lagoons on the east and north coasts. These haunts having been made
untenable by settlement, the birds resort now in great numbers to Moulting
Lagoon, north of Swansea. Here a big battue always takes place on the
opening day of the season, and this shoot apparently does not tend to
reduce the numbers, which may remain undiminished so long as the eggs
and nests are not interfered with.
Anserin.e (species — Anseranas sernipalmata ?).

Several examples of a Goose, impossible to correctly identify, were seen
on the northern bays of the lake. It was always shy, passing the boat
at a long distance, either singly or in pairs, its conspicuous whitish, dark-
patched plumage recalling that of the Pied Goose, were it not that it did
not seem to contain enough black in it. The wariness of the wildfowl
on the Great Lake is much against their scientific identification. It can
only be ascribed, one would think, to the fact that boats are quite a
modern innovation on the lake, and its winged denizens have not yet
got accustomed to them. The flight of this Goose was low, near the
water, and not particularly swift — just a steady, straight-on-cnd progress,
typical of most members of the sub-family.
Anas SUPERCILIOSA. Black Duck.

Large numbers of this fine bird frequent the lake, which is no doubt
used as a diurnal resort and resting place by hundreds of birds from the
maze of small lakes lying to the north-west and mentioned below. The
Wild Duck, like its allies noticed here, has become very shy on the lake,
scared, no doubt, by the sailing boats, a few of which have been installed
recently on the upper and more remote portions of Tasmania's " alpine
sea." Very little shooting takes place, the majority of the strangers
visiting the locality being either tourists or keen anglers. The where-
abouts of most Ducks on the lake, except the diving species, depends on
the weather, as the surface of its shallow waters is so quickly and
violently disturbed by the heavy prevalent westerly and north-westerly
winds that the wildfowl resort to certain sheltered spots and bays,
except when the lake is calm. The breeding season is no doubt late, as
quite a young bird was procured in the second week in March.

Nettion castaneum. Teal.

Small flocks of Teal consort with the Black Duck, and on one occasion
during a strong nor'-wester a large mob was met with in one of the
" Dvick-shelters."

Io8 \j^QG^, Birds Observed at the Great Lake. [sth'Tan.

Spatula rhynchotis. Shoveller.

This swift-flying Duck was occasionally seen, usually singly or in pairs.
It is nowhere a numerous species in Tasmania.

Stictonetta N.BVOSA. Freckled Duck.

This Duck, scarce in this State, and a comparatively recent addition
to our list of birds, was met with on two occasions in North Lake, once
in company with some Blue-billed Ducks. Its first recorded occurrence in
Tasmania was in the eighties, when a specimen was killed in the north of
the island. It may have inhabited the Great Lake prior to that date, as
no observations have until now been made there.

Nyroca AUSTRALIS. White-eyed Duck.

This vigorous Duck is found in large numbers on the lake. When
assembled for shelter as a component part of a large mob of Ducks it was
noticed usually in distinct parties by itself, as evidenced by the white-
marked wings when taking flight. It is one of the commonest Ducks
at Bridgewater, on the Derwent, in the season, and falls more to the
fowler's gun for the Hobart market than the Black Duck. It is quite
probable that the eggs taken by Gould did belong to this species, as it
breeds on the Derwent, about Bridgewater (Mr. Malcolm Harrison).

ErISM.\TURA AUSTRALIS. Blue-billed Duck.

This remarkable Duck, which is extremely rare in the lowlands, and
first recorded from Tasmania in 1892, was not uncommon on the Great
Lake, which can be looked upon as its stronghold in this country. It
was fond of taking shelter in little bays of the islands, sometimes sitting
on the rocks, from which it would launch itself with a clumsy flight for
a short distance, and then proceed further into the open water by diving.
Five or six were seen in a flock occasionally. This Duck frequented the
upper and more shallow portions of the lake, where its floor is much
covered with the above-mentioned " lake weed " {Isoetes lacustris), and
which seems to furnish a sub-aqueous feeding ground, and form the
raison d'etre of so many diving birds on the Great Lake.

BiziURA LOBATA, Gould. Musk-Duck.

From the last sentence in the above paragraph it would be inferred
that the Musk-Duck is abundant on the Great Lake, which is the
fact. Singly or in small flocks of three to five and seven, it may be
seen in all the more shallow and sheltered waters of the lake, the
more abundant in the northern portions. Mr. Archer tells me that
so soon as the lake freezes over Musk-Ducks and Grebes disappear, and
reappear immediately after the ice breaks up and the floes drift souths
There are two hypotheses — either (i) these birds quit the lake for water
at less elevation in the group to the eastward, to reach which high land has
to be traversed ; or (2) a portion of the great division — South Lake —
does not freeze over, and becomes during periods of frost the resort of the
fugitive waterfowl. As regards the species under consideration, it is
satisfactory to see so many instances given in Mr. Campbell's work dealing
with the questions of non-flight and flight. Additional evidence might be
forthcoming from the numerous observers of this Duck, all of which tend
to prove that only vmder certain, and as yet perhaps undetermined, physio-
logical conditions the bird's instinct prompts it to fly. These may occur
in connection with a propensity for nocturnal wandering, and also be
forced upon it by the effect on its habitat of climatic changes. It is quite
certain that, after the manner of many diving birds, no amount of

^°905^ J Legge, Birds Observed at the Great Lake. \ og

frightening or shooting will induce it to do more than flap along the
water, when it does not resort to immersing itself to escape pursuit. The
problem gains added interest from the freezing of the Great Lake, par-
ticularly as the smaller lakes in its vicinity to the north and north-west
are frozen over harder than it. The Musk-Duck is to be found on all
the brackish lagoons and inlets and also fresh waters at the back of dunes
along the East Coast, being, of course, less numerous now than formerly
in water near which settlement has occurred.

.? Genus ? species. — An undetermined species, belonging, perhaps, to the
sub-family Erisniaturince, is not uncommon on the shallower parts of
the Great Lake — East Bay and North Lake — where food conditions are
very favourable for diving birds. Its extreme shyness and extraordinary
quickness in diving have probably prevented any specimens from being
as yet procured. Unfortunately our boat nearly always came upon this
bird when we were engaged in sounding operations, and it was consequently
very difficult to get even the quickest glance at it with the binoculars.
On one occasion an example came to the surface not far from the boat,
and gave the opportunity for a hasty view through the " glass " before
firing, with the usual fruitless result attending a shot at an expert
" diver." The bird is somewhat larger than a Black Coot {Fulica), and
seemed to have a pointed bill, high at the base. The plumage is uniform
dark brown or blackish, but the most interesting feature about the species
is its short, stiff, and fan-shaped tail, carried erect and inclined forward
over the back. This characteristic has given the bird the name of
" Cocktail " among the few possessors of boats on the lake, who are the only
folk who have probably ever seen it. It is not unreasonable to assume
that it is possible for a new species to exist on this remote lake, round whose
shores the only permanent inhabitants are the shepherds on the cattle
and sheep runs. The northern divisions, too, were, as already mentioned,
until the past six or eight years almost unknown, no boats being in
existence there ; and diving birds, therefore, frequenting the open water,
would entirely escape discovery.

Some Comparisons of Victorian and Tasmanian

Birds.

By \. G. Campbell, Melbourne.

{Read before the Anst. O.U., Sydney Congress, ^oth November, 1904.)

Tasmanl\ possesses an avifauna of no small interest, inasmuch
as it shows a distinct relation to that of the mainland of south-
eastern x-^ustralia, although a strait of at least 100 miles in
breadth nou^ exists to prevent any connection or interchange
between the two. At the same time are illustrated one or two
general principles which obtain when animals or land birds
are isolated from their parent stock on a smaller and more
restricted area, or when they are forced, by reason of geological
change, to a habitation to the southward or in higher latitude
than that of their original domain.

It is admitted that Tasmania was once joined to Australia ;
and at no very distant period, geologically, after the existing

I lO Campbell, Victorian and Tasmanian Birds. [5th "jan

life forms had almost reached their present high state of evolu-
tion, the gradual separation occurred as a result of the never-
ceasing erosive forces in nature. The islands and rocks, which
now exist across Bass Strait, must be looked upon as the remains
of this land connection, and not as stepping stones by means
of which species have reached their Tasmanian habitat ; for it is
well known that the land forms never willingly cross the sea
line, even though the adjacent islet be distant a few miles only ;
and further, it will be shown that small forms, when they do
exist on these intermediate positions, are actually insular forms
of Tasmania, presenting in a double degree the differences which
the Tasmanian forms themselves present when compared with
those of the mainland, and that they are not in any instance
half-way or connecting links between the north and the south
sides of Bass Strait.

Not the least surprising feature, however, among the Tas-
manian birds is the absence of several species common on the
mainland. In the open field the Magpie has its southern
representative, but the equally typical Laughing Jackass
{Dacelo) of the mainland, on the other hand, has not ; in the
forest the Thickhead has its insular form, but the Tree-creeper
has not ; while in the gully the Ground-Thrush is represented,
but the common Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin is not.

Further, in the Tasmanian gully the Coachwhip-Bird
{Psophodes) and the Lyre-Bird {Menura), so characteristic of
the gully in south-eastern Victoria, are entirely absent. This is
the more striking as much of the vegetation is alike in both
areas. The blue gum {Eucalyptus globulus) of Tasmania is
similar to that found in parts of Victoria ; the manna gum {E.
vifninalis), the peppermint gum {E. amygdalina), the tea-tree
{Lc ptos pcrmuni) , the musk tree {Olearia), the native hazel {Ponia-
derris), the wild currant {Coprosnia), and the tree-fern {Dick-
sonid), all of which help to make up the scrub, small and great,
are similar in both Tasmania and Victoria. When this is so, why
should not all the species found in one area, or at least their
representatives, be present in the other also ?

The development of the Tasmanian carnivorous wolf may
have helped in the extinction of such a form as the Lyre-
Bird ; but if that bird, and its companion the Coachwhip,
ever did inhabit the southern gullies, their disappearance would
more probably be due in the main to an alteration in the food
supply. The gradual extinction of certain insect and mollusc
life would naturally lead to the extinction of all birds living on
such food, unless, of course, something remained to fill the gap.
But there is no proof at all that either the Lyre-Bird or the
Coachwhip-Bird ever existed in Tasmania.

To a Victorian naturalist the absence of these birds leaves a
distinct blank in the scheme of things. Both are, to the main-
land idea, as inseparable from musk and hazel trees as tree-ferns
are from the watercourses they embower. Not only is most of

Vol. IV.
'905

Campbell, Victorian and Tasmanian Birds.

I I I

the scrub and forest similar on both mainland and island, but
the general physical contour of Mt. Wellington and its surround-
ings, which will serve as a type of the whole of the southern
area, is so like that of the Dandenong and Healesville Ranges
that a picture of the true home of the Lyre-Bird would surely
pass for a scene in Tasmania. The reason of this is deep-seated,
the soil, the mother of all, inheriting its wonderful richness in
both areas from similar igneous dacite rock.

In comparing, then, the birds of Tasmania with those of the
parts of southern Victoria which are of similar geological and
botanical, and, it may be said, climatic nature, we find absences
on both sides, as well as inclusions in the mainland group, which
tend to prove several interesting points.

Tasmania has 52 species of Passerine birds (to deal only with
the order which shows the greatest variation), and of these one
only — namely, Acanthorfiis magna — has no obvious progenitor on
the mainland, and this bird is the more unique from the position
it occupies as an apparent link between the genera Acanthiza
and Sericornis. Nineteen other birds, however, as will be seen
by the following table, which show more or less specific differ-
ences, are separated as distinct species to those of the main-
land : —

Comparative Table of the Order Passeres.

In South-Central and South-

Eastcrn Victoria.

In Tasmania.

Coronc anstralis

Corone australis

Strepera graculina

Strepera cuneicaudata

Strepera fuliginosa

Strepera fuliginosa
Strepera arguta

Cor cor ax melanorhamphns

Oriolus viridis

Grallina picata

* Grallina picata

Collyriocincla harmon ica

Collyriocincla rectirostris

Graucalus melanops

Graucalus parvirostris

Graucalus parvirostris

Edoliisoma tenuirostre

Lalage tricolor

* Lalage tricolor

Micrceca fascinans

Petrceca leggii

Petrceca leggii

Petr<xca phaenjcea

Petrceca phcenicea

Petrceca rhodinogastra

Petrceca rhodinogastra

Petrceca rosea

Petrceca hicolor

Petrceca vittata

Malurus cyaneus

* Recorded as accidental in Handbook A. A. A. S. Tas., 1902.

I 12

Campbell, Victorian and Tasmanian Birds.

r Emu
Lsth Jan.

Calamanthus fuliginosus
Ephthianiira albifrons
Xerophila leu cop sis
Gymnorhina leuconota

Cracticus destructor

Falcunculus frontalis
Eopsaltria australis
Pachycephala rufiventris
Pachycephala gutturalis

Pachycephala olivacea
Climacteris Icucophcpa

In South-Central and South-

Eastern Victoria.

In Tasmania.

Malurus s,ouldi

Malurus gouldi

Malurus elizabethcp (King Id.)

Rhi pidura albiscapa

Rlii pidura rufifrons

Rhi pidura dicmenensis

Rhipidura tricolor

Myiagra rubecula

Myiagra nitida

Myiagra nitida

'Si sura inquieta

Acrocephalus australis

Acrocephalus australis

Geocichla lunulata

Geocichla niacrorhyncha

Ptiloiiorhytichus violaceus

Stipiturus malachurus

Sti piturus malachurus

Sphenura broadhenti

Megalurus graniineus

Megalurus gramincus

Cisticola exilis

Cisticola exilis (King Id. only)

Chthonicola sagittata

Acanthiza nana

Acanthiza lineata

Acanthiza pusilla

Acanthiza dicmenensis

Acanthiza magnirostris (King Id.)

Acanthiza ewingi

AcantJiiza chrysorrhoa

Acanthiza chrysorrhoa

Acanthiza regnloidcs

Acauthorjiis magna

Sericornis frontalis

Sericornis osculans

Sericornis humilis

Cinclosoiiia puiictatuni

Cinclosoma punctatuni

Pycnoptilus floccosus

Psophodes crepitans

Pomatorhinus temporalis

Cinclorham phus cruralis

Cinclorhani phus rufescens

CalanuDithus fuliginosus
Ephthia)iura albifrons

Gymnorhi na hypcrleuca
Cracticus ci)iercus

Pachycephala glaucura
\ Pachycephala olivacea

Vol. IV.-]
1905 J

Campbell, V ictorian and TasmaJiian Birds.

I I

In South-Central and South-
Eastern Victoria.

Cliniacteris scandens

Sittclla chrysoptcra

Ac author hy fichus tetiuirostris

Zosterops cccrulcscens
Melithreptus lunulatus
Melithreptus brevirostris
Melithreptus gularis

Glycyphila fulvifrons
Meliphaga phrygia
Ptilotis fusca
Ptilotis lewini-
Ptilotis sonora
Ptilotis chrysops
Ptilotis auriconiis
Ptilotis cassidix
Ptilotis penicillata
Ptilotis leucotis

Meliornis austral asiaiia
Meliornis novcB-hollandice
Manor hina nielanophrys
Manorhina garrula
AcanthochcBra carunculata

Acanthochcera niellivora
AcanthochcBra rufigularis
Philemon corniculatus
Dicceutn hirundinaceum
Pardalotus assimilis
Pardalotus affinis
Pardalotus punctatus

Hirundo neoxena
Petrochelidon nigricans
Petrochelidon ariel
Anthus australis
Artamus superciliosus
Artamus personatus
Artamus sordidus
Stagano pleura guttata
Mgintha temporalis
ZoHcBginthus bcllus
Mirafra horsfieldi
Menura victories

In Tasmania.

Acanthorhynchus dubius
Zosterops ccerulescens

Melithreptus validirostris
Melithreptus nielanocephalus
Glycyphila fulvifrons

Ptilotis piavignlaris
Meliornis australasiana
Meliornis novce-hollandicB

Manorhina garrula

AcanthochcBra inauris
Acanthochcera niellivora

Pardalotus affijiis
Pardalotus punctatus
Pardalotus quadragintus
Hirundo neoxena
Petrochelidon nigricans
Petrochelidon arid
Anthus australis

Artamus sordidus
Zonceginthus bellus

From this table it will be seen that the important genera absent
from Tasmania are Corcorax, Oriolus, Edoliisoma, Micrceca

I I A. Campbell, Victorian and Tasmanian Birds. [ah"'lan

Sisura, Pt Honor hynchus, Sphcnura, Chthonicola, Pycnoptilus,
Psophodcs, Poniatorhinus, Cinder ham phus , Xcrophtla, Falcun-
culus, Eopsaltria, Climacteris, Sittella^ Meliphaga, Philemon,
Dicceum, Stagano pleura, Mgintha, Mirafra, and Menura ; and
of the order Passer es as a whole, only 52 species are found in
Tasmania against 97 which now live under practically similar
conditions on the mainland.

What does the absence in Tasmania of nearly half the forms
of the sister region mean ? Surely not that they are now extinct
in the one area from some modification in their food supply, or
from the strength of their natural enemies, but rather that
they did not exist on the mainland at the time of Tasmania's
disunion. Their evolution or their advent to the south-eastern
point of Australia had not occurred when the sea first broke
through and separated Tasmania to an independent existence.

The full quota of bird life in those early days was probably,
in number of species, identical with the present tally, and this
quota represented, at that time also, the bird life of what is now
the Victorian area. Included among these original birds was
also the Emu {DromcEus), which, however, was soon exterminated
in Tasmania by the white man, owing to the limited open
country to which it was restricted. Among the Tasmanian
avifauna of to-day, however (although a few species may have
immigrated at some intermediate period — Zosterops and
Artamus are possible ones), there are none, excepting Acanthornis,
that have not their relative species on the adjacent mainland,
for from no other quarter has the Tasmanian bird-life been
derived. Two species, however, may be considered somewhat
obscure in origin — Petroeca vittata and Parclalotus quadraginius.
The former, though the sexes are alike in colour, is perhaps the
insular form of P . bieolor, while the latter, through living ex-
clusively in the tree-tops in colder parts, has become difterentiated
from P. punetatus.

It is, then, very interesting to note the digression of the in-
sular form from the common stock. The separation imposed
upon the species, in the first place, a more gloomy climate, with
the result that every bird became darker in plumage to suit the
tone of its surroundings ; and, in the second place, with the
harder and colder conditions, many species developed stronger
and more robust constitutions. So marked have these changes
been in some that new species were immediately made of them ;
but in others, where simply a change in tone or in size is noticed,
there is no strong reason for assigning them positions other
than as insular variations, especially as one or two others, now
grouped as such by certain authorities, show just as much
difference from the original stock as those separated as new
species. A third section there is which shows only a trifling
difference.

To the first axiom — the darker colouring of insular forms —
there is no exception ; but to the second — the larger size of in-

Vol. IV.
1905

Campbell, V ictorian and Tasmanian Birds.

115

sular forms — two instances must be pointed out where the
Tasmanian species, though certainly darker, is decidedly smaller
than its mainland congener : these are Gymnorhina and Acantho-
rhynchus. Corroborative evidence, however, of the general
axiom is found in birds from King Island — notably Malurus
clizabethcB, Acauthiza niagntrostris, and two Mclithrcpti — which,
as sub-insular forms, are respectively larger and darker than
the insular Tasmanian species they represent.

Of all genera, .however, the one in which the greatest variation
is shown is Scricornis. The specimens from Launceston, besides
varying in colour, are much smaller than those from Hobart.
King Island specimens show an af^nity to the latter, but those
from Kent Group are of two distinct strains. One, 5. gularis
(Legge*), is so named on account of a triangular dark brown
splash on the throat, which is not found on specimens from any
other place ; while the other type from the same locality, but
presumably inhabiting more open sandy areas, is of a peculiar
light brown colour, having a washed-out appearance. These stib-
insular varieties certainly stand apart from 5. humilis proper.

During the Hobart meetings of the Aust. O.U. some species
of Tasmanian birds were procured, and in the table which follows
their measurements are compared with those of the mainland
forms, and this, together with commentary notes, will serve to
shov/ the differences, where they exist, between the two.

(Note. — All measurements arc in inches, and of male bird;

5 only.

* Brit.

Mus. Cat. : f Aust. Mus.

Cat. ; X per favour Mr. F. M.

Littler,

F.E.S.,

Launceston).

Total

Name.

Locality. Length. Cu!

men

Wing

Tail

Tarsus

Strepera graculina

. Vic. .. ..18.75 2

25

10.9

8.3

2.15

,, cuneicaudata

. Vic. .. ' .. 21.S 2

65

10.75

8.75

2.55

,, fuligiiiosa

. Tas. .. ..*i9.o 2

75

II.4

8.5

2.5

, , , ,

. King Id. .. 18.0 2

75

10.2

7.0

2.4

,, arguta

. Tas. .. ..*2i.o 2

75

II.9

9.8

2.8

Collyriocincla harmonica

. Vic. .. .. 9.0

77

5.0

4-3

•7

,, rectirostris

. Tas. .. ..9.6 I

I

5.0

4.2

1-3

,1 ..

. King Id. .. 9.75 I

I

4.75

4.1

T 7

Graucalus mclanops

. Vic. .. .. 12.5

91

8.0

6.0

I.I

,, parvirostris

. Vic. .. .. 12.5

78

7-5

5-2

I.I

II II

. Tas. .. ..12.0

8

7-9

5-3

I.I

Petrccca leggii

. Vic. .. .. 5.3

38

3-1

2.2

•75

,, ,,

. Tas. (female) .. 5.1

4

2.85

2.2

•75

,, phcenicea . .

. Vic. (in winter) 4.9

32

3.12

2.1

• 75

J) j>

. Nesting in Vic. 4.95

38

3-1

2.05

.8

>} 55

. Tas. .. ..* 5-2

32

3.0

2.0

•75

. Tas. (in winter) 5.1

36

3-1

2.1

.8

,, rhodinogastra

. Vic. .. .. S.I

36

2.75

2.2

•75

> ) > 1

. Tas. .. ..4.7

35

2.65

2.1

•75

)) )>

. King Id. .. 4.9

35

2.6

2.0

•75

,, vittata

. Tas. .. ..6.0

5

3.65

2.9

I.O

)j ))

King Id. . . * 6.0

5

3-5

2.4

•95

Victorian Natiiralisl, vol. xiii., p. 84 (1896).

{ 1 6 Campbell, V

ictorian

and TasinanitDi

Birds.

Emu
_5th Jan.

Total

Name.

Locality.

Length.

Cnlmen.

Wing.

Tail. T

arsus.

Malurus cyanetis

Vic.

5-05

•3

2.0

2.22

i^85

,, gouldi

Vic.

5.0

•32

2.1

2.3

•9

„ ..

Tas.

5-3

■i2

2.1

2.7

•9

,. elizabethcB . .

King

Id.

5.5

•35

2.1

2.5

1.0

Rhi pidura albiscapa

Vic.

5-9

.28

3-0

3^6

.6

„ dicmcnensis

Tas.

6.0

•3

2.9

3-55

.65

>) "

King

Id. ' '.

5-7

• 3

2.6s

3-3

•65

Myiagra rnbccula ..

Vic.

5.85

.42

3-1

2.85

.6

,, nitida

Vic.

6.7

■ 55

3-5

3^15

.6

" "

Tas.

6.3

■5

3^4

3-15

.6

Acrocephalus australis

Vic.
Tas.

6.5

.6

2.9

2.65

1.0

Geocichla lunidata

Vic.

10.5

I.I

5^5

4.5

1-3

,, macrorhyncha

Tas.

10.3

1.2

5-3

4^5

1^4

Sti pi turns malachuriis

Vic.
Tas.

7.0

•3

1.62

4.4

•7

Megalurus gramincus

Vic.
Tas.

5.75

.4

2.42

2.5

.8

Acantliiza pusilla ..

Vic.

4-1

-3

2.1

1^75

.8

,, diemenensis

Tas.

4-3

•4

2.18

1.8

•75

,, magnirostris

King

Id. ' '.

4.2

■ 5

2.03

1.6

• 75

,, ewingi

Hobar

t, Tas. ..

4.0

•32

2.15

1.8

.84

>) J J

Launc

eston, Tas

. 4.0

• 3

1.98

1.8

.82

King

Id.

4-1

•3

2.1

i^85

.8

,, chrysorrhoa

Vic.

4.1

•35

2.3

^•5

.65

) J "

Tas.

3-9

•35

2.25

1-5

•75

Sericornis oscidans

Vic.

4-5 5

•45

2.3

2.0

.8

,, huimlis

Launc

eston, Tas.

4.8

• 5

2.2

1.85

.9

jj n

Hobai

-t, Tas. ..

5-4

• 5

2.5

2^3

1.0

King

Id.

5-3

•5

2.4

2.0

•95

,, giilaris

Kent

Group . .

5-1

• 52

2.4

2.0

•95

„ (light variety) . .

Kent

Group . .

4-75

•45

2.2

1.8

•9

Ciiiclosoma punciatum

Vic.

10.5

•7

4.4

4-7

1.2

M >>

Tas.

+ 9.25

.86

4.13

4-33

1.2

Calamanthus fidiginosus ..

Vic.

5.0

•4

2.3

2.0

.8

,, ,,

Tas.

5.15

.45

2.42

2.2

.9

Ephthianura albifrons

Vic.

4.6

•35

2.75

1^5

•75

1) >)

King

Id. '.'.

4.6

• 35

2.7

1-5

•75

Gymnorhiiia Icuconota

Vic.

15.5

2.1

I I.O

5-9

2.4

, , Jiyperleuca

Tas.

13.0

1-55

9^5

5^3

2.1

Cracticus destructor

Vic.

10.7

1-5

5^6

4.4

1.2

,, cinereus ..

Tas.

*IO.O

1-45

5-5

4.6

1.24

Pachycephala gutturalis

Vic.

6.4

• 5

4.0

3^2

.85

,, glauciira

Tas.

6.7

• 5

3-95

3^35

•9

>) )>

Kent

Group . .

6.7

• 5

3^85

3-0

• 85

,, olivacca

Vic.

8.0

•7

3.8

3.6

1^15

)) )>

Tas.

8.0

•7

3^85

3-7

1^15

»> J'

King

Id.

7.75

•65

3^8

3-S

I.I

Acanthorliyiichus tenuirostris

Vic.

5.7s

.9

2.75

2^55

•7

,, dubius

Tas.

5-2

.8

2.5

2.25

•75

Zoster ops CLvrulescens

Vic.

4.6

■2,3

2.4

1^75

•65

M ,,

Tas.

+ 4-44

•39

2.4

1.8

.62

Melithreptus lunulatus

Vic.

5.3

.48

2.9

2.3

•7

,, melanocephalus

Tas.

5-4

•48

2.95

2.3

•75

3> "

King

Id. . '.

5.5

.49

3.06

2.4

•75

^°9or'] Campbell,

Victorian and Tasnianian

Birds

M

7

Total

Name.

Locality.

Length.

Culmen.

Wing.

Tail.

Tarsu

Melithreptus gularis

Vic.

.. 6.2

•51

3-5

2.6

.8

,, validiroslris . .

Tas.

^^female)

.. 6.0

.6

3-1

2.52

•85

1) J)

King

Id.

■■ 6.35

.72

3-25

2-75

-85

GLycyphila fidvifrons

Vic.
Tas.

.. 6.2

.8

3-25

2.6

-85

Ptilotis leucotis

Vic.

.. 7.65

.5

3-85

3-7

1.0

„ flavigiilaris

Tas.

.. 7.6

-5 5

3-8

3-4

•9

„ „

King

Id.

.. 7.8

• 55

3-9

3-6

1.0

Meliornis australasiaiia

Vic.

.. 6.3

-58

3-04

2.75

7

)) )>

Tas.

.. % 6.18

.62

2.99

2-75

-78

,, novcB-hollandice . .

Vic.

.. 6.9

.72

3-0

2.95

-85

)) ))

Tas.

Manorhina garrula

Vic.

.. 9.9

-85

5-2

4-8

1.2

,, „

Tas.

. . lO.O

I.O

5-75

5-1

1-85

Acanthochmra carunculata . .

Vic.

•• 13-75

•95

5.8

6.2

1-4

,, inauris

Tas.

..*i8.o

1.0

6.2

8.0

1.6

„ nielli voy a

Vic.

.. 10.75

1.0

4-6

5-2

1.0

!) >) ■ •

Tas.

.. 12.3

I.I

5-6

6.5

1.2

Pardalotus assintilis

Vic.

.. 4.1

-25

2.5

1-3

-78

„ affinis

Vic.

•■ 3-9

-25

2.5

1-3

.8

)> >) . .

Tas.

.. 4.0

-25

2.56

1-4

.78

J! ))

King

id.

•• 4-35

.26

2.5

1-3

.8

,, puiictatus

Vic.

Tas.

•■ 3-5

.21

2.28

1.2

-75

,, quadragintus

Tas.

•• 3-5

.2

2.25

1.2

-75

Htrundo neoxena . .

Vic.

.. 6.1

-25

4-4

3-1

.38

,, ,,

Tas.

..% 5-II

-23

3-74

Petrochclidon nigricans

Vic.

•• 5-05

_2

4.0

2.0

■4

,, ,,

Tas.

•• + 5-19

•23

4.4

2.24

•39

Anthus australis

Vic.

•• 5-95

•45

3-2

2-5

-95

,, ,,

Tas.

..% 6.41

.48

3-21

2-5

.96

Artamiis sordidus ..

Vic.

.. 6.8

.52

5-0

2.9

-65

)) !I

Tas.

.. 6.75

•55

4.9

2-85

-7

ZoncEginthns belliis

Vic.

.. 4.6

•4

2.15

1-7

.65

)> I)

Tas.

..* 4.4

•45

2.2

1-7

•65

Podargus strigoides

Vic.

.. 18.0

1.6

10.8

8-45

1-3

,, ,,

Tas.

.. 16.0

1.2

10.45

7.6

1-3

.■Egotheles novcB-hollandice ..

Vic.

.. 8.5

•4

5-1

4-4

-9

,, ,,

Tas.

. X 8.03

■39

5-23

3-93

.98

Alcyone azurea

Vic.

.. ^.l

1^5

3-0

1-4

-4

,, diemenensis

Tas.

.. 7.0

2.0

3^1

1.65

•4

Halcyon sanctus

Vic
Tas.

• 7-75

1.6

3^6

2-3

-5

Caly ptorhynchus funereiis . .

Vic.

.*24.0

2.1

18.0

14.0

I.I

,, xanothonotus

Tas.

.*23.0

—

15.0

1 1.0

—

Platycercus flaviventris

Tas.

•*i4-5

—

7-4

7.0

-75

„ ,,

King

Id.

. 15.0

.76

7-3

8.4

.85

„ „ (immature)

Kent

Group

.. 13.0

.76

6.8

7.0

-85

,, eximiiis

Vic.

• 13-3

-7

6.25

6-5

.8

)) >>

Tas.

• ti2.s

•83

6-5

7-75

.82

Neophenia vcnusta ..

Vic.

. 8.3

.46

4-5

4-75

•55

>> !,

Tas.

• + 7-9

-43

4-3

4-72

-58

Phaps cJialcoptcra ..

Vic.

. 14-25

.8

8.25

4-5

1.0

J) ))

Tas.

+
- +

•7

7-48

5-23

.98

,, elegans

Vic.

. 1 1.6

.65

6-3

4.0

I.I

I 1 8 Campbell,

Victorian

and Tasiiianian

Binis

r Emu
Lsth Jan

Name.

Locality.

Total
Length.

Culmen.

Wing

Tail. Tarsus.

Phaps elegans
Coturnix pectoralis

Syncscus australis ..
„ dieinenensis
Turnix varia

Tas. . .
Vic. . .
Tas. . .
Vic. . .
Tas. (G
Vic. . .
Tas. . .

•'.' 6.75

+
■ • +'

.. 6.5

3uld) .. 8.5

.. 7.5

+
•• + —

•5

•43

•5

■75

•5

•51

3-9
4.09

3-5
4-5
4.4
3.66

— -9
1.49 .94

— -87

— I.I :'.
2.0 1.02

— 1.0

Comments.

Strcpcrcs (Crow-Shrikes). — If the measurements quoted for
5. arguta are not above the average, then that species has the
distinction of being the largest of its genus. The Tasmanian
form of 5. fuliginosa, froin the measurements given, shows a
wing longer by 1.2 inches than the King Island specimen ; the
former may have been confused with 5. arguta, or it may be
a grade between one species and the other.

Collyriocincla rcctirostris (Whistling Shrike-Thrush). — The
King Island bird is smaller in the wing and with more slender
tarsus than the Tasmanian. The young and the female birds
of this species are easily distinguished from those of the mainland
form by having a boldly striped breast and a distinct reddish-
brown eyebrow.

Graucalus parvirostris (Small-billed Cuckoo-Shrike). — Near, the
sea coast in Victoria, especially during winter, small flocks of
Graucali, which compare favourably with the Tasmanian bird,
can be seen. This is the first record of this species being found
on the mainland.

Petrceca phoenicca (Flame-breasted Robin). — Great numbers of
these birds are recorded in Cape Otway district and also in the
Alpine areas of Victoria, but whether they alone are the birds
which appear in all the low-lying country during winter is not
yet satisfactorily determined. iJoes the species entirely leave
Tasmania in the winter months ? (In July, 1904, two specimens
in the flesh were forwarded from Hobart by Mr. R. Reid, who
states that in that locality the species is as plentiful in winter
as in summer.)

Petrceca rhodinogastra (Pink-breasted Robin). — The Tasmanian
specimen has a richer breast and more white on the forehead
than the bird shot on the mainland, while the rich pink colour
is intensified still more in the King Island form.

Petrceca vittata (Dusky Robin). — It is remarkable that this
species, so common in Tasmania and all the larger islands in
Bass Strait — being, in fact, the only land bird recorded from
some of them — has not yet been found in Victoria.

Malurus gouldi (Long-tailed Wren). — It is evident, from a
number of skins collected in Victoria, that the Tasmanian form,
with its dusky underparts and touches of light blue on the chest,
is found on the mainland. Several shades are observable in the
mantle blue ; occasionally one is found darker even than the

Vol. IV.
1905

Campbell, V icloriaii and Tasinanian Birds. I IQ

insuhir specimen. The measurements given for Tasmania were
taken from birds shot at I-iobart. The Launceston type is
smaller in all but the bill: total length, 5.1 ; bill, .38; wing,
2.1 ; tail, 2.5 ; tarsus, .9. The typical i¥. cyaneus, found to the
north of the Dividing Range in Victoria, is invariably white on
the under parts and with light brown primaries, while M.
elizabcthce, the other extreme, from King Island, is distinguished
by the richness of its colouring, and by the Prussian blue on
the outer edges of black primaries.

Rhipidura dicmenensis (Dusky Fantail). — The King Island
specimens, though smaller, show no difference in plumage to
the Tasmanian ; and further, on the mainland, in southern
Victoria, birds can be found quite as dusky and with as little
white on the tail as the insular forms. The patches of white
possibly vary with age, but in a general way the mainland
bird shows larger markings on the tail feathers. The fledgling
of R. diemenensis is dark brown suffused with reddish-brown ;
eyebrows, edges of secondaries, and wing coverts light brown ;
outer tail feathers tipped grey, abdomen light fawn.

Myiagra nitida (Satin Flycatcher). — The Tasmanian bird is
slightly the smaller, and is without the narrow white edgings
on both outer and inner webs of two outermost tail feathers,
and also to outer webs of secondary wing feathers, which are
noticeable on the mainland. If this species be truly migratory,
making its way in winter northward, as is supposed, with its
fellows on the Australian continent, why is there this differ-
ence ?

Gcocichla macrorhyncha (Large-billed Ground-Thrush). — Besides
possessing a large bill and a stronger tarsus, this species is much
darker in plumage than the mainland form. A young bird,
presumably three months old, measured only 1.06 in. in the
bill and 1.3 in the tarsLis.

Acanthiza diemenensis (Tasmanian Tit or Browntail). — Besides
a larger bill and shorter tarsus, this species is in colour of mantle
more brown than olive, when compared with A. pusilla, and
the female is always the lighter of the sexes. Differences, how-
ever, occur in birds from different parts of Tasmania, viz. : —
Total length. Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus.

Hobart ..

•• 4-3

•4

2.18

1.8

•75

Bagdad . .

•■ 3-95

•4

2.1

1-7

•75

Launceston

•• 3-9

•35

2.0

i-S

.75 (black legs)

In A. magnirostris from King Island, the light edgings to the
primaries, and also the semicircular marks on each of the forehead
feathers, are much less distinct than in other species, while in
the young bird the bill is slightly shorter, the mantle is darker
brown, and the throat marks more obscure than in the parent.
Acanthiza ewingi (Ew'xng Tit). — This bird, which was reinstated
as a good species during the Hobart session of the Aust. O.U.
(1903), is locally known as the " Creek Tit," because of living
mostly in the tea-tree {Lcptospcnniuii) and wild currant {Co prosma)

I 20 Campbell, Victor imi caul TasDianian Birds. [sth'jan.

bordering the creeks, in contrast to A. diemenensis, the "Forest
Tit," which inhabits mostly the gum-tree areas. Gould, who
first described the species, wrote that it was a slenderer bird
than A. diemenensis, with more brown at base of primaries. A
more complete description may be welcomed : — General colour
above brownish-olive, passing into rufous on rump ; forehead
rufous, with very faint black edging to each feather ; spurious
wing and primaries nearly black, the outer webs of Nos. 3 to 7
for the basal third rufous ; the bases of secondaries rufous, then
black for half an inch, then olive on outer web ; chest and
throat with indistinct grey-black edgings to feathers ; abdomen
white ; flanks dark olive ; tail brownish-olive, with all but centre
ones showing wide sub-terminal band nearly black and tips
dark grey ; legs and bill brownish-black ; basal half of lower
mandible white ; irides light red. The King Island bird shows
the prominent black and rufous wing-patches a lighter tint.

Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (Yellow-rumped Tit). — The general colour
of the mantle in the Tasmanian bird is lighter, particularly on
the back and the primaries, the feathers of tlie throat, lores,
and eyebrow, while the tarsus is longer by .1 inch than the main-
land form.

Acanthornis magna (Scrub-Tit). — The present name of this
bird, as further evidence is collected, appears to be more
fitting than either Acanthiza (Gld.) or Sericornis (Brit. Mus.),
for, although there is a leaning toward the latter, it is, in its
structure and economy, a link between the two. A descrip-
tion and measurements of birds from Mt. Wellington, Tasmania,
are as follow : — ■

Total length.

Male .. •■4-4

Female .. 4.35

Young male .. 4.3

Crown of head, lower back, rump, flanks, and under tail coverts
deep brownish-olive ; upper back olive ; lores white, extending
into a stripe over the eye, which is also encircled on the lids with
a zone of small white feathers ; ear coverts and cheeks slate-
black in male, but greyer in female ; wing black, five primaries
narrowly edged on terminal half of outer web with white; tips
of five secondaries and five greater wing coverts boldly edged
with semicircular patches of same colour, which is easily detected
on the bird in nature ; throat white (in female tinged with
yellow), passing into pale yellow on abdomen ; a line of white
extends from gape partly under the ears ; tail blackish-brown,
outer webs brownish-olive, subterminal black band, tips deep
slate passing into narrow white edge, especially on outer feathers ;
bill blackish, base of lower mandible pale yellow ; legs brownish
in male, much lighter in female ; irides light yellow. The female
is the browner of the two sexes, while the young is duller in all
its markings than either, and is distinguished by having a patch
only of dull yellow on each side of the chest, the centre of abdo-
men being white.

Bill.

Wing.

Tail.

Tarsus,

■5

2.1

1.8

.85

.48

2.1

1.8

.85

.42

2.05

1-75

.8

Vol. IV. 1 Campbell, Victorian and Tasnianian Birds. 12 1

1905 1 '

The main characteristics of this unique species are worthy of
review. Though often seen on the ground among fallen scrub,
like the Scricornis, it seems equally at home in the tops of the
musk and hazel trees, and, like an Acanthiza, it frequently fastens
for a moment or two on the side of a tree-trunk to survey an
intruder. It has a merry song, quite unlike any other of its
bush mates, and when seen is easily identified by the prominent
white wing markings and white throat. The nest is a round,
bulky structure, very like that of a Sericornis, plentifully built
of fern-down and green moss, placed 5 or 6 feet high, sometimes in
a large fork of a tree hidden in a gully, sometimes in the bushy
top of a wild currant (Coprosmd) bush, but more often in the
cluster of dead fronds hanging from a tree-fern. The eggs, though
large, are distinctly of the Acanthiza type (white ground with
reddish spots), and help materially to place the owner in the
peculiar position it occupies between two well-known genera.

Scricorncs (Scrub-Wrens). — Several phases exist in Tasmania
and the adjacent islands of this genus, which are sufficiently
distinct from one another to be made sub-species. The specimens
of 5. humilis from Mt. Wellington are the largest and darkest of
all ; those from Launceston are different in size and in colour ;
the mantle, instead of being dark olive, is tinged with rufous ;
the head and the outer edges of the primaries are of a much
lighter tint, and the tail is brownish-olive instead of deep brown.
The legs are black, and not dark brown, while the dark sub-
terminal band on the tail is pronounced in the northern variety,
but very obscure in the southern. The sexes are distinguished
in each case by the lores being black in the male and slate-
coloured in the female. On King Island the bird more closely
resembles S. humilis, but, besides being lighter in general colour
and with no prominent dark centres to the chest feathers, it
has distinct subterminal tail markings, and, further, the dusky
under tail coverts are tipped with dull yellow, a point character-
istic of S. osculans of the mainland, but not noticed in S. humilis
proper. The young is of a deep rich brown colour. But it is with
the Sericornes from Kent Group, the nearest of Tasmanian
islands to the mainland, that the greatest difference is shown.
There are distinctly two strains, the larger, 5. gularis (Legge),
having a longer bill and shorter wings than 5. humilis ; general
colour greyish-olive ; throat feathers brownish-black, a few
only showing lighter edges ; under tail coverts edged with
dull yellow ; tail minus any dark subterminal band. The
smaller specimens are of a peculiar washed-out appearance, the
mantle being rust-coloured on scapularies, back, and rump, with
a lighter head, minus any prominent markings ; white edgings
to greater wing coverts very faint ; under tail coverts and
flanks brownish-fawn ; tail uniform. Several specimens obtained
are presumably adult birds, so the existence of two phases in
one area must be due to their living in different surroundings.

Calamanthus fuliginosus (Striated Field-Wren). — The Tas-

122 Campbell, Victorian and Jasmanian Birds. [-th"lan

manian bird is somewhat larger than the mainland, and in both
cases the female is the lesser of the two sexes by .2 inches in the
wing, and instead of having the ground colour of the striped
throat white like the male, it is of the same dull yellow as the
remainder of the under surface. Seeing that in the Australian
Museum "Special Catalogue" (Part IV., 1904, p. 355) it is
deemed fit to separate the mainland form under the title of
C. albiloris, n. sp., it is doubtless worth noticing that the
specimens from which these measurements are taken are
practically identical except in size, that from Tasmania having
the lores white and not dusky brown, and that from the main-
land white also. The same mark, however, in the female bird
is dusky.

(A few years ago a " select committee " consisting of Col. Legge,
Mr. A. J. Campbell, and the writer looked into the Calamanthi ,
with the finding that there was apparently no appreciable differ-
ence, except in size, between the Tasmanian and Victorian
birds.)

Gymnorhina hyperleuca (Lesser White-backed Magpie). —
Besides being considerably smaller than the Magpie of the main-
land, some difference is shown between specimens from the
north and the south of Tasmania.

Total length. Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus.
Launceston .. 13.0 1.55 9.5 5.3 2.1

Bagdad .. .. 13.5 1.76 9.25 5.5 2.1

Cracticus cinereus (Grey Butcher-Bird). — Another smaller
instead of larger insular form.

Pachyccphala glaucura (Grey-tailed Thickhead). — The differ-
ence between this and the mainland species lies in the colour of
the tail, the former being slate-grey throughout, while in the
latter all but the two outer feathers are, excepting the basal
portion and the tip, jet black. The female of P. gutturalis has
the tail tinged with olive.

Pachyccphala olivacea (Olive Thickhead). — It is worthy of
note that the King Island specimens are smaller than those of
either Tasmania or Victoria. The female of this species differs
in plumage from the male, having a browner mantle and a
dingier breast and throat. The young male, as is the case with
the preceding species, resembles the female for a season or
two.

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (?) (Spinebill). — The Tasmanian
form of this Honey-eater was named by Gould A. dubius, being
smaller, shorter in the bill, but withal noticeably darker than
A. tenuirostris. If such as the Magpie and the Browntail
remain separate, this should be treated as a distinct species
also. The female of A. dubius is duller in plumage than the
male, and the bill shorter by .1 inch.

An interesting experiment was tried with a fledgling which
lived for four weeks in captivity. When taken it had just left
the nest, and was barely able to fly. Its plumage was simply

Vol. IV
iqo5

1 Campbell, Victorian and J asmaiiian Birds. 1 23

dark grey above and dull brown below, with a light-coloured
bill .6 inch in length. Just before its death, which unfortunately
occurred through improper feeding, a light-coloured patch was
beginning to show at tlie top of the throat, as well as the black
crescent across the chest, and the brighter markings on the
back and head. The eye remained brown.

Melithrcptus validirostris (Strong-billed Honey-eater). — The
King Island specimen, as a sub-insular form, is noticeably the
larger, particularly in the bill, which is .75 inch in length against
.6 in the female Tasmanian bird ; however, the sexes differ slightly
in the measurements of the bill. In the young bird of this species
the mantle is tinged with greenish-olive ; the cheeks, lunar mark
behind the head from eye to eye, and the centre of abdomen
are light yellow, and the bill, cere, and legs are straw-yellow in
colour, the black head, ear coverts, and throat remaining pro-
minent. In the adult the cere is of a sea-green colour.

Melithrcptus mclanoccphalus (Black-capped Honey-eater). — The
King Island bird, again, is larger than the Tasmanian. The back
and head of the young bird are brownish. Only about the throat
and cheeks is there any appearance of the black, which in the
adult envelops the head as a hood ; bill brownish, cere yellow,
becoming on maturity light green above and deep blue below.

Ptilotis fiavigtdaris (Yellow-throated Honey-eater). — This, the
only Tasmanian representative of the genus, appears to be the
insular form of P. Icucotis (White-eared Honey-eater). A com-
parison of specimens from King Island and Tasmania shows a
heavier tarsus from the former locality.

Manorhina garrula (Noisy Miner). — The Tasmanian bird is
distinctly larger and darker than the mainland, with darker
cere, bill, and legs, and no prominent white tips to primaries.

Acanthochcera inauris (Yellow Wattle-Bird). — Apart from the
larger build and bolder markings, the possession of yellow wattles,
an inch in length, makes this bird specifically different from
A. caruncidata of the mainland, which has red wattles .4 inch
long.

Acanthochcera mellivora (Brush Wattle-Bird). — In size the Tas-
manian specimen is much larger than the mainland, the mantle
has a greenish tinge, and in the centre of the abdomen is a
distinct wash of yellow, which, apart from the two large Wattle-
Birds, is not found in any specimens of the genus from other
localities.

Pardalotus affiiiis (Yellow-tipped Pardalote). — Specimens of
this species, which is distinguished from P. assimilis by the
speculum of the wing being yellow instead of red, have been
shot in southern Victoria, but none of the red-speculum birds
have been recorded from Tasmania. The outer web of the
third, and sometimes the fourth, primary is white; and on this
point can the two southern varieties be distinguished from the
true P . striatus of northern Victoria, which has the white edging
on five primaries ?

124 Campbell, Victorian and Tasinanian Birds. \ J"™^

■ ' Lsth Jan.

Artamus sordidus (Wood-Swallow). — More difference than
might be expected exists between the Tasmanian and the main-
land birds. Both the bill and the tarsus of the former are longer
slightly, while the outer web of the fourth primary, which in
the mainland specimen is, together with the second and third,
broadly marked with white, is only slightly edged. The white
markings on the tips of the tail feathers are smaller in size, but
these possibly, and maybe the' markings on the primaries as well,
vary with the age of the specimen.

There yet remain several species of which measurements
should be sought, and comparisons made with their congeners
across the Strait, for with the material available for this article
the whole field could not be traversed. Again, further data
may throw more light on the instances already cited, as re-
liance cannot always be placed on the evidence of one or two
skins from one quarter. Whole series are required of specimens,
not only from the different districts of Tasmania, but also from^
the several parts of Victoria, or Australia even, where the genus
or species is found, before the facts, either for or against new
and separate species, can be definitely stated.

Field Notes on Some Birds of the Casterton District

(Victoria).

By (Dr.) E. A. D'Ombrain.

The following notes, compiled from observations by Mr. W.
M'Lennan and myself, may prove interesting to ornithologists.
Any notes concerning the habits of birds must at least be of
some value, by reason of the light they throw on the inner life
of our avifauna.

The district is a very large one, watered by the two rivers,
the Glenelg and the Wannon, which unite to form a fine stream
close to the town of Casterton, whence it takes a very circuitous
course south, to open into the ocean at Nelson, on the southern
coast.

Amongst the birds to which these notes refer are :—

Magpie {Gynmorhina leuconota). — On a table-land about 3 miles
from Casterton, a pure albino has been caught, having just left
the nest, on two occasions in different seasons, 1902 and 1903.
The question arises — Is not each bird from the same parent
or parents ? I intend keeping a watch for another this season.
The captives are still alive, and are pure albinos, with pink eyes
and pale legs and bill, in which is a warm tinge.*

* [This suggests a question as to the presence or absence of colour. Though
neither black nor white can in any sense of the term be called a colour, yet there are
phases in the infinitude of gradations between these extremes which may be so called.
Black and white are virtually the positive and the negative in a field where light is
absorbed or reflected. The intermediate angles of reflection, absorption, or distortion
give all the rest. From the author's point of view some problems are, perhaps, more

Vol. IV.
1905

1 X^'OwW-kV^, Some Birds of the Caster ton District. I 25

Whistling Eagle {Haliastur sphenurus).— These birds in-
variably return to their old site, commencing repairing the
old nest in July. 12/7/03.— Pair seen with nest in tree. Two
months later (10/9/03) bird flushed oft" the nest. It contained
two eggs. Nest was 2 ft. 6 in. across, and had been used for
several seasons.

Swamp-Hawk or Harrier {Circus gouldi). — Very plentiful,
often breeding in the middle of a crop. Commence breeding in
September. Clutch generally three, occasionally five. In season
1899 five eggs were taken by myself from a large isolated clump
of rushes in a swamp. The young are most vicious. They will
eat anything. Of two I had last season, the female killed her
brother and gorged herself with his body. They have regular
" stand-up " fights, striking out fiercely with their sharp talons.

Brown Hawk {Hieracidea orientalis). — Five nests were found
during September, 1903, all in red gum trees {E. rostrata).
Clutch three in every case. 17/9/03. — The sitting bird was cap-
tured on the nest, which contained three eggs. From this nest
a clutch of four Raven's eggs was taken later.

Goshawk {Astur approximans). — My note about this Hawk
is made from two young ones which I had in captivity. I was
trying to train them for hawking, but found them too wild to
stand having the hood on. When chained near each other
they fought continually, and at last the female, getting her chain
loose, attacked her mate, and killed and ate him. Like the rest
of their genus, they spend a lot of their time watching their prey
to find the most favourable moment for striking. Pieces of food
thrown in the air to them were always caught in the talons
before tliey reached the ground. The iris of the eye in the young
is at first merely a pale whitish colour, which gradually deepens
to a bright lemon-yellow as they mature.

Kestrel {Cerchneis ccnchroides). — Although supposed to be
almost an insectivorous bird, in captivity the Kestrel will eat
any sort of meat, from cold mutton to young chickens. One
I had last year was a year old. He had lost one leg and it was
amusing to see him "stumping" about the yard. He was very
quick in his actions, and loved coming in to the kitchen fire. He
killed and ate a young Oriole {Mimeta viridis) I was rearing,

worthy of study — namely, as to whether parents which have once produced albinos
repeat the same process season after season ; whether albinos perpetuate their
characteristics ; and whether the albino stage of plumage is a permanent one, or
'• subsides " (to use a popular word) into the ordinary markings. What evidence is
to hand is unsatisfactory, and it is to be hoped that Dr. D'Ombrain may be placed in
a position to find some solution of the difficulty. As one road towards its solution
may be suggested not only a microscopical examination of feather vanes, but of the
minute scales which are their accompaniment. The determination of their angles
and corresponding colours would prove a valuable preliminary to any such study.
The probabilities are that some fault in the spermatozoids, or a malformation in the
womb of the mother, produce these abnormal phases and positions of the scales. —
H. K.]

I 26 D'Ombrain, Some Birds of the Castcrton District. \ th"jan

and on one occasion when a fowl strayed into the yard where
the Kestrel was kept (with cut wing) he fastened his talons
into the hen's back. The hen simply , raced round in fright
till the little savage was dislodged. The Hawk is still alive. These
little Hawks generally breed in October and November here ;
clutch generally four, but frequently five.

28/10/03. — Nest in hole in red gum tree. Clutch of four eggs
taken. On 8/1 1/03 there was another egg laid by this pair in
another hole. On ist December the birds had changed to
another nesting-hole, where they laid five eggs.

Masked Owl {Strix novce-hollandicB) . — This district is a good
one for Owls, of which there are five species.

I have, in a previous number of The Emu* recorded the
finding of the nesting-hole of the fine Masked Owl, and was
enabled to furnish the dimensions of the egg from the remnants
(about three- fourths of the shell) found in the nest, which con-
tained a fledged young one. These Owls play great havoc with
the rabbits caught in the traps set by the rabbiters. It was by
this means that a good live specimen was caught, and given to
me. The trap was " muffled," and a freshly-killed rabbit placed
near it. In a few minutes the Owl flew down from a fence
post, where he had been watching the proceedings, and walked
into the trap, and was promptly secured. The nest-hole, and
indeed any hole used for camping in, of both this and the Lesser
Masked Owl, has always a great quantity of bones of rabbits
and birds in it, and the ground at the foot of the tree is always
dotted about with castings, or " pellets," of the undigested parts
of their food. I have also seen the bones of the lesser flying
squirrel {Phalangcr) in the hollow. Many declare that the
Masked Owl attacks very young lambs, but this is scarcely
proven. The bird I had alive measured 3 ft. 8 in. from tip to
tip of wings, had enormous talons, and when standing upright
measured about 24 in. It is my custom, usually, to photograph
any live specimens, but I regret to say that in this instance I
omitted to do so, but at once chloroformed the bird and skinned
it. The colouring of the plumage is very beautiful. All the
back of head, wings, and tail much resemble in colour the fur of
a tortoiseshell cat. The breast is snow-white, but sparingly
spotted with black, the spots not large, and situated at the end,
or tip, of the shaft of the feather. The bill is of horn colour for
about a third of the distance from the tip, shading gradually
to a purple colour at the base. The facial disc is composed of
fine, stifTsilvery feathers, which broaden at the tips, giving them an
oar shape, some having a warm wash of purplish hue, deepening
round the eyes, which are liquid or inky blue-black. This hue
gives the disc a general purple appearance. The edge of the
disc appears to be composed of two circles, the inner one con-
taining mostly pure white, while the outer shades from fawn

* Vol. ii., p. 184.

Vol. IV.
1905

J D'Ombrain, Some Birds of the Caster ton District. 12 J

to umber at the tip of each feather. The umber is most marked
in the lower half of the circle in the upright position, the upper
showing more fawn colour. I have gone into some detail with
regard to this, as it shows a decided difference from the face of
the Chestnut-faced Owl, as will be seen later. Of the breast and
side feathers, those that have the black spots on them have
also a black streak down the shaft, uniting with the spot. The
third primary is the longest feather in the wing.

These Owls, in conjunction with some other species of their
kind, have a marked peculiarity — i.e., the outer barbs of the
first true primary and of the first false primary feathers have
no barbules, and are turned the wrong way, like the feathers
of a French " frizzy " fowl. As I have watched Owls entering
the holes in the trees, I remarked that they always fly to the
hole, then settle on the edge of it, and at once turn round and
go tail first into the interior of the hollow branch or hole of the
tree. In performing this movement, it is very likely that the
outer barbs acquire the turned appearance from being rubbed
the wrong way. This is, of course, only a theory, and I intend
to ascertain if the young possess the peculiarity of turned feathers
or not. The talons, toes, and legs are very powerful, the toes
having a covering of stiff bristles, and the lower legs soft silky
ones. These Owls hunt in pairs, one keeping close to the ground,
evidently beating, whilst the other flies overhead ready to swoop.
They frequently follow one for quite a long distance, evidently
on the look-out for any prey that one may start. These birds
are best seen at full moon, but are very shy during the early
quarter, seeming to gradually grow accustomed to the increasing
light, when they are easily seen.

The bird that flies close to the ground keeps up a sort of hissing
noise, and is answered by the higher-flying bird in a chattering
voice. When pairing is over the birds do not frequent their
usual hunting grounds, but retire to the vicinity of their nesting-
hole.

Much of the above information of their habits has been gathered
from the Messrs. Dancocks, who are very keen observers, and
whose home is in the midst of the haunts of these birds.

Lesser Masked Owl {Strix delicatula). — This beautiful bird is
commonly called a " White " Owl, merely because of its much
lighter coloured plumage, which contrasts with that of the
darker Boobook, the comparison being made the easier because
in many localities it is almost as plentiful as the Boobook. In
this district it is quite as common as the Boobook, and in the year
1902, when the stock were starving in northern parts of Victoria
and the great drought was still raging in the other States, these
birds were exceptionally plentiful here. Yet, despite the fact that
all this Western District was bountifully supplied with feed for
stock, the Delicate Owls were found dying and dead in numbers,
and this fact I mentioned in my monthly health report to the
Shire Council of Glenelg. I take the following from the report :

I 28 D'OmbRAIN, Some Birds of the Caster ton District. [sth "jan.

— " With regard to the birds mentioned it may not be altogether
out of place to mention in a report of this nature (as showing
the presence of disease amongst all vertebrates) that no fewer
than 1 3 specimens of the Lesser Masked Owl have been brought
under my notice, having been picked up dead or dying, some in
pairs, others singly. On examination, their bodies were wasted
and starved in appearance."

Their habits are much the same as the whole class of Owls,
and the only other note I have about them is that they lay as
many as three eggs, and they will take the carcass of a small rabbit
to a hole in a tree and will feed on it there during daylight, as
has been proved by the appearance of the recently torn flesh
of a rabbit found in the " camp " just vacated by the bird. Last
season I had three " in the down," taken from a nest. They
were " leggy " balls of down with the facial disc showing plainly.
Evidently these feathers are the first to make their appearance.
I photographed these and also an adult bird with the wings
spread in flight, the bird being tethered. One of the young ones,
when fledged, recently scored first prize in a suburban show,
and is now " at home " in the Melbourne Zoological Gardens.
They make a hissing sound when angry, and are very
" snappy." The eyes deepened in colour as the bird ^rew, till
they were inky-black.

Chestnut-faced Owl {Strix novcp-hollandicp, sub-sp. castanops).
— This is supposed to be a doubtful species, but I feel pretty
confident that the specimen of Owl which I have got in this
district is a quite distinct bird from S. novcB-hollandicE . In this
specimen the facial disc is entirely difTerent in colour from that
of the Masked Owl, having no purple hue about the face, and the
circumference of the disc is a pure chestnut ; also there is no
ring of dark feathers on the disc at all. The under surface of
the whole bird is uniformly pure white — neither streaks nor
spots on the feathers — and the general colouring of the whole
of the upper surface is much lighter and has much more chestnut,
in blotches, on it. finally, the whole appearance is at a glance
different from that of the Masked Owl, and on close inspection
is markedly so. My specimen was shot in a tree along with a
Delicate Owl. They were " hooting," and thus drew attention
to their presence. It was a male bird, and measured from tip
to tip of wings 40 inches. One wing was 17 inches, and total
length of bird 14^ inches. I intend having the specimen fully
identified, if possible.

Winking Owl {Ninox connivcns). — I know very litttle about
the habits of this Owl, though the species is fairly plentiful here.
Probiibly their general grey colour saves them from detection.
These birds are frequently caught by the legs in rabbit traps.
I have had two live specimens so taken. One had a dislocated
" knee," which I reduced. On two subsequent occasions it was
re-discolated and reduced, till finally it became so thickened and

Vol. IV.
1905

J D'Ombrain, Some Birds of the Caster ton District. I 2Q

deformed I decided to kill the bird. For this purpose I gave it
three doses at different times of prussic acid on meat. Result, nil.
Then I gave it arsenic twice, and still the bird lived, until finally
I chloroformed it and skinned it. It had grown quite tame.
The irides are a beautiful bright yellow, and eyes brighter and
larger than the Boobook's, and constantly " winking " (con-
niving), hence the specific name. The legs are short, thick, and
powerful. The note or cry of this Owl is exactly like that of
the Boobook.

BOOBOOK Owl (Ninox boobook). — I have little to note about
this Owl. Mr. M'Lennan found five nests last year, two of which
had clutches of three. This was in October and November. An
interesting fact in connection with one nest (which had three
young ones) is that in the same hollow of the branch, about 3
feet away, was a brood of three young Laughing Jackasses
(Brown Kingfishers). What with the Jackass family being
fed by day, and the Owl family by night, things must have
been rather busy in that hollow. I recently sent a young
Boobook Owl to my father, who put it in a rat-infested cellar
in the city. The bird is free to fly about the large cellar, and
since his advent not a rat has been heard of. Perhaps the
Public Health authorities might here find a remedy for plague-
infected rats.

A Visit to Rottnest Island, W.A.

By F. Lawson, Perth.

Rottnest Island lies some 14 miles west-north-west of the port
of Fremantle. It is only of small extent, being about 7 miles
in length, and about 2 miles in breadth at its widest part. It
is the most northern portion of a limestone ridge, running in
a south-easterly direction towards the mainland. Other parts of
this ridge form the islands of Karnac, Garden Island, and a few
smaller rocks of no importance. The south-western side of
Rottnest is for the most part a much-eroded line of cliffs, with
an occasional small stretch of sandy beach.

The interior part of the island is clothed with very dense
acacia scrubs, and, were it not for " rides " having been cut as
means of communication, would be quite impenetrable without
the most severe exertion. Except at the settlement on the eastern
shores, trees are quite absent, and the majority of those found
there have been artificially introduced. An important feature,
from an ornithological point of view, is a series of large salt
lakes or lagoons. In the hot weather these evaporate to a large
extent, and become for the time being mud flats, forming favourite
feeding grounds for numerous Waders.

There are few species of animals on the island ; some of these,
even, are introduced. But Macropiis brachyurus, or short-
tailed wallaby, is very common in the acacia scrubs.

I -20 Lavvson, .J Visit io RoUncst Island, \V .A. [sth'jan-

Rottnest is reserved as a summer residence for the State
Governor of Western Australia, and for a native peneil settle-
ment, so that it is very little disturbed by the presence of man.

I spent a full fortnight on the island, during which I devoted
the whole time to an examination of the bird life. Breeding
operations were in progress with several species, but I was too
late for the nests of the Passerine birds.

HiERAClDEA BERIGORA (Striped Brown Hawk). — I several times encoun-
tered this species, but hardly think there were more than a pair or two on
the island. On one occasion I surprised an individual engaged in plundering
the bait from a crayfish basket. I also saw a pair attack and successfully
carry off from the centre of the largest lagoon a wounded Banded Stilt.

Cerchneis CENCHROIDES (Kestrel). — A few pairs on the island, probably
breeding in the cliffs.

Pandion LEUCOCEPHALUS (Osprey). — I had the good fortune to examine
and photograph two eyries of this fine species — one with eggs, the other
with a nearly full-grown nestling. In each case the nesting sites were
turret-like spurs in the limestone cliffs, where the latter were at their
greatest elevation. Neither was really difiicult of access, though the
rocks had weathered away into very rough and jagged prominences,
rendering them very far from pleasant country to scramble over. The
nests were large but rather shallow structures of short branches, lumps
of wood, pieces of reed, and other flotsam to be found on the beach, with
an interior lining of seaweed, sponges, straw bottle-covers, and a few reed-
like plants of a smaller kind. The first nest contained three handsome eggs,
hardly distinguishable from those of the Holarctic P. haliaetus. In the
case of the second nest the parent birds were hovering overhead, within
easy shot, whilst I was taking a photograph of their home and offspring.
Near at hand, on a spur projecting further out into the ocean, were the
remains of an old nest, perhaps that of the previous year.

CORVUS CORONOIDES (Crow). — A few occasionally seen, probably visitors
from the mainland. I shot one at dusk, unintentionally, being deceived
in the semi-darkness. I saw no signs of the Raven, a species one might
expect to find in such a locality.

Petrceca GOODENOVII (Red-capped Robin). — It is a remarkable fact that
the Robin breeding on Rottnest should be. this species, which is almost
unknown within a very wide radius on the adjacent mainland. It
seems fairly plentiful, but the song and call note struck me as being
feeble in comparison with those of birds on the Murchison goldfield and
interior in general. I saw no signs of P. cainpbelli on Rottnest.

Sericornis M.'VCUL.^TA (Spotted Scrub-Wren). — I encountered a few
family parties in the thick acacia scrub. It was very difficult to procure
specimens for identification.

Ephthianura albifrons (White-fronted Chat). — One or two seen near
the salt lagoons.

Pachycephala OCCIDENTALIS (Western Thickhead). — Not uncommon in
the acacia scrubs. From the appearance of se\'eral I dissected, I have
no doubt that males pair before they have fully attained the brilliant yellovy
under parts.*

* See P. gui/uralis, " Nests and Eggs " (Campbell), p. 320. — Eds.

/ol. IV. "I
1905 J

Lavvson, a Visit to Rottnest Island, W.A.

13^

Pachycephala RUFIVENTRIS (Rufous-breasted Thickhead).— Occurring
in similar localities but less common than the lasr named.

ZOSTEROPS GOULDI (Green-backed White-eye). — The commonest bird on
the island.

Ptilotis SONORA (Singing Honey-eater). — Not uncommon in the acacia
scrubs. Birds of this species inhabiting Rottnest are certainly much
darker on the breast and under parts, and have the dusky stripes better
defined than examples from the interior of the mainland.

HiRUNDO NEOXENA (Housc Swallow). — This was tlie only representative
of the Hirundinidai 1 found on the island. It was fairly common, and,
in addition to breeding in outhouses and similar situations, was nesting
in cavernous hollows in the limestone cliffs.

Anthus AI'STRALIS (Pipit). — Fairly common, and breeding on the shores
of the lagoons.

CUCULUS PALLIDUS (Pallid Cuckoo).— Sparingly met with on the island.

Neophema PETROPHILA (Rock-Parr akeet).— This pretty little species is
fairly common, but seems to favour the western side of the island, where
it breeds on several small islets, and occasionally on the most precipitous
slopes of the mainland cliffs. For a nesting site it takes advantage of
any natural hollow in the limestone rock. I examined half a dozen or
more nests. All of these were on the summits or slopes of islets, not in
the face of the cliffs. The favourite situation appeared to be under a large
slab of rock overhung by a profuse growth of vegetation {Mesembryan-
thenmni). In one instance I found young in down in a slight hollow
in the sandy soil, simply concealed by vegetation, and without other
shelter. The eggs vary from four to six ; they are inclined to be spherical,
and of the usual white colour. When a nest is being examined the old
birds fly round with great rapidity, or perch on a neighbouring rock
whence they exhibit great anxiety. Young in first plumage lack the
blue forehead band. In traversing the island I often disturbed pairs or
small parties of this Parrakeet, generally in the more open parts. Their
chief food seems to be small round seeds, but I could not identify of what
species of plant.

HCEMATOPUS UNICOLOR (Sooty Oyster-catcher). — I encountered a few
examples of this species at the western extremity of the island, but saw
little evidence of their breeding. The deep red beak and legs are very
conspicuous in flight.

/Egialitis RUFICAPILLA (Red-capped Dottrel).— Very common both on
the beach and the margins of the lagoons. I caught one example in down,
but the breeding season was for the most part over.

.^GIALITIS CUCULLATA (Hooded Dottrel). — I only observed a few
examples in company with other Waders round the lagoons.

Cladorhynchus australis (Banded Stilt, " Rottnest Snipe ")•— Towards
the close of my stay this species was beginning to arrive. A flock of 70
or 80 took up their quarters on the largest of the salt lagoons. The
majority appeared to be adult birds. They were very wary, and on being
disturbed flew to the centre of the lagoon, where they floated lightly on
the water till the danger had passed.

Arenaria INTERPRES (Turn-Stone).— a few in company with other
Waders.

Limonites RUFICOLLIS (Little or Red-necked Stint).— The commonest

132 LavvsON, ^ Visit to Rottncst Island, W. A. [5th "jan.

Waders on the island. They were very numerous and tame round the
lagoons. Adults and birds of the year were equally common.

Heteropygia acuminata (Sharp-tailed Stint, Siberian Pectoral Sand-
piper).— Less common than the last-named species, but still fairly plentiful,
both as regards adults and birds of the year.

Ancylochilus SUBARQUATUS (Curlew Stint or Sandpiper). — A few
individuals in company with other Waders, but far from common.

Sterna bergii (Crested Tern). — Fairly common. I encountered one
very large flock, all of which appeared to be adults. I visited one reputed
breeding ground, but saw no traces of nests. Probably this species breeds
later in the year.

Sterna nereis (White-faced Ternlet). — Only one or two individuals
seen.

LaruS NOV.^-HOLLANDL^ (Silver Gull). — This was the common Gull on
the island. Nearly all I saw were adults. On one little islet I found half
a dozen empty nests, and one half-grown young one crouching in the
vegetation growing in the clefts of the rocks.

PhalACROCORAX HYPOLEUCUS (Pied Cormorant). — Pretty common. I
often disturbed pairs or odd birds from hollows in the cliffs, but could find
no nests. They are reported to breed on some of the islets between
Rottnest and Garden Islands.

Anas SUPERCILIOSA (Wild Duck). — I saw very few Ducks indeed during
my visit ; but on one occasion encountered a small flock or family,
apparently of the above species, on one of the lagoons.

PUFFINUS (? sp.) (Petrel). — At the west end of the island I was shown a
small series of burrows said to be tenanted by Mutton-Birds In the
excavated sand at the entrance to most of the burrows the print of the
webbed feet was plainly visible. xA.ttempts to dig out the egg or young
with the aid of a piece of wood proved futile, the burrows extending
too far. I planned a second visit, this time armed with a spade, but
owing to an accident in connection with our horse and buggy the second
attempt was likewise a failure, so that the species remains undetermined *

Of course, the foregoing list does not pretend to be anything
like a complete catalogue of the avifauna of the island. It would
be remarkable if many of the rarer Waders are not occasional
visitors. The same remarks apply still more forcibly to the
Cormorants and sea birds in general. Only a resident observer
could tabulate a complete list.

A Glance at the Birds of the Moore River (W.A.)

By F. Lawson, Perth.

Towards the end of October, 1903, I found myself at Mogumber,
a station on the Midland Railway, about 60 miles north of
Perth.

I here expected to meet my companions on a projected trip
to the Wongan Hills. Some delay, however, occurred in their

• The species is, no doubt, the Wedge-tailed Petrel (P. sphenurtis. )—itt Camp-
bell, " Nests and Eggs," p. S77. — Eds.

Vol. IV.

1 Lavvson, Glance at the Birds of the Moore River {\V .A~)

arrival, and in the interim I turned my attention to the avifauna
of the Moore River, the east branch of which flows immediately
past Mogumber.

On the return of the expedition to the latter place, about a
month later, I was again detained, for a fortnight or thereabouts,
and I took advantage of the opportunity to carry my investiga-
tions to a point some 20 miles further down the river.

As our track to the Wongan Hills practically followed the
eastern branch to its sources, some few miles beyond the settle-
ment of New Norcia, I had thus an opportunity of exploring
about 40 miles of the course of the stream, a distance comprising
about two-thirds of its total length.

Roughly speaking, the Moore flows in a tortuous course from
north-east to south-west, x^bout four miles west of Mogumber
it receives the north branch, which flows from the direction its
name implies. Some 1 2 miles from its mouth it is joined by
the Gin-Gin Brook. These are the only tributaries of any im-
portance. During the rainy season some of the lower reaches
of the river expand into small lakes. The upper portions of the
Moore call for little comment. The volume of the stream is at
all times very moderate, and its valley of no great width.
Generally speaking, it is well timbered, and, where not cultivated
and cleared, well clothed with scrub and herbaceous plants.
Westward of Mogumber, however, in the lower portions, the
valley deepens and contracts, and the flow is much augmented,
and permanent, until some 20 miles away the valley becomes
a veritable gorge, with cliffs exceeding 150 feet in height. For
the most part the surrounding country is a succession of sand
plains ; but at intervals oases of stunted banksia, casuarina, and
other trees are encountered. At some few localities, the soil is
richer, and the valley expands into small alluvial flats. Here
several species of eucalyptus are found, and grow to a large size.
In the spring of the year the whole district is clothed with a
brilliant and vatied flora.

HiERACIDEA BERIGORA (Striped Brown Hawk). — Not infrequent. More
often observed flying over the sand plains than anywhere else.

Cerchneis CENCHROIDES (Kestrel). — Far from common. According to
my observations this is a rock-loving rather than a forest species.

AcCIPITER CIRRHOCEPHALUS (Sparrow-Hawk). — Frequently seen. A pair
had a nest close to Mogumber railway station, but I could not find the
exact locality.

NiNOX BOOBOOK (Boobook Owl). — The familiar call often heard at night
near Mogumber. *

CORVUS CORONOIDES (Crow). — Pairs and family parties pretty frequent.

Grallina PICATA (Magpie-Lark). — Distinctly rare ; and only seen on
the upper portions of the river, near to and beyond New Norcia.

* The " familiar call " cannot ahvays be attributed to the Boobook Owl, because
other Owls emit similar sounds. See Dr. E. A. D'Ombrain's paper in this
issue. — Eds.

134 Lawson, Glance at the Birds of the Moore River {\V .A.) [ j^'j'^„

COLLYRIOCINCLA RUFIVENTRIS (Buff-bellied Shrike-Thrush). — Frequent
on the upper portions of the river, but naturally absent in the region of
the extensive sand-plains.

PterOPODOCYS PHASIANELLA (Ground Cuckoo-Shrike). — Observed at
Mogumber, but distinctly uncommon.

Graucalus MELANOPS (Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike). — Fairly common in
suitable country.

MiCRCECA ASSIMILIS (Lesser Brown Flycatcher). — Fairly common all
along the course of the river. A nest found with three fresh eggs on the
limb of a dead bush, about six miles east of Mogumber.

Petrceca GOODENOVII (Red-capped Robin). — This beautiful species only
met with at the sources of the river. Even there it appeared to be extremely
local. A nest found containing three eggs. I quite expected to meet with
it again on the sand plains west of Mogumber, but the only Robin I
encountered was the next species, which occurred in the oases of banksia
and other trees. It is a curious fact that P. goodenovii should breed
commonly on Rottnest Island, but at present is not known to occur in
the intervening country between the latter locality and the Upper Moore
River.

Petrceca campbelli (Western Scarlet-breasted Robin). — Fairly common
near Mogumber, and as far down the river as I explored. I found it
nesting in the banksias quite 15 feet from the ground. It is a much more
silent species than P. goodenovii.

Sericornis BREVIROSTRIS (Short-billed Tree-Tit). — Common amongst the
various eucalpyts.

Pseudogerygone CULICIVORA (Southern Fly-eater). — Fairly distributed
throughout the course of the river.

Malurus LEUCOPTERUS (White-winged Wren). — This species occurs, very
sparingly and locally, on the sand plains west of Mogumber, where the
latter are clothed with patches of rather thicker vegetation than the
general rule. Probably this is the extent of its range westward. The
further south and the nearer the coast one proceeds the rarer does this
species become. Its headquarters in Western Australia are probably the
Murchison, Peak Hill, and Gascoyne goldfields.

Malurus SPLENDENS (Banded Wren). — ^Apparently absent from the
upper Moore River, but moderately common round Mogumber and lower
down the valley. I found it breeding in several places.

Rhipidura tricolor (Black-and-white Fantail). — Scattered pairs
encountered both up and down the river.

SiSURA INQUIETA (Restless Flycatcher). — Rather more common and
equally well distributed with the last species.

ACANTHIZA APICALIS (Broad-tailed Tit). — Only met with near the source
of the river.

ACANTHIZA INORNATA (Plain-coloured Tit). — Fairly common near Mogum-
ber, and met with at intervals further west.

ACANTHIZA CHRYSORRHOA (Yellow-rumped Tit). — Much more common
around Mogumber and the lower portions of the river than near the
source.

CiNCLORHAMPHUS RUFESCENS (Brown Song-Lark). — Only encountered
once ; this was near a small lake at the head of the river.

Vol. IV.
1905

1 Lawson, Glance at the Birds of the Moore River {\V .A^ 1 35

Ephthianura tricolor (Tri-coloured Bush-Chat). — A few pairs met
with on the sand plains west of Mogumber ; they were all adults ; pro-
bably returning migrants.

Gymnorhina LEUCONOTA* (White-backed Magpie). — Pretty common
from Mogumber to New Norcia ; but to the westward rather rare. At
the former locality I saw several nests.

Cracticus destructor (?) (Butcher-Bird). — I observed pairs of Cractius
in many places up and down the river. I think they were referable to
this species, but am not absolutely certain.

PachyCEPHALUS OCCIDENTALIS. — Found in the thicker scrubs, but far
from plentiful.

Climacteris RUFA (Rufous Tree-creeper). — Not uncommon amongst the
eucalypts.

Sittella PILEATA (Black-capped Tree-runner). — Little parties often seen,
both up and down the river.

Myzomela nigra (Black Honey-eater). — A few met with in open country
sparsely clothed with dwarfed banksias, not far from the junction of
the north branch of the river.

Acanthorhynchus SUPERCILIOSUS (White-browed Spinebill). — As far as
I could see, this beautiful species was absent from the immediate neighbour-
hood of Mogumber and the country to the east. I first encountered it
10 miles down the river, and more commonly still further to the west.
It seemed partial to the oases of banksia and the scrub verging on
the sand plains.

ZOSTEROPS GOULDI (Green-backed White-eye). — Common, and breeding
throughout the course of the river.

Glycyphila fulvifrons (Fulvous-breasted Honey-eater). — A few pairs
on the slopes of a range of hills to the north of Mogumber. To my surprise
it was absent from the sand plains.

Glycyphila ocularis (Brown Honey-eater). — Common in all suitable
localities.

Manorhina OBSCURA (Dusky Miner). — A few parties met with near
Mogumber.

ACANTHOCH^RA CARUNCULATA (Red Wattle-Bird). — Pretty common, both
up and down the river.

Pardalotus ORNATUS (Red-tipped Pardalote). — Common amongst the
eucalypts.

Hirundo NEOXENA. — A few pairs generally met with around homesteads.
I was told of colonies of either this species or Petrochelidon ariel breeding
in the culverts of the railway line some few miles away.

Petrochelidon nigricans (Tree-Martin). — Common, and breeding in
many places amongst the white gums.

Petrochelidon ariel (Fairy Martin). — I did not actually see this species,
but photographed a group of nests in a recess of a limestone clift', about
three miles west of Mogumber. They were probably nests of the previous
year.

Anthus AUSTRALIS (Pipit). — Not uncommon on the sand plains and in
open country.

* ? G. dorsalis. - Ens.

136 Lawson, Glance at the Birds of the Moore River {}¥ .A>) [ tifTn

Artamus CINEREUS (Grey-breasted Wood-Swallow). — Wood-Swallows
were not common, but I think the few I saw belonged to this species.

MiRAFRA HORSFIELDI (Bush-Lark). — A few pairs met with on the sand
plains some twelve miles west of Mogumber.

PODARGUS STRIGOIDES (Frogmouth). — A ncst containing young found
near the source of the river. It was in the fork of a limb some 15 or
20 feet from the ground.

MeropS ORNATUS (Bee-eater). — Not uncommon to the west and near
Mogumber. The native name is " Berrin-berrin."

Halcyon SANCTUS (Sacred Kingfisher). — Common, and breeding, espec-
ially near Mogumber.

CUCULUS PALLIDUS (Pallid Cuckoo). — A few observed, or heard, up and
down the river.

Calytporhynchus BAUDINI (White-tailed Cockatoo). — Pretty common,
and very noisy. I met with flocks every day. There were many young
birds amongst them. At a station some fifteen miles west of Mogumber
three nesting-places were pointed out to me. In each case a hollow limb
of a gum tree was utilized, at heights of from 20 to 40 feet. They were
inaccessible without a lot of trouble, in the absence of a rope ladder. Pro-
bably they contained eggs of a second brood, as the females flew out of
the nest-hole in two instances.

LiCMETIS PASTINATOR (Western Long-billed Cockatoo). — At Mogumber I
saw an individual in captivity that had been obtained some 30 miles or
so further north. I was told by an old resident that formerly this species
was not uncommon in the neighbourhood.

Barnardius SEMITORQUATUS (Yellow-collared Parrakeet). — Pretty com-
mon, and breeding amongst the eucalypts.

Phaps ELEGANS (Brush Bronze-wing). — At Mogumber I saw the survivor
of a pair in captivity. This was formerly a common species, but its
disappearance is attributed by residents to the number of domestic cats
now running wild in the bush.

RALLlDiE (Rails). — Near Mogumber are several swamps, and some five
miles south is Lake Wannamool, a large and reedy area of water. In the
breeding season these swamps contain a lot of water and vegetation, and
are frequented by a number of aquatic birds. I was, however, in default
of shooting, not able to identify the majority of them.

FULICA AUSTRALIS (Coot). — A pair on a pool at the sources of the river.

BURHINUS GRALLARIUS (Stone- Plover). — Heard at night. This species
used to breed commonly, and still does so to a smaller extent, at Bindoon,
some 14 miles to the south of Mogumber.

EUPODOTIS AUSTRALIS (Wild Turkey or Bustard). — Occasionally seen.

ZONIFER TRICOLOR (Black-brcasted Plover). — Near New Norcia I observed
several Plovers on a large cultivated paddock. They appeared to be of
this species.

NOTOPHOYX NOVyE-HOLLANDJyE (White-fronted Heron). — Not uncommon
near the Moore River and neighbouring swamps ; breeding in several
places. I climbed one tree containing several nests. The most accessible
one contained the unusual number of eight eggs. Four, however, clearly
belonged to a different parent, who may have perished accidentally or
otherwise.

Vol. IV.
1905

1 Lawson, a Glance at the Birds of the Moore River (IV. A .) I 3 7

BOTAURUS PCECILOPTILUS (Bittern). — Pairs were inhabiting the swamps
to the north of Mogumber, where their curious notes might be heard
any day.

PODICIPES POLIOCEPHALUS (Hoary-headed Grebe). — Observed on a pool
at the sources of the river and also near Mogumber.

Chenopis ATRATA (Black Swan). — This species frequents Lake Wanna-
mool, where it is said to breed. It is also met with at Bindoon.

Anas superciliosa (Wild Duck). — A few on the lower reaches of the
river west of Mogumber, and a nest found at one of the swamps the day
I left the district.

Description of the Eggs of Ptilotis fasciogularis.

By a. J. Campbell.

Mr. E. M. Cornwall, Cairns, has kindly sent a set of two eggs of
the abovementioned Honey-eater for examination and description.
He took them on Dunk Island, i6th October, 1898. No doubt
he would have sent them earlier, but was always hopeful of
obtaining a duplicate set. However, his specimens now become
the types.

The eggs may be described as elongated or pointed ovals in
shape ; texture of shell fine ; surface slightly glossy, and colour
light buff or pale fleshy tint, with a slight cap or darker wash of
the same colour on the larger end. Dimensions in inches — (i)
l.O X .65 inch ; (2) .98 x .65 inch.

Except for their more pointed smaller ends and larger size,
these eggs closely resemble the type of the well-known eggs of
the Singing Honey-eater (P. sonora).

Mr. Cornwall mentions the nest as being the usual deep, cup-
shaped structure, and that it was suspended in a small mangrove
growing within high water mark.

The fine Fasciated Honey-eater can be easily identified from
its congeners by the distinct bars of yellow and brown which
transversely mark the throat and fore-neck. As far as is yet
known, it frequents the mangrove belts of the Queensland
coast and islands contiguous thereto ; in fact, it is sometimes
locally called the " Island " Honey-eater. Mr. Cornwall recently
noticed the birds on Franklin Islands, near Cairns, while in 1885,
during an excursion made by Mr. A. W. Milligan and myself to
the Lower Fitzroy, we found Fasciated Honey-eaters there.
Judging by their pleasant notes the birds were exceedingly
merry, but extremely shy. We obtained skins for our collection,
which were exhibited at the Field Naturalists' Club, but no eggs
were found.

138 S,tray Feathers. [5th "j an.

Stray Feathers.

A Favourite " Rookery." — The photograph (Plate IX.)
depicts a large red gum tree growing in a small dam in the
Western District of Victoria. At the time of my visit the follow-
ing birds were nesting in it, viz. : — The Whistling Eagle {Hali-
astur sphenurus), Black Cormorant {Phalacrocorax carbo), Little
Black Cormorant {P. sulcirostris). Little Cormorant {P. melano-
leucus),V^\\\t& Ibis {Ibis molucca), Y€i\ow-hi\\(td SpoonhxW {Platibis
fl.avipcs), and White-necked Heron {Notophoyx pacifica). The
birds seemed quite contented in company, but when they left
their nests a pair of Ravens {Corone australis) would quickly
come and commence eating the eggs, but they had a decided
preference for Herons' and Spoonbills' eggs, always taking them
before those of the Cormorants. — D. Le Souef.

Black v. Rufous Butcher-Birds. — Mr. E. M. Cornwall
(Cairns), writing under date 8th November, 1904, states : — " I
am sending by this mail some photographs (Plates VII. -VIII.)
which may prove of interest, and which I think will go a long
way towards settling the Black versus Brown Butcher-Bird con-
troversy. I have the young birds at home ; they are doing well,
and I hope to rear them, and send them along to the Melbourne
Zoological Gardens.

"The nest is most charmingly situated amongst a luxuriant
growth of the pretty little button-plant — some people call it an
orchid ; I don't know whether it is or not. Close to the nest
grows a sturdy little plant of an orchid {Dendrobium undulatum\
On the other branch, just above the right shoulder of the figure,
may be seen several plants of another pretty orchid {Aria fitz-
allcm), whilst on the lowest fork, near the bottom of the picture,
there is still another orchid, ' Cyrnbidium.' There were three
young ones (two black and one brown) in the nest, but one of
the black fell out just before the photo, was taken. The two
parent birds were both black."

Again, under date ist December, Mr. Cornwall writes : — " I do
not know that I can add anything to what was said last year
when I found three nests each containing three young birds, in
two of which one was brown and two black, and in the other
two brown and one black. The three which I photographed I
still have alive, and they are doing well, and I also have another
young brown one which a young friend of mine brought me.
When he captured it it had left the nest, and was in company
of two black ones. I found three other nests with young ones
this year ; one had three and the others two each, but all were
black. In every case the two parent birds were black.

" To my mind it is conclusively proved that the black and
brown birds are identical, and all we have to settle now is whether
the young brown is the male or female, and at what age they

The Emu, Vol. IV.

PLATE VII

Nest of Black Butcher- Bird, with Young — one black and one brown.

FROM A PHOTO. BY E. M. CORNWALL.

The Emu, Vol. IV.

PLATE VIII.

Photographing the Nest { in silu) of the Black Butchei-Bird ( Cracticus quoyi).

FROM A PHOTO. BY E. M. CORNWALL.

Vol IV.

1905

Stray Feathers. ^ 39

assume the black plumage. After watching the young birds in
captivity, it would not surprise me to find that the brown birds
are males, for they seem to be hardier and to feather quicker than
the black ones. Then, again, we very often note the young
brown one warbling very quietly to itself, but have not noticed
the black ones doing it."

[Accompanying the beautiful photographs of the nests of Black
Butcher-Birds, Mr. Cornwall sent a picture of the nest of the
Helmeted Friar-Bird (^Philemon buceroides). The nest was built
in a tree near the main street of Cairns, and was constructed of
a great quantity of twine of many kinds, besides braid, tape,
wool, cotton, silk, wadding, &c., &c. — Eds.]

From Magazines, &c.

The Journal of Agriculture (Victoria) continues to give
coloured plates of useful insectivorous birds. Part 10 (November)
contains an excellent drawing of the familiar Yellow-rumped
Tit {Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank. The
accompanying letterpress is by Mr. C. French, F.L.S., F.E.S.

Our member, Mr. James R. M'Clymont, M.A., has contributed

some " Notes on a Few Birds, Chiefly Migratory and Nomadic,

Observed in the Vicinity of Hobart " to The Zoologist (15th

August, 1904). The Pallid Cuckoo {Cuculus pallidus), together

with some of its foster parents ; the Spine-tailed Swift (Chmtura

caudacuta), and the Swift-Lorikeet {N anodes discolor') are those

chiefly mentioned, with interesting and original field notes.

With regard to the Swifts, Mr. M'Clymont suggests that the

use of the spines on the tail-tips is to enable the bird to cling to

" some perpendicular surface of great hardness, such as of a

precipitous cliff."

* * *

Genera Avium. — A specimen sheet of the letterpress of this
work, embracing eight pages, has been received. To say that
the forthcoming book is to be illustrated by drawings by M.
Keulemans is sufficient to give it authoritative standing, but
when it is borne in mind that Mr. P. Wytsman is editor, and
that amongst the contributors are numbered such men of stand-
ing in avicultural science as Mr. Ernst Hartert, of the Zoological
Museum, Tring, no further recommendation is necessary.
Passeres : Fam. Eurylaemidae form the subject of the specimen
sheet. The descriptions are clearly and concisely given (in
English), and all information is brought up to date. The issue
of the book is limited to 300 copies, and the price will be based
on a charge of 2d. per page of letterpress, is. 3d. for each plain
plate, and 2s. 6d. for each coloured one.

140 From Magazines, Src. I

Emu
7th Jan.

EuLACESTOMA NIGROPECTUS. — This bird, tirst obtained by
Captain Armit and Mr. Guise during an expedition up Mount
Maneao, in February, 1895 (virtually what was then called,
owing to the enterprise of some Melbourne newspaper proprietors.
The Argus expedition), has a coloured plate by Keulemans
devoted to it in the July number of The Ibis. Dr. Sclater
says that the description given in the article is " fairly accurate "
of the male of the pair which now figure in the Tring Museum.
The specimens figured were obtained by Mr. A. S. Meek on the
Aroa River, British New Guinea, on 31/5/03. Other specimens
had been recorded. As the Australian Shrike-Tit, according to
Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, of the British Museum, belongs to the
"sub-family Pachycephalinae of the family Laniidae, that bird,
which is arranged by Dr. Sharpe in the same sub-family, is
probably one of its nearest allies."

Winter Whitening of Plumage or Fur. — Whilst naturalists
are agreed as to the protection afforded by a white covering —
colouration, as some people incorrectly have it — of birds and
animals in the winter, it has remained for Captain G. E. H.
Barrett-Hamilton (Proc. Roy. Irish Acad., xxiv., 1903, pp. 313,
314), to suggest how large a part fat may play in alteration of
pigment cells. To use the words of The Ibis, he " considers
that the temporary cessation of metabolism of fat and absence
of pigment may be parts of the same process ; whilst animals
are, as a rule, lightest in colour where the accumulation of fat
is greatest." The theory is rather a startling one, and is worth
further study. There is much to be said for and against it —
against seems to preponderate, more particularly when one
remembers that according to some highly accredited scientists
the feather cells after full development are really dead.

The Ibis. — The July number (8th series, vol. iv.. No. 15)
opens with an admirable coloured plate by J. G. Keulemans of
some birds from Cape Colony. In the article which accompanies
this Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, LL.D., &c., continues his description
of birds from Deelfontein, Cape Colony, and so far has described
123 species. Some valuable observations, supported by statis-
tics, as to the " Decrease in the Weight of Eggs as Incubation
Advances " are contributed by Mr. Hugh S. Gladstone, M.A.,
F.Z.S., &c. x\mongst the miscellaneous matter in the volume
is mentioned the fact that Dr. Finsch, who has done valuable
ornithological work, has resigned his appointment at the Leyden
Museum, to take charge of the ethnographical branch of the
Museum of Brunswick. Signer T. Salvadori, in this issue,
questions the nomenclature of Messrs. Hartert and Rothschild
of a bird from New Guinea which they called Eafci maculata.
His impression is that it belongs to the Dica?idae.

Vol. IV.
1905

1 Fro-in Magazines, &c. l.A I

Wekas Breeding in Captivity. — Mention is made in The
Avicultural Magazine (September, 1904) of a paper by Mr.
Blaauw, w^hich he read before the last Zoological Congress in
Berlin, on the subject of rearing the Weka Rails (Ocydromus
austr all's) of New Zealand, at Gooilust, Holland. A pair of
Wekas was kept for some years in the park in an enclosure
with growing plants. In the spring of 1900 the birds made a
large nest of all kinds of vegetation under a beech, and both
birds sat in turns on a clutch of three eggs. After 28 days
two young were hatched. They were an almost uniform choco-
late-brown colour, with black eyes and bill and reddish legs
and feet. The first day they remained in the nest, but on the
second day they began to follow their parents, who diligently
fed the chicks on all kinds of worms and insects. In seven
weeks the young were fully feathered and resembled the adults,
but the black marks of the plumage were less clearly defined,
and the general colour was darker.

Bird-Lore. — The July-August number continues the series of
admirable coloured plates of the Warbler family. The species
delineated are all extra-Australasian, hence have hardly any
claim on us at all. The photographs of Red-eyed Vireos accom-
panying the first article have an interest of their own. Some
were taken just after sundown — in one plate five and in another
20 minutes' exposure being given. As might be expected, the
automatic movements of a living body (when asleep) affect the
definition of the plate. Mr. Francis H. Herrick, who supplies
both plates and article, has some valuable notes on the genus.
A very readable article on " Lake Erie Terns " lacks the precise
definition of species which should always accompany bird papers.
Otherwise, both it and the illustrations are good — though the
photo, of the flight of Terns is not to be compared with those of
some of other sea-birds obtained by members of the Aust. O.U.
A summary of bird laws in Japan must be reserved for future
notice. The usual Audubon Societies' notes and leaflets accom-
pany this issue, and prove how zealous bird-lovers in America
are as to preservation of species.

Character of Birds' Wings. — Dr. A. G. Butler reports in the
Avicultural Magazine {yo\. ii.. No. 11, pp. 319, 320) a suggestion
he had before made. This is that " every Museum should make
a collection of the expanded wings of all birds ; not only to enable
the systematic ornithologist to see, at a glance, all sexual characters
and all important generic differences which an open wing brings
to light, but to enable him to describe his birds correctly.
I am quite sure," (he says) "if they will do this, that many un-
suspected characters of importance will be brought to light.
I am equally certain that it will enable them to

142 From Magazines, &c. rsth"j"n

distinguish with ease the sexes of many species which have
hitherto been doubtfully, or even incorrectly, determined by
collectors and taxidermists." The suggestion seems well worth
adopting. For an exemplification of what such a mode of ex-
amining the wings really means one has only to refer to The
Ibis (July, 1903, pp. 446-451), where extended wings of male
and female Lapwings are figured and fully described. Mr. F. W.
Frohawk, M.B.O.U., F.E.S., in this article, says : — " During
flight the sexes may easily be distinguished by the great difterence
of wing formation," and a glance at the illustrations given shows
marked differences.

The International Catalogue of Scientific Literature. —
An undertaking which shows how, on proper occasion, scientists
can work together is presented by this work. No part of it
has yet been forwarded for review, hence it is necessary to fall
back on information gathered from other sources. The Auk
(vol. xxi., 1904, pp. 494-501) contains a good summary of what
has been done and is doing in the matter. There it is explained
that " the supreme control of the Catalogue is vested in an
international convention, which is to meet in London in 1905,
1 910, and every tenth year afterwards, to reconsider, and, if
necessary, to revise the regulations for carrying out the work
of the catalogue, &c." The materials are to be furnished by
regional bureaux, which already number 30. Volume N of the
series is devoted to ornithology, and embraces " New Genera
and Species," " Geographical Distribution," &c. Structure,
development, physiology, ethnology, variation, and aetiology,
geographical distribution, and " taxonomy and systematic " are
the headings under which presently available information is
ranged. A hasty glance through one or two of the numbers
shows that it is a work which every naturalist would be the

better for possessing.

* * *

" Tasmania, OrnitholoCTically Considered," is the title of an
article by Mr. Frank M. Littler, F.E.S., contributed to The
Zoologist (September, 1904). The article, which is based on
the writer's own field observations, written in a pleasant and
popular style, deals with the more common bush birds, while
at the end is a systematic list of all the known Tasmanian birds.
Mr. Littler is inclined to the opinion that, as the knowledge of
the Australian ornis extends, M alums cyaneus, M. goiddi , and
M. elizabethcB will be grouped under one specific name. If so,
then the same rule will apply to a dozen other Australian genera.
Another of Mr. Littler's notes states : — " In no list can I find
mention of any member of the family CerthiidcB being found
in Tasmania. I have met with both the White-throated Tree-
creeper {Climaeteris leueophcBo) and the Brown Tree-creeper
{C. scanclciis) in some of the heavily timbered forests in the

Vol. IV.
1905

1 From Magazines, &c. 1 43

north-eastern portion of the island — forests consisting mainly of
big timber." Mr. Littler would promote the interests of the
ornithology of his island were he to, say on his next holidays,
procure these birds for complete identification. The pleasure of
such a trip would be enhanced by the anticipation that the
reputed Tree-creepers may be new to science, if not sub-specific
to the mainland forms quoted by him.

* * *

The Brush Turkey. — Continuing his notes on this bird
having bred at the London Zoo, Mr. Bertling records that,
" being somewhat doubtful as to the cock's parental diligence,"
he opened the mound to see how matters stood {Avi cultural
Magazine, August, 1904, p. 294 et seq.) The eggs were placed,
as recorded by other observers, larger end uppermost. He
found, after a few minutes' search, " a pretty chick, which
winked and blinked on having the bright sunshine suddenly
turned on to it." After describing the colouration Mr. Bertling
goes on to say something as to the habits of the young birds,
noticing that they have the same digging propensity as the
adults, and that " their pugnacity was evinced at an early
stage." After waiting a fortnight, and no further young appear-
ing, the " mound " was stripped, with most unsatisfactory
results. From Mr. Bertling's investigations he concludes " that
the young ones do not chip round the upper part of the egg

when emerging but appear to give a violent

wriggle and shatter the whole shell, although they still remain
encased in the inner membrane, which is not torn open for
some hours afterwards." The cock bird behaved peculiarly
when a dead chick was in the mound, and the description of
his ways and some other phases of Brush Turkey life will
furnish matter worth studying.

* * *

King or Least Swamp Quail. — The Avicultural Magazine
(September, 1904) contains an interesting article by Mr. D.
Seth-Smith, F.Z.S., on "Painted Quails" {Excalfactoria), which
he has kept and bred successfully in captivity in England. The
dark Australian form {E. lineata) has been separated as a sub-
species only from the Asiatic form {E. chinensis). Mr. Seth-
Smith is of opinion that the sub-specific separation is possibly
correct, because hybrids of the two species are perfectly fertile.
There is a marked difference between the young in down of the
two varieties. The predominating colour of young of the
typical E. chinensis is very dark brown. On the back are two
very distinct stripes of sandy-buff, running from nape to tail.
The head is sandy-buft", with two distinct stripes of very dark
brown ; throat pale yellow, and under parts yellowish. In
E. lineata there can just be traced the buf^sh lines, which,
however, are entirely absent on the back, which is wholly
blackish. The throat is yellow, as in E. chi)iensis, but the under

I 44 From Magazines, &c. j" ,h "}"„

parts are considerably darker in the Australian bird. Mr. Seth-
Smith says : — " The point which I think is worth especial notice
in this connection is the difference which exists in the colour
of the newly-hatched young of E. chinensis and E. lineata."
It was observed that the male E. lineata showed no parental
affection towards the chicks, whereas the males of E. chinensis
brood their offspring to the same extent as the females. E.
lineata, as a rule, had three nests a year, and one pair hatched
four broods in 1900. Young birds of this species can run at
once, and resemble animated fluffy balls, about one inch in
length. It is noted that the two forms interbreed freely, and
newly-hatched chicks are intermediate between the two. The
hybrids are perfectly fertile. The article under notice is accom-
panied by a good illustration from a drawing by Mr. H. Gron-
vold of " Newly-hatched Painted Quails."

Birds on Marcus Island. — " A Monograph of Marcus Island,"
being an interesting account of its physical features and geology,
with descriptions of the flora and fauna of a mid-ocean islet,
by Mr. Wm. Alanson Bryan, B.Sc, has been issued in pamphlet
form " From the Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Museum (Honolulu), vol. ii., No. i, 1903." The island, which
is an ancient triangular-shaped atoll with an estimated area of
740 acres, between 60 and 70 feet above sea level in its highest
part, and densely scrubbed, is situated in the North Pacific,
4,500 miles west by south from San Francisco, or about 1,200
south-east of Yokohama. For a time it was disputed terri-
tory between the Governments of the United States and
Japan, but by amicable agreement it was left to America. The
Japanese used it as a " birding " station, the Americans for its
guano deposits.

The pages of the pamphlet devoted to " Aves " are particularly
interesting to Australians, 10 or 12 familiar sea birds or Waders
being mentioned, the field notes on the Sooty Tern {Sterna
fuliginosd), Noddy {Ano?^s stolidus), Red-tailed Tropic-Bird
{Phaeton rHbricauda), and Frigate-Bird {Fregata aquila) being
specially entertaining. The pleasant reading of the pages is
interrupted by a doleful note of a by-gone bird colony. In
referring to a fine Albatross {Diomedia immufabilis) Mr. Bryan
states : — " The story of the Marcus Island colony of Goonies
(Albatrosses) is one of death and extermination. In the
beginning of the operations of the Japanese company on the
island Goonies were fairly abundant. Not being able to find
guano by their crude methods, they developed a scheme whereby
they were able to make a marketable commodity by killing the
birds and boiling them down in great kettles. The resultant,
consisting of the flesh, bones, and viscera, was barrelled and
shipped to Japan, where it was used as a fertilizer. The long
wing feathers of all the birds were pulled out and carefully

Vol. IV.
1905

1 From Magazines, &c. I4S

preserved to be shipped to America and Europe and sold as
Eagle feathers,' which were in great demand for trimming
on ladies' hats. The feathers from the breast were plucked off
and sold by the pound. A profitable business was thus de-
veloped, with the deplorable result that within six years the
entire colony of these splendid birds has been exterminated."

Review.

The Australian Museum Special Catalogue (No. i), " Nests and
Eggs," by Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., &c., &c., has reached its
fourth part, which deals with the genus Malurus and the
families Turdidce, SylviidcB, and Timeliidcs, including in all 80
species.

Probably the unfortunate ill-health of the author may have
somewhat delayed the publication of the present part, which
concludes vol. i. of the work. (It is to be regretted that, in
consequence of the inadequacy of funds, Mr. R. Etheridge, jun.,
the Curator, has announced it will be some time before a further
instalment can be issued.)

The work continues its high standard of excellence as regards
both typography and plates. The sketches of the birds by the
late Mr. N. Cayley are noticeably artistic. The letterpress
indicates not only much original work, but patient research
among the literature and the collections of others. The pages
(3 1 1-3 16) referring to the cave-dwelling Rock- Warbler (Origma
rubricata), mostly from Mr. North's personal observations, are
exceedingly interesting, and their value is enhanced by plates of
" Nesting Haunts of the Rock- Warbler " and " Nest of Rock-
Warbler (in situ) " from photos, taken by the author himself.

Notwithstanding all this excellence, as an up-to-date reference
the work is faulty. Reading between the lines one cannot fail
to notice how skilfully the author has avoided references to the
useful labours of certain contemporary authors. If, as a " Special
Catalogue," the data of many species are not up to date, the
value of the work in this aspect must suffer severely.

To begin with the beautiful genus Malurus — it does not signify
whether we call these charming little birds Superb Warblers or
Wrens. Australians — students or tyros — will read their histories
with genuine delight. The author, with his intense love for
" priority," goes back to 1782, and states that M. cyaneus (Ellis),
a specific name hitherto (for more than half a century) attributed
to the familiar Blue Wren of the mainland, must now be restricted
to the Tasmanian species, while the former is to be known as
M. superbus of Shaw, 1790. But, as the author of the " Special
Catalogue " is such a " stickler " for priority it is all the more
imcomprehensible why he has ignored the following references
to other Maluri, and has suppressed all more recent knowledge
of a large and distinct Blue Wren {M . elizabethce) from King

146 Review. ' [Jj^^

Island, Bass Strait, figured in a coloured plate (No. X.) of The
Emu, vol. ii. (1902-3), which species was previously described
in The Ibis, p. 10 (i 901). Against the name M. leucopterus
(White-winged Wren) the author has placed a query, and states : —
" The accompanying remarks apply to the birds figured and
described by Gould in his folio edition of ' The Birds of Australia,'
vol. iii., part 25. With that writer, however, I agree in ques-
tioning very much the propriety of referring them to the Malurus
leucopterus of Quoy and Gaimard." Would it have not been well
to refer to the specimens of black Malurus with white wings in the
Western Australian Museum, one of which was figured in The
Emu, vol. i., plate vi. (190 1-2), together with a copy of the
drawing by Quoy and Gaimard of M. leucopterus. Mr. North,
without committing himself, could have ventured an opinion
whether he thought it was a rediscovery of Quoy and Gaimard's
species or a new bird, M . edouardi, as described in the Victorian
Naturalist, p. 203 (1901). Had Mr. North already not drawn
attention to it {vide Rec. Aust. Mus., vol. iv., pp. 209, 210) ? If,
as he has stated in the paper cited, the black and white birds
are the real leucopterus {Q. and Gaim.), the blue and white bird
should have been called cyanotis (Gould). In a coloured plate
(X.) in The Emu, vol. ii., was figured for the first time a species
of Mr. North's own creation, M. assimilis, and yet, although
he has given references for all plates of the other Maluri men-
tioned by him he has not noticed the plate of M . assimilis. Is
this because there appears on the same plate two other new
Maluri, the work of a contemporary ? No less an authority
than Dr. Bowdler Sharpe considers M . elizabcthce (Campbell)
and M. whitei (Campbell) to be good species {vide Emu, vol. ii.,
p. 230). Regarding the rare M. pulcherrimus, notwithstanding
there have been three mounted and " exhibited in the bird
galleries (of the Australian Museum) in the main hall for the
past thirty years " (p. 224), the author dismisses the beautiful
species with very brief remarks. It seems unfair that he should
not have, even if only by way of addendum, quoted the honorary
ornithologist to the Western Australian Museum, Mr. A. W.
Milligan's, more recent interesting, if not critical, notes as given
in The Emu, vol. iii., pp. 14, 15 (1903), where also appears a
fine photo. -plate (No. III.), depicting the country frequented by
these birds.

In the Proc. of the Roy. Soc. S.A., vol. xxii., p. 176 (1898),
Mr. G. A. Keartland mentions finding the Emu-Wren in North-
West Australia. Mr. North does not give that locality as a
habitat of Sti piturus malachums. Probably he considers that
.the species seen by Mr. Keartland must have been the Rufous-
crowned Emu-Wren (.S. ruficeps, Campbell), belonging to that
district, which was figured in The Ibis, plate vii. (1899), but which
has been ignored by the author of the " Special Catalogue." But
the excuse for the omission may be that its "nest and eggs"
have not yet been discovered ; nor have the nest and eggs of Mr.

V°'4^] Review. .147

North's Desert-Bird {Erciniornis cartcri) " a beautiful coloured
plate " of which also appeared in Tkc Ibis, part xiv. (1902),
from the same locality, and mentioned at length in Mr. North's
work.

The chapter on the curious Bristle-Birds iSphcnurce) is very
interesting. But there is no mention of Mr. Milligan's S.
Littoralis, discovered by himself in South-Western Australia, and
described in The Emu, vol. i., p. 67 (1902). This new species
has been recognized by the British Museum (see Sharpe's " Hand-
List of Birds," but not by the Australian Museum.

The remarks on the various tiny Tits {AcanthizcB), or Thornbills,
as they are termed, are very complete so far as they go. While
for A. ewingi the author furnishes his own reference (Proc.
Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 30th March, 1904) for the reinstatement of
this long-lost species, he omits to refer to previous information
regarding the reinstatement of the Tit by Colonel Legge (see
" Some Rectification in Tasmanian Ornis," Emu, vol. iii., p. 179,
7th January, 1904), not to mention the " Proceedings of the
Australasian Ornithologists' Union " in session at Hobart,
November, 1903, when specimens of A. ewingi, in the flesh,
were laid on the table for examination {Emu, vol. iii., p. 159).

Mr. North mentions having received A. ewingi in the flesh
from Tasmania in March, 1902. Why he withheld this interest-
ing information for two years, and till after the Hobart session
of the Aust. O.U., is not explained. Re the extension of locality
to Western x'\ustralia of A. tenuirostris, first chronicled by Mr.
A. W. Milligan in The Emu, vol. iii., p. 68 (1903), instead of
quoting this direct record Mr. North quotes second-hand part
of a letter from Mr. A. Zietz (Adelaide Museum), who, writing
to Mr. North, states : — " I have received here for examination
from the Perth Museum an adult male of A. tenuirostris."
When taking leave of the Acanthizas, on page 289, Mr. North
rightly deprecates " encumbering the ornithological literature of
many species with useless synonyms, which are neither flattering
to the describers of them nor of interest to the student or general
reader." But here is a genuine bit of " hair-splitting " by the
author of the " Special Catalogue " himself. He proposes names
for two new species on very doubtful grounds — viz., A. zietzi
and A. master si \ while he has missed three new species proposed
by other authors — viz., A. magnirostris, Campbell {Emii, vol. ii.,
p. 202, April, 1903) ; A. robustirostris, Milligan {cf. vol. iii.,
p. 71, July, 1903) ; and A. pallida, Milligan {cf. vol. iii., p. 1 12,
October, 1903).

It is difficult to find acceptable distinctive vernacular names
for some of Australia's peculiar birds. There is some objection
to the term " Thornbill " being applied to the Acanthizas, as
the former is already applied in America to a number of Humming-
Birds. " Squeaker," which is a vernacular for the Leaden Crow-
Shrike {Strepcra) in Western Australia, has been substituted
for Xerophila, while " Spinetail " for the Orthonyx may be
confused with " Spinetail " for the Swift {Chceturd).

o n • ( Emu

148 Review. l_3t,, j^,,.

Mr. North's " distributions " have been exceedingly carefully
recorded, but he has inadvertently omitted Western Australia
from the range of so common a bird as Mcgalurus gramincus
(Grass-Bird), and New South Wales from the range of Cala-
manthus albiloris {fuliginosus).* He has, however, endeavoured
to appropriate priority of Sericornis magnirostris (Large-billed
Scrub-Wren) for Victoria (compare Campbell's " Nests and Eggs,"
p. 247, 1900). x'\l though Pomatorhitiiis ruficeps (Chestnut-
crowned Chatterer) is found in North-Western Victoria, it has
never been found south of " The Divide," as Mr. G. A. Keartland's
field note indicates. P. superciliosus is evidently the species
intended. Mr. Keartland, to whom Mr. North must be greatly
indebted, has contributed quite a fund of field observations to
the " Special Catalogue." Here is a very graphic, if not exciting,
one on page 328, which might be entitled " Egg-collecting Under
Difficulties." Writing about the Cinnamon-coloured Ground-
Thrush {Cindosoma cinnamomcuni) of the great interior, Mr.
Keartland states : —

" During the journey of the Calvert Exploring Expedition in Western
Australia, I took my first clutch of these eggs, under rather peculiar
circumstances. I was staying behind collecting, when Mr. C. F. Wells
called out that he had discovered a nest of this Ground-Thrush containing
two eggs. He offered to mind my camel whilst I waited for the return of
the bird. My camel became restive, and Mr. Wells called me to 'Come on.'
I secured the eggs ; but the nest, which was simply a few acacia leaves
placed in a slight depression under a low bush, fell to pieces on being lifted.
I wrapped one egg in my handkerchief, and had placed it in the quart-pot
on my saddle, when ' Warrior ' (the camel) tried to get away. I mounted
with the egg in one hand, my gun in the other, and the reins in my teeth.
The camel bolted after the caravan, which was about a mile away on the
opposite side of a boggy clay-pan. Instead of following the track, he tried
a short cut, with the result that he floundered through the mud, and
nearly lost his rider, but on nearing the team he became steady, and the
eggs were safely packed."

Notes and Notices.

AnenT " Lighthouses and Bird Observations," and continuing
Mr. Superintendent Johnston's reminiscences (from page 64)
on King Island, he writes : — " A few years ago numbers of ' Grey
Duck ' visited us, appearing the end of December and leaving
again in March. A peculiarity about these Ducks was that
when shot at in the small lagoons they never rose, but fluttered
ashore and took to the scrub, consequently a good dog scored
against the gun. Early in January 12 of these Duck struck
the Cape Wickham lantern as one bird. The keeper on watch
got 8 on the balcony and 4 more were picked up at the base of
the tower in the morning. Of late years they have been very
scarce."

* Rec. Aust. Mas., vol. iii., p. 14 (1897).

^°';^^^^] Notes and Notices. 1 49

Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club. — Lovers of nature and
field students will hail with satisfaction the formation of a Field
Naturalists' Association at Hobart. In all Australia where could
be found a better and more beautiful collecting and observing
ground than the environments of Mt. Wellington ? The objects
of the Club are the encouragement of the study of nature, and
the collection, preservation, and systematic classification of
specimens, to be promoted by periodical meetings and excursions,
the formation of a library, and the publication of papers and
proceedings when deemed advisable. The of^ce-bearers for the
year are : — Chairman, Dr. Gerald Smith ; vice-chairman, Mr.
Samuel Clemes ; secretary and treasurer, Mr. E. A. Elliott ;
committee : Messrs. E. S. Anthony, A. Conlon, M. W. Harrison,
A. M. Lee, A. Morton, and J. E. Smith.

Coloured Figure Fund.

The following donations are acknowledged, with thanks : —
F. L. B., los. ; E. D'Ombrain, 5s. ; R. Wace, 6s.; Geo. Graham,
5s.; T. Iredale, los. 6d. ; T. Tindale, 5s.; Dr. Magillivray,
^'i 2s. ; J. M'Clymont, 7s. 6d. ; W. B. Barnard, 5s.; H. E.
Hill, 5s. ; Miss M. Brumby, 5s.

Bird Preservation in New Zealand.

At the Sydney session of the A.O.U. Colonel Legge referred to
the interest taken by members of the Union in bird preservation,
and spoke of the lamentable extinction of interesting birds in
New Zealand, such as the Notontis, the Quail {Coturnix novcB-
zealandice), the Macquarie Island Rail, one of the Cyanorhamphtis
genus of Parrakeets, &c., &c.

He alluded to the praiseworthy efforts of the New Zealand
Government to preserve other interesting endemic forms, such
as Apteryx, Ocydromus, &c., in the " bird sanctuaries" of Reso-
lution Island and Little Barrier Island.

The subject of the further preservation of these restricted
New Zealand forms was dealt with by the Committee of the
Biological Section, A.A.A.S., under Colonel Legge's presidency,
and as the result he took the opportunity, when in Wellington,
of of^cially addressing Sir Joseph Ward, in whose department
the subject of bird preservation is dealt with, on the preservation
of the very interesting " Flightless Rail " of the Chatham Islands
{Cohaliis modcs/us), which has become almost extinct from several
causes — clearing of low scrub, destruction of the rough pasturage
by sheep, and finally by the ruthless onslaught of the fast-

I CQ Bird rreservaiion in New Zealand. F-th '"lan

disappearing species by a collector, on behalf, it is reported, of
the Tring Museum, when about 20 specimens were captured.

Colonel Legge's communication, written as president of the
Biological Section, A.A.A.S., was favourably received, and
he has recently received a courteous letter of thanks from the
Government of New Zealand for having called attention to the
matter, with a copy of the Gazette containing a notice pro-
claiming the species as absolutely protected, and instructing the
magistrate to use every effort to preserve the Rail in future.

The only doubt is whether the bird is not already extinct. If
so, this will be another lamentable disappearance of a specialized
New Zealand form, which is all the more regrettable inasmuch
as this Rail formed an interesting link between the New Zealand
and Lord Howe Island avifauna, and an interesting testimony
to the former land-connection, in past geological times, between
the two localities.

Jhc

£mu

dDffidal ODrgaii of the Jlustnifasian ©ruithologist'?' olluiou.

" Bir«ls of a fcattjcr.'

Vol. IV.] 1ST APRIL, 1905. [Part 4.

Notes on a Trip to the Yandanooka District,

Western Australia.

By Alex. Wm. Milligan.

My annual holiday last springtime (September, 1904) was spent
in the above district, in company with Dr. Alex. Morrison, the
Western Australian Government Botanist, and Mr. C. P. Conigrave,
of the Western Australian Museum, Perth.

Our first camp was pitched on the Yandanooka sheep station,
the property of Mr. S. J. Phillips, formerly member in the local
State Parliament for the Irwin electorate. After remaining there
ten days we struck camp and went to Ebano, an outlying sheep
station also belonging to the gentleman named, and situate some
16 miles inland. From there Mr. Conigrave made an arduous
journey on foot to Cadgee Cadgee sheep station, some 46 miles
farther inland, and penetrated what is known as the " mulga "
country.

Yandanooka is a siding on the Midland railway line, and is distant
from Perth about 260 miles northward.

The main object of our trip was to endeavour to ascertain the
southern and western limits of northern species, the northern
limits of southern species, and the distribution of species generally.

The Museum collectors had already run east to west lines from
Pindar (some 80 miles north of Yandanooka) to Wurarga, Day
Dawn, and farther eastward. The year before we had cut a line
from Mogumber to the Wongan Hills, 50 miles inland and east-
ward ; and I had in earlier years cut various lines, between the
Darling Ranges and the western coast, from Perth to Cape Men-
telle, some 200 miles south of the former. I had also cut an east
and west line from Lake Yanchep, some 35 miles north of Perth.

In the present trip Mr. Phillips and his station manager, Mr.
Herbert J. Lee Steere, helped us considerably with their valuable
local knowledge, and also placed at our disposal one of the station
teams to take us and our impedimenta from camp to camp, and
above all they evinced a lively interest in our labours ; for all
which we must record our grateful acknowledgments.

The country from Yandanooka to Ebano is what is known as
" jam " {Acacia acuminata) and " York gum " (Eucalyptus loxo-
phlcba), interspersed with scrubs of " prickly reminder " (a species

1^2 MiLLiGAN, Notes OH Trip to Ya}i'lanooka District, W.A. [,si^April

of Hakea having leaves up to 3 inches long, shaped and pointed
like porcupine quills, and growing at all angles) and also high-
growing, weeping prickly mimosa bushes. The formation of the
country is a depressed area of very rich red clay soil cut out of
the high, extensive sand plains. Bird-life was plentiful everywhere,
particularly the smaller Passerines, owing, undoubtedly, to the
excellent protection and security afforded by the " prickly
reminder " and mimosa scrubs. In them the birds, nests, and
young were at all times absolutely safe from their natural enemies,
Hawks, Crows, and Butcher-Birds, for they could not possibly
follow their quarry there. These bushes, however, are not
regarded favourably by sheep-farmers, as they destroy the fibre
of the wool of the sheep as they pass by and under them. Obviously,
an accompaniment to the progress of settlement will inevitably be
the decimation of smaller birds. The object of our trip was
successfully accomplished, but the results can only be generalized.
Many species were found to be common in all three places — that
is to say, the Wongan Hills proper, Yandanooka-Ebano, and
Pindar-Day Dawn. Others, again, were present at the first and
second, the first and third, and, again, the second and third.
Some were peculiar only to one or other of such districts. Even
to tabulate the results would occupy more space in this journal
that I could reasonably expect to have allowed. They, therefore,
must be reserved for a special work on distribution.

Briefly stated, we were able to fix (tentatively, of course) the
southern limit of Ptilotis carteri, Xerophila castaneiventris, Mahinis
assiniilis, Sphenostoma cristatum, Tceniopygia castanotis, and
Calopsittaciis novce-hollandicB, and the northern limit of Ptilotis
ornata. Such forms as Ephthianura tricolor and E. aurifrons,
Acanthiza robitstirostris, A. temiirostris, Aiiiylis gigantura, Cala-
manthus campestris, Manorhina {Myzantha) liiiea, Climacteris
superciliosa, and Cinclosoma cinnamomeum, which were found at
Pindar-Day Dawn (80 miles north), were not present at Yanda-
nooka or at the Wongan Hills. On the other hand, such forms as
Licmetis pastinator, Calyptorhynchiis stellatus, Calopsiitacus novcB-
hollandice, and Ptilotis carteri, found at Yandanooka-Ebano, were
not found at either Pindar-Day Dawn (northward) or at the Wongan
Hills (southward). Again, Malurus pulcherrimus, Cinclosoma
castanonotnm, Drymaa^diis pallidits, Hylacola cauta, and Calamanthits
montanclliis, found at the Wongan Hills proper, were not found at
eithei Yandanooka-Ebano or at Pindar-Day Dawn. Acanthiza
iiropygialis, A. pallida, Malurus leucopterus, Glycyphila albifrons,
and many other species, were common at all three places. Ptilotis
plumula was found at Wurarga, near Day Dawn, and at Cadgee
Cadgee, but that may be accounted for by the fact that each place
is in the " mulga " belt. Mesocalius palliolatus was found at Day
Dawn and also at the Wongan Hills proper, but, strange to say,
not in the intermediate Yandanooka district. At Yandanooka-
Ebano Malurus assiniilis, M. splendens, and M. leucopterus were
found, the first-mentioned two occuj^ying the same feeding-grounds.

Vol. IV.
1905

1 MiLLiGAN, Notes on Trip to Yandanooka District, W .A. I 53

The foregoing notes are not intended by any means to represent
every species worthy of reference upon the hnes indicated.

The following field notes on the rarer or less known forms secured
during the trip may prove interesting : —

Ptilotis carteri (Campbell). — These birds were invariably found
in the " York gum " belts, both at Yandanooka and Ebano. In
habit and disposition they are restless and pugnacious, chasing
each other from tree to tree in noisy quarrel. They have a habit
similar to that of Ptilotis ornata (which they resemble in their notes
and general characteristics) of rising frequently into the air from
the top of a tree, uttering a distinct note. We secured a series of
some 12 skins, and in every one (except a fledgling) the black
auricular line and yellow throat and chest striations (distinguishing
marks already recorded by me*) were always present and con-
spicuous. Lately I have had the opportunity of comparing the
above with two skins of Ptilotis leilavalensis (North), from tlie
Carpentaria district, kindly lent by Dr. W. M'Gillivray, and in neither
of these skins do the black line and striations appear. The white
plumes in the latter, also, are less strongly developed. I have there-
fore not the slightest hesitation in pronouncing the two species
distinct. Fortunately, when I was making the comparison, Mr.
Tom Carter, formerly of Point Cloates, was on a visit to Perth,
and he, after making a critical examination of the skins of both
species, expressed himself as entirely in accord with my pronounce-
ment. Certainly, the general pattern of the plumage of the two
species is very similar, but the same remarks apply with equal force
to Ptilotis plumula, which appears to be an inland representative
of Ptilotis carteri. Convert the yellow plumes of Ptilotis plumula
into white, and you have P. carteri. I cannot admit P. penicillata
as being as near an ally to P. carteri or to P. leilavalensis as is
either P. plumula or P. flavescens.

Oreoica cristata (Lewin). — This species was very common every-
where, and I was fortunate in finding two nests containing eggs.
One nest was placed in the fork of a large prickly mimosa bush
about 2 feet above the ground ; the other in a " prickly reminder "
bush, at about the same height. The occupant of each nest sat
very closely, and did not seem disposed to move on my near
approach. Each nest abounded with black hairy caterpillars —
a circumstance which has already been observed and recorded by
field naturalists in regard to the species. The presence of such
life has not hitherto been satisfactorily accounted for, and the
suggestion that the caterpillars are placed there by one of the pair
as food supplies for the sitting bird has been rejected. I am unable
to concur in the rejection. The fact of each bird sitting so closely
led me to the conclusion that they could not be there for any pur-
pose other than food. However, subsequently I shot one of the
species (not one of the nesting birds) and had the contents of its
stomach preserved for examination on my return. Such examina-
tion, with the aid of a strong magnifying glass, revealed the presence

* Emti, vol. iv , p. 51-

154 AIiLLiGAN, Notes on Trip to Y aiuianooka District, \V .A. [,^^'^'^11

of scores of the hairs of the caterpillars, together with the segments
of their bodies and softer inner parts.

The rich and varied notes of the species are well known to every
Australian bushman, as also are its extraordinary ventriloquial
powers. The several combinations of notes I fix as seven. Some
combinations are inimitable, or at least have not an equivalent
in the English language. Some, however, have an equivalent,
perhaps fanciful. Three of these I translate as follows : — One,
" Billy Pope," thrice repeated ; another, " Honour the Pope," oft
repeated; and a third, " Where's Subiaco ? " These birds, together
with their compeers in song, Sphenostoma cristatiini, Cracticus
nigngularis, Collyriocincla rufiveiitris, and Pachycephala falcata
(which were invariably found in association), made the scrub-lands
ring again with their melody. The aborigines call the bird " Baacka
Baacka," evidently in imitation of one of their combinations of
notes.

Sphenostoma cristatiiiii (Gould). — These singular birds were also
very numerous in the " prickly reminder" scrubs, probably owing
to the security afforded by them. Many writers have spoken of
the species as being extremely shy and difficult of approach, but
that was not my experience. Their marvellously developed ventri-
loquial powers certainly make the birds difhcult to locate, but
when once located they are easy to approach. I could have shot
a score without any trouble. Ihey are able to throw their voices
at least three hundred yards in any direction. Their notes are
four, given with a clear, ringing, bell-like sound. When two or
three sing in concert all other bird-notes are overpowered. Locally
they are called (onomatopoeically) " Jimmy Linthorne " (the name
of a local celebrity), and by others the " Bell-Bird." I much
prefer, as a vernacular name, the one suggested by Dr. Morrison,
of our party — namely, the "Chimes-Bird" — as it is particularly
appropriate. I examined the contents of the stomach of one bird ;
they included the remains of a grasshopper and the seeds of
various plants, which I have not yet had identified. The native
name is " Geetardo."

Xerophila castaneiventris (Milligan). — I was, indeed, pleased to
meet with this new species. The birds were in great numbers.
They associate in small companies, and for the most part keep to
the prickly bushes before mentioned. They appear to feed on the
ground under these bushes, and when alarmed rise into them.
They are very sprightly in their movements, and their song is com-
posed of two or three plaintive but musical notes. Their loosely
constructed nests are built in the prickly bushes. The plumage
of one bird that I shot was wholly tinged with warm chestnut.

Cracticus nigrigidans (Gould). — This handsome Butcher-Bird
was numerous in the " red" lands, but principally in the beautiful
white-limbed " flooded gums " {Eucalyptus rostrata). His notes
suggest the vastness of the Australian bush and continent. At
dawn his clear cornet-like notes ring out far above the great chorus
of bird-song. They are various, and some impossible of transla-

Thk Emu, Vol. IV.

PLATE XI.

O

4^ <U >

The Emu, Vo/. IV.

PLATE X.

Native Climbing Flooded Gum for i\ebl ot Ulack-thioatcl i'.utclici-UiK
( Cracticus nigri^ularis).

FROM A PHOTO. BY C. P. CONIGRAVE.

^iQos^'l MiLLlGAN, Notes on Trip to Yandmwoka District, W.A. i 55

tion, but his dawn notes resemble the foUowing : — " Toll-de-lol-
fah " (the last note long drawn out and of liquid sweetness) ;
then twice and quickly repeated in a lower key — " You chatterbox ; "
then in a higher key and with very full, rounded notes, and twice
repeated — " Sweet after forty." So charmed was I with the song
and appearance of these birds that I determined to secure one to
take home with me. Through the kind offices of Mr. Lee Steere,
I eventually managed to get one from one of the station hands,
and my captive has furnished me with many opportunities of study.
The diet I give him is principally that of meat, but he has a dis-
tinct hking for oatmeal or pollard paste, and a still greater one
for grapes. For the latter he will leave his meat food at once.
The meat when offered is invariably seized with the bill and if
small is threshed on the spell and then run through the mandibles.
If large, it is similarly seized, and with surprising quickness is
tucked under one foot and torn to pieces, after the manner of some
birds of prey. The bird is a very small eater — Gymnorhina dor-
salis will, as I have tested, eat four times as much at one meal.
After satiety, a ' ' larder ' ' is made of any surplus meat in a con-
venient corner of the cage. Probably the fact of the slender
appetite of these birds, in combination with a difficulty in obtaining
regular supplies when wanted, has led to the natural habit of the
Butcher-Birds in making their " larders." My captive began
to moult in the middle of January last (he is a one-year-old bird)
but up to the present (the middle of February) the moult is not
completed. The breast feathers have changed from a discoloured
white to pure white ; the brown gorget on the chest shows a black
area on its lower margin ; the brown feathers of the sides of the
head and face are being supplanted by black ones ; the mantle
and neck feathers have changed from l3rown to black, but these
latter, in turn, are changing to white, the white colour beginning
on the outer margins of the feathers. Being anxious to ascertain
whether these birds had the sense of smell developed as regards
their food, I made and repeated the following test : — Approaching
with an empty hand concealed behind my back, the bird was in-
different to my approach. Returning inside the house and coming
back with my hand similarly concealed, but containing meat, the
bird at once fluttered its wings and uttered its baby cry for food.
Why should the members of the genus Gymnorhina be ambulators
and the members of the genus Cracticus be hoppers ? Has the
continuous search for food of the former on the ground brought
about, by degrees, ambulation ?

These birds build their nests in the flooded gums. One pair,
on Ebano camp, had their nest in one of these trees and brought
out their young, three in number. The photograph (Plate X.)
shows a native climbing the tree for the nest. The aboriginal name
is " Cudgeego."

Pachycephala jalcata (Gould). — I am in doubt whether I am
correct in identifying this species as the above, for the same reason
that I am in doubt whether it is really separable from P. riifiventris.

1^6 MiLLlGAN, Notes on Trip to Y andanooka District , W .A. [,sf^pril

Gould's grounds of distinction between the adult males of the
two species were that the ear coverts, lores, and the region around
the eyes of P. jalcata were grey or ashy-grey instead of black as
in P. rufiventris. But these distinguishing marks are not constant,
and are found in both species. I secured two adult males at Ebano,
one having those parts black, and the other having them grey, but
in all other respects identical. Then, again, I looked at two adult
male skins obtained by Dr. House in the far north, in the Kimberley
expedition, one of which possessed these parts black and the other
grey. Comparing skins from Perth, Yandanooka, and the Kim-
berley district, there is not any difference in any one form except
that the Kimberley birds are not so flaky and loose in the
plumage as the southern ones. The difference between the
female birds from the same localities is that in the northern species
the longitudinal brown streaks of the breast are much more
narrow ; but this, again, is variable, for I have handled a skin
obtained at Moore River, about loo miles north of Perth, where
these lines in the female were very much more narrow than in
the birds at Yandanooka, i6o miles farther north.

Individuals of the species were very numerous at Yandanooka-
Ebano, their melodious voices filling the scrub-lands. They have
one distinctive call, which they frequently use in the middle day.
It resembles the sound of the word " Joey," and is repeated in a
high, penetrating tone fully twenty times without taking breath.

Barnardius zonarius (Shaw) ; Psephotus multicolor (Temm.) —
When at Ebano the native cattle-minder brought in four young
birds of the latter species just ready to fly, and on our return
journey from Ebano to Yandanooka we harried a nest of the
former species and obtained four young ones in the same condition.
One only of the Grass-Parrakeets lived (a male bird), and I have him
in captivity, and I have also one of the Yellow-collared Parrakeets.
My object in mentioning these species is not on account of their
rarity, but of the plumage phases of the young. Each bird has
proved to be a most lovable and docile pet. The tail of each began
to grow most rapidly in length — quite an inch per week until the
normal length was attained. The moult began simultaneously in
each bird, about ten weeks after leaving the nest. In the Grass-
Parrakeet the brownish feathers of the back have changed into a
dark grass-green ; the thighs have become vermilion ; the frontal
band and shoulder-patch changed from light yellow to a deep
orange-yellow ; and the porphyry-coloured patch on the back of
the head has become a deep maroon. In the Collared Parrakeet
the abdomen was almost yellow, but this has now changed to pale
green, leaving a yellow band lietween the abdomen and the breast.
The smoke-coloured head has changed to dull black, and the
forehead shows here and there a brick-red spot. In the adult bird
it is said there is not any frontal red band as in B. semitorquatiis.
Perhaps the red spots referred to may afterwards disappear, and
may only be evidences of the original type. In feeding my captive
{B. zonarius) holds his food between the hallux and first toe, these

Vol. IV.
1905

1 MiLLiGAN, Notes on Trip to Ymidanooka District, W.J. i 57

being held uppermost in position. Either foot is used, but the
right one usually. The amount of water that he drinks is remark-
able. The tender branches of a young red gum {Eucalyptus) are
considered a tit-bit by him, and the young leaves, the bark, and
young sapwood are all eagerly devoured. The Grass-Parrakeet is
not such an adept in holding his food. His is seized, in the first
place, by all the claws of the left foot, and then placed and held
against one of the cage wires. He drinks very little. The native
name of the Grass-Parrakeet is " Choogin," and that of the
Collared Parrakeet " Peel-baal."

Australasian Ornithologists' Union.

EXCURSION TO N.S.W. NATIONAL PARK.

By J. W. Mellor, A.O.U.

Upon the completion of the general business of the fourth Congress
of the Union, held in Sydney, those members whose business per-
mitted proceeded by train to the National Park, situated about
20 miles south of Sydney, which from its varied and lovely scenery
presents a picturesque spot for those requiring a quiet rest after
the toil and bustle of a city life.

The wild and rocky nature of the ground within the Park boun-
daries, with its deep ravines and inaccessible heights, its rivers and
dense foliage of original sub-tropical scrub, makes it an ideal spot
for all kinds of bird-life, and it is pleasing to relate that all fauna
and flora are rigorously protected, so that a visit to this paradise
is a fine opportunity for taking observations in ornithology. The
limit of the Park is extensive, comprising as it does 36,300 acres,
with a sea frontage to the South Pacific Ocean, and numerous
inlets and bays, forming the home of waterfowl, and breeding-
grounds for a large variety of fish. The work of the excursion
was facilitated in every way by the energetic and courteous chair-
man of Trustees, Mr. Frank Farnell, who did all in his power to
assist the members in making their observations. The inlets on
the lower reaches of the Port Hacking River were explored by the
naturalists in company with Mr. Farnell, who conveyed them
into the nooks and crannies of the watercourse in the Trustees'
oil launch Kiwi, and further hospitably entertained them at lunch
at the Park select abode, " Warumbul." A second day's outing
was hospitably provided to the upper regions of the Park, when
the visitors were driven by conveyance along the road and track
that skirt the freshwater portions of the Port Hacking River.
Here the scenery is d^ense and charming in the folds of virgin scrub.
Giant turpentines and other trees tower aloft to the height of 2C0
feet, and the cabbage palm in its luxuriance tries to race for
supremacy, while beneath, the soft-wood trees and fruit-yielding
shrubs, entwined with the cables of the " supplejack," make the

158 Excursion to N .S^V . National Park. \ ^T^ .,

-' List April

place quite dark and damp — an ideal spot for the land-leech and
snails. Here the Lyre-Bird {Meniira superba) was observed in
its natural state, but. with its characteristic shyness, would disappear
into the rocky ravines, not far distant, on the slightest noise. In
these sylvan retreats the Regent-Bird (Sericiiliis melimis) also makes
its abode, while Fruit-Pigeons feed on the berries and palm seeds.
The loud, harsh call of the Pied Crow-Shrike {Strcpcra graculina)
could be heard, as the parent bird called its young, M'hich were
just on the wing, to a safer locality on the rocky hillside. There,
too, the White-shafted Fantail {Rhipidura albiscapa) and the Black-
faced Flycatcher [Monarcha melanopsis) flitted beneath the cool
shade of the scrub trees, and several species of the Tit family {Acan-
thizcE) hopped from twig to twig in search of their insect food,
while on the ground more than one variety of the Scrub-Wrens
[Sericornes) made their way through the tangled undergrowth,
picking uj) their food at the roots of the shrubs and in the stunted
grass.

A pleasing and somewhat peculiar note to be heard was that of
the Coachwhip-Bird {Psophodes crepitans), whose liquid call
resembles the swish and loud crack of a whip, and might easily
startle a stranger in the wilds, far away in the bush, and convince
him that a human being was near at hand. But we could not stay
in the locality for any length of time, as the return journey to our
headquarters before dark was imperative, owing to the rough
nature of the track at this end of the Park, which is not yet pro-
parly formed.

Audley was our general quarters within the Park, and being in
a good central position, every point of the compass could be reached
within a comparatively short time.

Excursions on foot were frequently made to explore the different
situations, as it is surprising how local some species of birds are.
The flowering of certain trees would attract honey-eating birds,
and also insectivorous species, as insects would also be there, so
that it would be easy to miss some if a vigilant and constant eye
were not kept on all sides. The call of the " Crow " here seemed
extremely mournful and humanlike, and as a pair were rearing
their family not far distant from our abode, we were able to note
them often, and came to the conclusion from observation that
they were the Raven [Corone aitstralis). In the rocky sides of the
gullies the Rock- Warbler {Origma rubricata) was often seen, hopping
over the huge boulders in its usual restless manner, while on the
heath ground the solitary call of the Tawny-frcnted Honey-eatei
{Glycyphila fidvifrons) could be heard, as it perched on a dry
twig. Along the river the Satin Bower-Bird {Ptilonorhynchiis
violacciis) was making its well-known call, which resembles in the
morning the words " Too hot, too hot, too hot," and in the evening
" Water, water, water," and its call is a. sure sign that water is near
at hand, lip the rivers, too, the Kingfishers dart to and fro. the
Blue Kingfisher {Alcvonc aziirca) catching one's e\e like a vi\id
flash of brightness as it s^x^eds arrow-like over the surface of the

^"Igos^'] Excursion to N .S.W . National Park. 159

water. The Sacred Kingfisher {Halcyon sanctus) and the Forest
Kingfisher {H. niacleayi) frequented the timbered country near the
streams, where they were carrying out their breeding operations,
the white ant heaps, far up in the trees, being the ideal place
wherein to bore their tunnel and lay their eggs. The Yellow-
breasted Robins {Eopsaltria australis) were fairly common, and one
was observed feeding a young Palhd Cuckoo {Cucukis pallidns).
The loud note of the Butcher-Bird {Cracticus destructor) was often
heard, and the hearty laugh of the Laughing Jackass {Dacelo
gigas) resounded in the woods and ravines. The melodious note
of the Grey Shrike-Thrush {Collyriocincla harmonica) was as
refreshing as ever on a damp, dewy morning, and the habit of its
next of kin, the Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Pachycephala rufi-
ventris) of repeating its loud and frightened call upon the report
of thunder or other loud noise was the same as in more southern
limits.

A pleasing sight on the river reaches was the presence of numbers
of Black Swan {Chenopis atrata). Black Duck {Anas siiperciliosa)
were also quite tame, and fully appreciated the strict protective
laws enforced within the Park, and one would often flush them
in some small grassy creek or brook when coming suddenly upon
them, but their flight would be but a short distance.

On the bank of the stream many iguanas were seen, and a battle
royal was witnessed one day between one of these and a pair of
Laughing Jackasses. The lizard had taken refuge up a large,
smooth tree, when we heard the sudden whirr of wings and saw
a pair of Jackasses swoop down and peck at the reptile's head.
At the same time the birds uttered wild laughing cries, as if to
frighten the intruder, who turned tail and came down the trunk
of the tree at the double, but not before several more attacks had
been levelled at it on its way down to terra firma. It chose to
face man rather than the birds, which most likely had their nest
at no very distant point.

On the lower reaches the Pied Cormorants {PJialacrocorax hypo-
leticus) were seen, and the Silver Gull {Lams novcE-hollandice) graced
the salt spray ; while from a neighbouring dry tree, close to the
water's edge, the White-fronted Heron {Notophoyx novce-hollandice)
could be seen watching for its food.

One hundred and sixty acres in the Park have been fenced off,
and fallow and red deer placed in the enclosure. These have
multiplied considerably of late in their semi-wild state. The native
wallaby are also preserved in their homes, and have become so
tame that they will come in numbers in the evening close to the
keepers' houses to get scraps and feed, a sight that is extremely
quaint and pleasing to lovers of nature.

It would occupy too much space to record here all the species
of birds we saw and the notes taken upon them, as such a wealth
of vegetation naturally increases the numbers, and the interesting
points relative to them, so that the appended list of 55 names
must suffice to show just what was observed in a comparatively

I 6o Excursion to N.S.W. National Park. [ist^April

small area, and within the space of only three or four days (a couple
of weeks would certainly double the number), and speaks volumes
for the labours of the energetic chairman and his co-workers, and
it is to be hoped that the liberality of the Government will not
be withdrawn from voting a fair amount towards the maintenance
of such a land of bliss for our native fauna and flora, and a pleasant,
enjoyable, and healthy holiday resort for thousands of people.

Here follows list of birds observed, the numbers being according
to Gould's " Handbook" : —

I Wedge- tailed Eagle {Aquila audax').
53 Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena).
60 Laughing Jackass {Dacelo gigas).
63 Sacred Kingfisher {Halcyon sanctus).
66 Forest Kingfisher {Halcyon macleayi).
69 Blue Kingfisher {Alcyone azurea).
88 Pied Crow-Shrike {Strepera graculina).
92 Black-backed Magpie {Gymnorhina tibicen).
99 Butcher-Bird {Cracticus destructor).

102 Magpie- Lark {Grallina picata).

103 Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike {Graucalus melanops).
113 White-throated Thickhead {Pachycephala gutturalis).
116 Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Pachycephala rufiventris).
123 Grey Shrike-Thrush {Collyriocincla harmonica).

129 Yellow-bellied Shrike-Tit {Falcunculus frontatus).

134 White-shafted Fantail {Rhipidura albiscapa).

136 Rufous-fronted Fantail {Rhipidura rufifrons).

139 Black and White Fantail {Sauloprocta tricolor).

144 Leaden Flycatcher {Myiagra rubecula).

149 Brown Flycatcher {Microeca fascinans).

152 Black-faced Flycatcher {Monarcha melanopsis).

175 Yellow-breasted Robin {Eopsaltria australis).

179 Lyre-Bird {Menura superba).

182 Coachwhip-Bii'd {Psophodes crepitans).

igiAVariegated Wren {Malurus lamberti).

213 Yellow-throated Scrub-Wren {Sericornis citreogularis).

216 White-browed Scrub- Wren {Sericornis frontalis).

220 Brown Tit {Acanthiza pusilla).

226 Yellow-breasted Tit {Acanthiza nana).

227 Striped Tit {Acanthiza lineata).

229 Yellow-rumped Tit {Acanthiza chrysorrhoa).

236 Rock- Warbler {Origma rubricata).

253 Red-browed Finch {Mgintha temporalis).

257 Spotted-sided Finch {Stagano pleura guttata).

276 Satin Bower-Bird {Ptilonorhynchus violaceus).

290 Raven {Corone australis).

301 Tawny-fronted Honey-eater {Glycyphila fulvifrons).

306 Yellow-eared Honey-eater {Ptilotis lewini).

320 Yellow-faced Honey-eater {Ptilotis chrysops).

332 Brush Wat tie- Bird {Acanthochcsra mellivora).

339 Spinebill {A canthorhynchus tenuirostris).

348ABrown-headed Honey-eater {Melithreptus brevirostris)-

349 Red-eyed Honey-eater {Melithreptus lunulatus).

360 Silver-eye {Zosterops ca'rulescens).

371 White-throated Tree-creeper {Climacteris leucophcea).

Vol- IV.-] Excursion to N S.W . National Park. l6l

1905 J

378 Pallid Cuckoo {Cuculus pallidus).

380 Square-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus).

459 Little Green Pigeon {Chalcophaps chrysochlora).

462 Bronze-wing Pigeon {Phaps chalcoptera).

548 White-fronted Heron {Noiophoyx novcs-hollandicB).

570 Land Rail {Hypotcenidia philippinensis).

S77 Black Swan (Chenopis atrata).

585 Black Duck {Anas superciliosa).

597 Silver Gull (Larus novce-hollandice).

653 Pied Cormorant {Phalacrocorax hypoleucus).

A further excursion was taken during the same session of this
Congress to the Tuggerah Lakes district, situated half-way between
Sydney and Newcastle, when a large number of birds were identified
and many intei-esting notes taken. The account of this excursion
will appear in the next issue of The Emu.

Field Notes on Some Birds of the Casterton District

(Victoria).

By (Dr.) E. A. D'Ombrain.

Part II.

Tawny Frogmouth [Podargns strigoides). — The nest of this bird
was discovered on eight occasions during 1903. The only notice-
able facts about them were that in one instance the nest was in a
" spout " of the tree and contained the unusual clutch of three
eggs.* Time of season, August to November.

Brown Kingfisher, or Laughing Jackass [Dacelo gigas). —
Birds and nests very numerous. The only note of interest is that
these birds play great havoc with poultry chicks. An acquaint-
ance of mine wondered what was taking his brood of chickens,
set a watch, and found a pair of Laughing Jackasses helping
themselves. They had taken all but four out of fourteen chicks.

Hoary-headed Grebe {Podicipes poliocephalits). — My friend
Mr. W. M'Lennan watched a pair building in a reedy dam. Both
birds assisted in the buikUng. The nest site was in the reeds,
about 5 yards from the end of the dam. The structure was of
brown weeds growing in the water near the edge. The birds dived
for the weeds, and on reappearing dived again, and came to the
surface near the nest. Not much time was spent in placing the
weed on the nest, and the birds then dived off the nest. Date,
8/11/03. On 10/11/03 nest completed, but no sign of birds any-
where about, nor on 19/11/03. The question as to the flight of
these birds is sometimes raised. Mr. M'Lennan, on the same
dam, in March, 1904, saw one of these Grebes, and sat down to
observe it. It was very inquisitive, and swam within a few yards
of him, making a chirping noise. On throwing a piece of earth

* Instances of three eggs to a clutch are recorded in " Nests and Eggs "
(Campbell), p. 540. — Eds.

I 62 D'OmbraiN, Some Birds of the Caster ton District. fi^^f April

at it the bird rose out of the water and flew about 80 yards,
alighting in the water. On throwing at it once more it again
flew, and then tried diving, as if it had decided to trust no more
to its small wings.

Flycatchers — Black-and-White {Rhipidura tricolor). Rest-
less [Sisura inquieta), and Brown {Micrccca fascinans). — Has any
naturalist ever noticed that these birds are as capable of infinite
change of mind as the ladies ? That they do alter their intentions
very frequently the following notes will show : —

Qth September, 1903. — Pair of Black-and-White Fantails seen
building. Six days later the birds had pulled the nest to pieces,
but had not selected a site for new nest apparently. Later the
nest was found with three eggs in it.

loth September, 1903. — Pair of Restless Flycatchers seen
building. On 27th nest appeared to have been finished and
deserted, for the birds were building again in another tree. This
nest was now about half-built. On 9th October there was no
sign of the second nest. On 23rd October the nest was found a
third time, with three eggs in it. It was in the same tree as the
one that contained the second attempt.

October, 1903. — Restless Flycatchers seen building. On next
v^isit (17th October), first nest pulled to pieces and another built.
Bird sitting on the nest.

30th September, 1903. — Restless Flycatcher starting to Innld
in tea-tree. loth October, nest destroyed, and birds building in
a red gum tree.

Brown Flycatcher. — 27/9/03.- — Birds stiU adding cobweb to the
nest, which contained two eggs advanced in incubation.

The above-mentioned nests were not in the haunts of those who
would interfere with them ; consequently the birds either were
dissatisfied with their surroundings or are, as I said, fond of change.

Whilst on the subject of nest-building it may be of interest to
record the following fact about a Crow (or Raven) whilst building.
The bird was observed collecting twigs for the structure. It was
noticed that although dead wood was plentiful upon the ground
the Crow would have none of it, but was busy breaking off the
ends of the smaUer branches of a dead tree. During the work it
came upon some which it could not manage to snap off with its
beak. Crows are proverbially knowing, and this one was no ex-
ception, for, finding the twig too tough for its bill, the bird
deliberately got out on the extreme end of the twig and swayed
up and down till it broke off.

Bl.ack Duck {Anas superciliosa). — The difficulty of fixing a close
season for game is made apparent by the following dates of breed-
ing : — 6th September, 1903. — Two broods seen. One about four
or five days old ; the other nearly fully fledged, nth September. —
Nest with three eggs. 4th October. — Two nests, one with thirteen
eggs, other eleven. 25th January, 1904. — Brood of nine ducklings
about two weeks old.

^°905^' J D'OmbrAIN, Some Birds of the Caster ton District. \ 6

o

To show with what ease the young Black Ducks can reach the
water without their parents' aid, on 25th September, 190J, a nest
was discovered in a hole in a tree. Height of hole was about 20
feet ; tree in a creek. On climbing up seven young ones and two
eggs were seen ; one young bird, taking fright, jumped out of the
nest into the water. The remaining six " stampeded " and
" followed their leader," and reached the water apparently none
the worse for their hasty descent.

MusK-DucK {Biziura lobata). — On a dam Mr. M'Lennan saw what
was to him a peculiar-looking Duck. The bird fluttered along
the surface of the water for about 20 yards, then rose up, and was
making off, when he shot it. On picking it up it turned out to be
a Musk-Duck. It is seldom these birds are seen in actual flight.

Lesser Masked Owl [Strix delicaiula). — Since my last notes on
this bird appeared* Mr. M'Lennan found a nest of the species in a
curious way. He flushed a bird from a dead tree. This bird flew
at once to a hole in a green tree close by. In the hole were four
Iresh eggs, which he collected for his cabinet. Exactly a month
later he revisited the tree, when an Owl flew out of the hole. Again
climbing the tree he found another clutch of four eggs, which he
left to incubate. In a full three weeks' time he insj^ected the hole
to see if the young were ready for my camera, when to his astonish-
ment there were now five eggs in the hollow ! The bird had flown
off, and we think that either the four eggs proved non-fertile and
the bird had commenced another clutch or else had laid another
egg, completing a clutch of five, soon after the visit to the hole.

Birds of the Upper Yarra.

By a. G. Campbell, Melbourne.

In the list which is given hereafter are tabulated only those birds
which were identified during a ten days' trip early in the month of
December, but as this list includes doubtless all the regular in-
habitants, it will prove useful for reference.

In the mountamous and heavily-timbered regions about the
head waters of the Yarra birds are not in abundance — in fact,
it seems to hold good that the heavier the timber the scarcer the
bird-hfe, and there are tracts that are practicaUy forest solitudes.
As one proceeds up the valley from Contention Creek, the last
tributary of any importance, birds such as Gymnorhina and the
StrepercB, which love the more open country, where the river flats
and gently sloping hillsides abound with food, are left behind,
and tfie feathered mhabitants, without such common birds among
them, are then less noticeable. Graucalus, Malurus, Rhipiditra
tricolor, Ptilonorhynchus, Cracticus, Pachycephala rufivoitris, Acan-
thochcera, the Artami, Mgintha, Dacelo, and Mgialitis are also left
behind, and as the ranges narrow in and become stfll more pre-

* Emu, vol. iv., p. 127.

I 64 Campbell, Birds of the U pper Yarra. [isf A^rii

ci})itous the Calyptorhynchus and Cacatua disappear, but their
relatives Callocephalon and Platyccrcus remain in evidence, until
finally, when the stream becomes a mountain torrent in its far-up
reaches, one is introduced to new genera like Meniira, Pycnoptilus,
Petrceca, Geocichla, and species such as Rhipidura rufifrons, Eopsal-
tria australis, Pachycephala olivacea, and Ptilotis lewini, all distinctive
of fern-clad country.

Birds, however, of any species are in numbers few and far
between — in fact, when scrambling along with the din of rushing
water constantly in one's ears, one would be inclined to say there
were no birds, but sit quietly for a while and the eye will pick
out a Sericornis here and an Acanthiza there. Rarely can the
ear, the naturalist's keen guide, be of much assistance. The
Mennra victories is perhaps the commonest bird in these jjarts,
judging by the number of fresh dancing mounds which are met
with ; so late in the year, though several males were heard, the
whistling is not so frequent and persistent as in the nesting
time.

Pushing still further on, the traveller leaves the rocky cascades
of the gold-bearing silurian country, and emerges, at about 2,500 '
feet, on to gently undulating granite tracts, which are characterized
by slowly moving, oozy streams in the depressions and forests of
beech or Fagits trees clothing the ridges. In these forests, with
little fallen timber and the ground clothed with Lomaria ferns, so
totally unlike the gum or Eucalyptus forests, the bird-life is scant
in the extreme, and the absence of the noise of rushing water
makes them park-like solitudes indeed. Only here and there will
a bird be noted, and in the list those seen in this country are
specially marked. The presence of Climacteris leucophcea, Apros-
mictus cyanopygius, and Platyccrcus elcgans is accounted for by
the presence of single grand specimens of eucalypts towering in
odd places among the beech, just as, on the other hand, the beech
trees creep down the valley along the riverside. It was in beech
country that a pleasing incident occurred with the Lyre-Birds. We
listened to a young male trying his vocal powers with, presumably,
his parent, both birds making the silence re-echo with their loud,
fall-throated calls.

The only Coachwhip-Bird [Psophodcs crepitans) noted was in the
beech forest.

In parts of these uplands occur large patches of woollybutt
eucalypts, tall and straight, and the only bird that seemed to
inhabit them was a small al])ine variety of Ptilotis leucotis. On
account of the tallness of the trees we were unfortunately unable
to shoot a bird for complete identification. It can hardly be
expected that a species frequenting tall timber in forest country, at
an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level, can be exactly the same
as the lowland bird, which is almost a desert species in some
localities.

A record must here be made of a new foster-parent of Cacomantis
variolosus — namely, Petraxa rhodinogastra (Pink-breasted Robin),

Vol. IV.

Campbell, Birds of the U pper Y arra.

165

in a nest of which a large young Cuckoo was discovered. Petntca
phnenicea is, in all probability, another foster-parent, though not
yet authenticated. This species was observed on the more open
rocky northern slopes of the ranges, which, on account of harder
natural conditions, are clothed with messmate and stringybark
eucalypts, and not with the blackbutt and woollybutt of the richer
areas. In similar country, too, was the piping call of the Wonga-
Wonga Pigeon noted.

Collyriocincla, Sericornis, Acanthorhynchus, Zosterops, and Mcli-
ornis were, as might be expected, the ubiquitous species, being
noted in all classes of country through which we passed.

List of Species Identified.

Those marked * noted in the

Ninox boobook
Slrepera graculina

,, cuneicaiidata
Grallina picata
*Collyriocincla harmonica
Graucalus melanops . .
Edoliisoma tenuirostre
Petrci'ca phoenicea

* ,, fhodinogastra

* ,, rosea
Maluriis cyaneus
Rhipidura albiscapa . .

* ,, rufifrons . .
,, tricolor

Myiagra nitida
*Geocichla lunulata

Ptilonorhynchus violaceus

Acanthiza nana

,, pusilla

,, lineata

*Sericornis frontalis

*Pycnoptilus floccosus . .

*Psophodes crepitans . .

Gymnorhina leuconota

Cracticus destructor . .

Falcunculus frontatus
*Eopsaltria australis . .
*Pachycephala gutturalis
,, rufiventris

,, olivacea

*Climacteris leiicophcsa
*A canthorhynchits tenuirostris
*Zosterops ccerulescens

Melithreptus lunulatus

Ptilotis lewini

* ,, leucotis
*Meliornis australasiana

Acanthochcsra carunculata
DiccBum hirundinaceum
Pardalotus assimilis . .

beech country.

Boobook Owl.

Pied Crow-Shrike.

Grey Crow-Shrike.

Magpie-Lark.

Grey Shrike-Thrush.

Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike.

Caterpillar-eater.

Flame-breasted Robin.

Pink-breasted Robin.

Rose-breasted Robin.

Blue Wren.

White-shafted Fantail.

Rufous Fantail.

Black and White Fantail.

Satin Flycatcher.

Ground-Thrush.

Satin Bower-Bird.

Little Tit.

Brown Tit.

Striated Tit.

White-browed Scrub- Wren.

Pilot-Bird.

Coachwhip-Bird.

White-backed Magpie.

Butcher-Bird.

Shrike-Tit.

Yellow-breasted Robin.

White-throated Thickhead.

Rufous-breasted Thickhead.

Olive Thickhead.

White-throated Tree-creeper.

Spinebill.

White-eye.

White-naped Honey-eater.

Yellow-eared Honey-eater.

White-eared Honey-eater.

Crescent Honey-eater.

Wattle-Bird.

Mistletoe-Bird.

Allied Pardalote.

1 66

Campbell, Birds of the U pju-y Yarrn.

[..,'

Emu
April

*Pardalotus punctatus . .

Hirundo neoxena

Artamus superciliosus
,, sordid us

JEgintha temporalis . .
*Menura victories

Dacelo gigas

Cuculus pallidus
*Cacomantis flabelliformis

* ,, variolosiis
*Chalcococcyx basalis . .

* , , plagosus
Calyptorhynchus funereus
Callocephalon galeatum,
Cacatua galerita

*Aprosmictus cyanopygius
*Platycerciis elegans
Leucosavcia picata
/Egialitis nielanop'- . .

Spotted Pardalote.

SweiUow.

White-browed Wood-Swallow.

Wood-Swallow.

Red-browed P'incli.

Lyre-Bird.

Laughing Jackass.

Pallid Cuckoo.

Fan-tailed Cuckoo.

Square-tailed Cuckoo.

Narrow-billed Cuckoo.

Bronze Cuckoo.

Black Cockatoo.

Gang Gang Cockatoo.

White Cockatoo.

King Lory.

Crimson Parrakeet.

Wonga-Wonga Pigeon.

Black-fronted Dottrel.

The Kagu of New Caledonia.

By a. J. C/\MPBELL, Col. Mem. B.O.U.

Ufon the French occupying New Caledonia in 1852 this unique
and most interesting bird was discovered. It is known to the
natives as the Kagu, but it was not scientifically described and
named Rhinochetus jiibatus by Jules Verreaux and Des Murs {Revue
Zoologique, p. 439) till i860, when the first specimen was brought
to the Colonial Exhibition, Paris.

The Kagu possesses a marked Ralline a})pearance, but in the
systematic list its place is after the Rails, in the order Alectorides.
Although it stands alone, its nearest ally has j^roved to be the
Sun-Bittern [Eurypyga) of South America.

The bird, which is about 2 feet in length, is about the size of a
domestic fowl, with longish legs. The plumage may be described
as greyish or of a light slate colour, especially on the head and
under parts, the back, &c., being darker, while the wings and tail
are obscurely barred. Legs and bill are yellowish or reddish orange.
The eyes are reddish, being bloodshot-like. The longest plumes of
the crest measure 4 or 5 inches.

At Mosmans, at the private residence of Mr. H. E. Finckh
(jeweller and optician, 300 George-street), while attending the
recent Sydney Session of the A.O.U., I was extremely fortunate in
seeing some of the interesting Kagus thriving in captivity — for
they appear hardy creatures. The poses of the Kagus, either at
rest or agitated, are extremely fascinating. Walking leisurely
about the aviary with spasmodic Rail-like action of the tail and
head, they occasionally strike a graceful attitude while bending
over foot or leg, after the fashion of Plovers, &c. But when
excited they stand straight, with erected crest, semi-expanded
wings, and drooping tail (see illustration). In this altitude they

The Emu, Vol. IV.

PLATE XII.

Vol. IV.
1905

J Campbell, T lie Kagu of yiew Caledonia. I 6?

bounce proudly at any intruder. When in a playful mood they
throw about with their bills small sticks and stones. The birds
call to each other, usually about daybreak, in loud, piercing, yelp-
like notes, continued for some time, which can be heard a mile
away.

Mr. Finckh was favoured in getting a pair of his Kagus to breed.
They commenced nesting in a hollow on the ground in a secluded
part of the aviary, into which they threw a few coarse sticks and
leaves for a day or two. When the egg was laid more sticks were
placed about it. The male sits continuously on the single egg,
but his mate may relieve him occasionally, possibly at night. The
birds defend their nest vigorously. Mr. Finckh reckoned his birds
were about seven years old when they commenced to lay It was
observed that the Q,^g was laid fourteen days after " mating," and
that incubation lasted five weeks. The following data, by courteous
permission, are taken from Mr. Finckh' s records relating to one
pair of birds: — 1902. — Three eggs were laid; first on the 6th
April, last the 3rd October. 1903. — Four eggs were laid ; first on
the i6th April, last on i6th November. 1904. — Egg laid 14th
April, which disappeared in a mysterious manner ; a second egg
was laid 23rd June, but it was not fertile. A third egg, which was
deposited on 15th September, was placed in an incubator. A small
spot was noticed in the egg on the tenth day, and it chipped on
the 19th October. The chick has hatched on the 21st October,
but it appeared slightly prematurely born, and died on the 24th.
A fourth Q.g'g laid this season on the 4th October was also being
artificially hatched when incubation ceased after the twentieth
day. By these data it will be observed that if the egg is taken,
or anything happens to it, the birds lay again. But, probably,
in a state of freedom the birds would only lay once or hatch
one young a season.

The egg is a stout ellipse in shape ; surface slightly glossy ;
shell comparatively fine ; stony-grey in colour, moderately marked
with spots and blotches of umber and dull grey, the latter colour
underlying the surface of the shell. Except for its fine texture
and elliptical shape the Kagu's egg might be taken for that of a
Gull. Dimensions in inches, 2.\ by 2 inches.

Two eggs presented by Mr. Finckh to the Australian Museum
were described and figured in the Records of that institution —
vide vol. iv., part No. 7 (1902).

I had frequent opportunities of seeing the birds fed, chiefly on
finely-cut beefsteak, of which a pound weight did not seem to
go far with them. They disdain meat that is at all stale. I saw
them taking large centipedes, 5 inches long, which were thrown to
them. The bird picked up the squirming insect, which was passed
by a nibbling action quickly through the bill crosswise and back a
couple of times until it was pulped, then swallowed. When these
birds fight they peck at each other's legs. Their moult occurs
about midsummer.

In their native island-home Kagus live in pairs about the marshes

I 68 Cauv'B'E'L'L, T/ie Kagti of Xczi< Calalviiia. I ^

Emu
I April

in the scrub, feeding upon worms, slugs, beetles, frogs, &c. On
account of their restricted habitat it is predicted that the species
will early become exterminated. Indeed, in Layard's time, 30
years ago, it had already disappeared from the neighbourhood of
the more settled parts. Can some measures not be devised to
save this singular bird from becoming, like the Dodo, extinct ?

Stray Feathers.

Melbourne Zoo Notes. — Saw flock of about three hundred
Straw-necked Ibis flying high in irregular lines over Melbourne
from west to east on 13th December.

Have hatched and reared at Zoo this season White-bellied Plumed,

Pigeon [Lophophaps lencogaster), Partridge-Bronzewing {Geophaps

scripta), and many Stubble Quail {Coturnix pectoralis). — D. Le

SouiiF.

* * *

Bird-Names of Aborigines. — A jileasing feature of the
National Park, Sydney, is the fact that most of the creeks are
named after the aboriginal names of birds, such as " Mullion "
Brook, meaning Eagle ; " Wurrul " Brook, meaning Bee-eater ;
" Burowa," the Bustard ; " Karoga," White Crane ; " Gorra
Worra," Laughing Jackass ; " Buralga," Native Companion ;
" Kobardo," Parrot ; " Birumba," Plover ; " Dirijiri," Wagtail ;
" Murrindum," Quail ; " Dumbal," Crow ; " Tamur," Bronze-
winged Pigeon ; " Burunda," Swan ; " Karani," Duck ; and
" Palona," Hawk.— A. H. M.

Little Nightjar {Mgothdes novce-hoUandicp). — These little birds
appear to vary much in plumage. I have taken a detailed descrip-
tion of one shot near this station. Although the Nightjar sleeps
all day, it constantly wakes and calls from out the hollow limb
it which it roosts, " Chirk, chirk, chirk," and goes to sleep again.
I have heard them at this often and often, but never knew what
to put it down to until to-day, when, locating the sound in a dead
tree, I frightened out the bird. I hear a cry at night that I \)\xi
down to this bird, but it is then short and abrupt — " Che'ok " or
" Che'oak " — and uttered disconnectedly. The clay call is just as
I have written it. — Fredk. L. Berney. Wyangarie (N.Q.),
15/1/05-

Hypot.enidia philippinensis. — The Pectoral Rail has bred in
our garden, but I have not had the luck to see the little ones.
Some young pigs also spoiled one or two clutches, or we might
have had quite a number about. These birds have been very-
fearless with us, and it was quite the usual thing a month ago to
hear a bird " grunting " at you from underneath a shrub not more
than 8 or 10 feet from where you stood, and often even much

"^'o'J^-J Stray Feathers. 1 69

less than that, and with quiet movements you could often get
sight of them. Then if anyone did any digging, or cut some grass,
a few minutes after leaving you could see two or three birds prospect-
ing for the insects disturbed, and this would occur sometimes with
the person still within a few feet of the place. — Alfred Compton.
Stonyfell (S.A.), 24/11/04.

* * *

Yellow-eared Honey-eater. — A small party of three spent a
Sunday about the middle of November, 1904, at Ferntree Gully.
While partaking of our luncheon in a quiet spot in the heart of the
Gully, we were much interested by the fearless actions of a bird,
which we identified as the Yellow-eared Honey-eater {Ptilotis
lewini). One of our party was eating a sardine sandwich, when
the bird alighted on a small stick lying on the ground, and partook
of the sandwich readily out of his hand, and then flew off with its
mouth full, probably to feed a young family. This performance
was repeated several times, the bird returning to where our things
were spread each time. It not only relished sardine sandwich,
but showed a decided liking for jam-roll and scone, and finished
up with banana. The most amusing part was that the bird was
not at all alarmicd by our presence, as we were freely discussing
its markings and to what species it belonged all the time it was
filling its mouth. — Fred. P. Godfrey. 23rd February, 1905.

Albinism — Rhipidura tricolor. — My attention was recently

drawn, by Mr. Frank Leake, of this city, law student, to the

existence of a pure white individual of the Black-and- White Fantail

which frequented the livery stables attached to the United Service

Hotel, and situate in the very heart of the city. A close inspection

proved the bird to be wholly white in plumage, and to have hlack

eyes and very pale brown legs, feet, and bill. The man in charge

of the stables said the bird was about a month old,- and that the

two normal-coloured birds which accompanied it were the

parent birds. The members of the family were wholly indifferent

to our near approach and presence, and went on capturing insects

on or about the legs and hoofs of the stalled horses. Of what great

value these birds are to live stock ! How could the larvae of the

bot-fly, or the fly itself, flourish where these invaluable searchers

exist ! — Alex. Wm. Milligan. Perth, Western Australia,

22/2/05.

* * *

Western Notes. — When at Mundaring recently, about 30 miles
from Perth, I saw some children who had just been attacked by
Eagles when out in the bush by themselves. They said that the
Eagles were very fierce, and it was only by throwing stones and
sticks at them that they kept them back, but as it was they were
swooping within a few feet of them. There were seven Eagles
altogether. Three or four would attack in front, the others from
the rear while the children were beating off the front ones.

I 70 Stray F eat hey s. [^^^

Emu
April

A surveyor friend of mine told me that while out surveying
near Perth he found a nest of a Fawn-breasted Kingfisher with
big young ones in that had been attacked by termites, or white
ants. The young birds were just alive, and were coated with mud
by the termites, and the entrance to the nest blocked up, and their
mouths also closed with mud by the insects.

There is a pretty little Black-and-White Fantail (Rhipidura
tricolor) which had a nest in an old garden by the river and in her
nest were two young ones, but one was the ordinary colour and
the other pure white. — Lance Le Souef. South Perth (W.A.)

Yellow-throated Honey-eaters. — The cool, showery season
which has been experienced this summer in our Island-State appears
to favour not only a rank growth of vegetation, but also a some-
what abnormal production of bird-life. When Mr. H. C. Thompson
and myself went on a little exploring trip the other day to the
banks of a river, we were struck with the great numbers of Yellow-
throated Honey-eaters {Ptilotis flavigiilaris) which haunted the
tea-tree scrub near the stream. It was an ideal spot for birds,
masses of tea-tree, prickly wattle, and above these white gums,
affording splendid cover for various species. There was a fair
number of " New Hollands," and a Spinebill or two, but the Yellow-
throats were in such preponderance as quite to overshadow all
others. Every bush, almost, into which we looked contained some
of these fine birds, and the air was melodious with their notes.
Their tameness was remarkable ; in one instance our eyes were
close to an individual comfortably ensconced in a bush, the bird
sitting quietly there as if not at all objecting to a close examination.
May this Eden long remain unmolested ! — H. Stuart Dove.
W. Devonport (Tas.), 11/2/05.

Bird- Visitors to the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. — In
cleaning away water weeds it has been found necessary to partly
drain the lake in the Gardens, and it is surprising how quickly
native birds have discovered the food exposed upon the mudbanks
and along the margin, and come in some numbers to feed, with
but little concern, within a few yards of onlookers. No less than
15 species were noted just a week after the draining commenced.
The Bald-Coot {Porphyrio melanonotus), the Coot {Fiilica aiistralis),
of which there were a great number of young ones, the Rail {Hy-
potcenidia philippinensis), the Little Crake {Porzana paliistris), the
Magpie-Lark {Grallina picata), the Reed-Warbler (Acrocephahis
australis), and the Little Grass-Bird {Megalurvs gramineus) are
probably always present in the reeds and rushes ; but such as the
White-necked Heron {Ardea pacifica), the White-fronted Heron
(Ardea novcp-hollandice), the Little Cormorant [Phalacrocorax melano-
leiicus), the Black Duck {Anas super ciliostis), the White-eyed Duck
{Nyroca australis), the Teal [Nettion castaneum), the Bush-Chat

V«J-JV.-| 5^^^^ Feathers. I 7 1

{Ephthiamira albifrons), and the Black-fronted Dottrel {Mgialitis
nigrifrons) are undoubtedly the visitors. — A. G. Campbell. Mel-
bourne.

* * *

Central Queensland Notes. — Since the breaking up of the
drought there has been a wonderful change noticeable in the
activities of birds of all kinds. It has been most observable among
those which claim the attention of sportsmen. Ducks, which were
dried out, have been returning to their former breeding haunts,
and have been making up for former idleness by rearing several
broods in the season. Quails have been even more procreative and
industrious. Grass is luxuriant, and seeds and water are abundant.
The Mopoke is now to be heard at night, and the Laughing Jackass
at the " scraigh o' day." Finches were so numerous and so easily
caught that boys could not resist the temptation to trap them, and
a member of the Wild Birds Protection Association had to call
the attention of the police to the violation of the law which was
going on. Swifts, which visit us in showery weather at midsummer,
were seen high up over Rockhampton this week. Among our
migratory visitors before the drought smote the district was the
Pied Crow-Shrike {Strepera graculina). It came and remained with
us during the winter months. In the winters of 1903 and 1904
it was conspicuous by its absence. Locahties where it was a
cheerful and welcome visitant knew it not. A visit from it in the
coming winter is anticipated. — M.A.O.U. Rockhampton, 25th

January, 1905.

* * *

Musk Lorikeet. — On 9th October, 1904, in the Bacchus Marsh
district, I chopped out a nest of the Musk Lorikeet {Glossopsiftacus
concinnits), which, much to my disappointment, contained a young
bird. Having enlarged the nesting-hole to such an extent with a
tomahawk, I decided to take the bird, which had only a few
feathers. For the first few days after being brought to Melbourne
it was fed on honey diluted in water, injected down its throat
with a small glass syringe. The little thing soon learnt to feed
itself from a small saucer, and was no trouble to rear. Nothing
delights it more than to be handled and played with ; its antics
on the swing are most amusing. It is now in full plumage, the
rusty marking just appearing on the nape and back. Occasionally
it says a few words, learnt from a Rosella Parrakeet whose cage
hangs near. The breeding season in Victoria appears to be far
advanced in October, as two or three nests found by our party
on the same occasion contained fairly well grown young, always
two in number. These birds were very numerous in the district,
^nd were in company with G. pusillus. Lately they are very
numerous round Melbourne, having been seen in the parks, gardens,
&c., feeding from the flowering gums. The favourite nest-site
seems to be about 18 inches from the opening down the main trunk
of a green tree in open forest. The birds quickly betray their

172 Stray Feathers. [xsf April

nest by harsh screeching, and only have to be watched for a few
minutes in order to detect the nest. — Fred. P. Godfrey. 23rd

February, 1905.

* * *

Why Does the Young Cuckoo Eject its Foster-Brethren ? —
In observing a young Cuckoo ejecting the young of its foster-parents
— a small Wren — from the nest, the question arose in my mind which
fac'tor is it that operates and causes the young Cuckoo to commit
wholesale murder at this early stage of its existence, when but a
few hours old. Instinct or reason seemed to be impossible with
a bird as yet unfledged and capable only of certain muscular actions.
Was it possible that such a young mite should instinctively know
at this stage of its life-history that the nest was too small to hold
all the nestlings later on when they grew older and larger ? I
could not conceive of such a theory being possible. The Cuckoo
did not seemingly endeavour to kill its nest companions, but sought
only to rid itself from the irritation inflicted by contact with them.
The probable solution of the problem is that the factor operating is
mainly — possibly wholly — attributable to an involuntary muscular
action caused by the sensitive action of the nerves of the skin, which
nature has endowed the young Cuckoo with for such purposes.
Wriggling in the nest, more particularly with its head, neck, and
wings — the freest and most active portions of the nestling — the skin
of these parts is brought into contact with the heated surface of
its puny neighbour's body ; then local irritation causes muscular
movement of the head and neck to take place to free this portion
of the body from the irritating proximity of the object which causes
the irritation. The endeavour to free the head and neck })ortion,
and the concavity of the nest, brings the obnoxious occupant on to
the Cuckoo's back, which part likewise receives the irritating stim-
ulus, causing the final ejectment of the young Wren by a backward
movement. In the human body involuntary actions of the muscles
are commonly prevalent, owing to some form of local irritation.
The cause of these muscular actions cannot be either reason or
instinct. — A. H. E. Mattingley.

* * *

A Penguin at Play. — On a recent afternoon, when the sea was
smooth and the warmth of the sun tempered by a delightful breeze,
Mr. H. C. Thompson (a member of the A.O.U. who is at present
on a visit to Devonport) and myself took a walk along the training-
wall which bounds the east side of the Mersey River at the mouth,
and is said to be | mile in length. We sat on huge blocks of basalt
at the extremity of the wall, gazing on the waters of Bass Strait,
when our attention was attracted by what at first we took to be a
peculiar fish, swimming rapidly beneath the surface of the clear
water. In a few seconds we could see that it was a Little Penguin,
cleaving its way through the water in that rapid fashion for which
its wedge-shape so well befits it. Presently the bird poked its
head and part of the neck above the surface, took an instantaneous
survey, went again below, and swam on into a sheltered basin

V°|-^'^^J Stray Feathers. I 73

under the lee of the wall, making towards the beach. We could
trace it for a long way by its habit of frequently poking its head
above the surface, apparently to ascertain whether it was holding
a correct course. Presently it came again into the waters near
the extremity of the waU, and we were then witnesses to an ex-
tremely pretty spectacle. The bird lay upon the surface of the
summer sea, only a short distance away, preening its feathers and
rolling about, apparently enjoying life to the utmost. Sometimes
it would float upon its back, when the pure white plumage of the
breast and throat shone out in the sunlight in a very pleasing
manner. Then it would twist its head round about until the
throat looked like a broad white stripe down the back of the neck ;
after which it would set to work again preening its breast. For
quite a long while did we watch this thing of beauty floating away
to the eastward on the bosom of the tide, until lost to sight ; surely
in itself a sufficient answer to that much-vexed question " Is life
worth living ? " — H. Stuart Dove. W. Devonport (Tas.), 11/2/ 05.
* * *

Note on ^gotheles nov.e-hollandle. Lath. — An interesting
fact in the economy of this pretty Nightjar was brought to my
notice one evening in the autumn of last year. When stepping on
the decking of a viaduct 80 yards long, which crosses a marsh on
this estate, I became aware of some object which precipitated
itself from the low kerb at the side of the roadway on to the planks
in front of me. As it was quite dusk, for the moment the object
seemed at first glance to be a young rabbit ; but in another second,
from the fluttering which characterized its movements, it could be
plainly seen that it was a bird. On my springing forward to catch
it, it fluttered along in front of me so quickly that capture was
impossible, and so the chase continued, first to one side of the
roadway then the other, until the end of the viaduct was reached,
where the decking was about 2 inches above the gravel approach,
that having been worn down by traffic. Here there was just light
enough to see the bird launch itself into the air and glide away
with the characteristic flight of the Caprimitlgidce.

This incident shows that this species cannot, like some other
short-legged, long-winged birds, rise from a perfectly flat surface.
Frequent observations of members of this crepuscular family in
England and the East have shown me that as a rule Nightjars,
when alighting on the ground, choose a stone, clod, little bank,
stick, or other diminutive eminence from which they can launch
themselves. I have, however, seen the sturdy C. atripennis in
Ceylon often alight on a bare sandy track or hard road and rise
from such a position with ease. In the present instance fright,
no doubt, caused the little Mgotheles to launch itself from the
kerb log (6 inches high) beneath the hand-rails on to the roadway,
for the opposite hand-rails furnished it with a ready perch if so
desired. The wing in this species is particularly long in proportion
to the weak and diminutive leg, which accounts for its inability to
rise from a perfectly flat surface. — W. V. Legge. Cullenswood (Tas.)

174 Stray Feathers. [,,fXpril

Clermont (Q.) Notes. — Quails have been very plentiful through-
out the year, and bred continuously till June. We then had no
rain until the end of November, when I noticed the birds in pairs
and heard a difference in the call when coming to water in the
evening. Now the first of the young birds are appearing. The
Brown birds {Synctcus australis) were, I think, the most numerous,
and ke]:)t near the watercourses. The grey Stubble birds {Coiiirnix
pedoralis) were also plentiful, and kept to the high open downs ;
while the large three-toed Painted Quail {Tiirnix varia) frequented
the scrubs anci cane-grass flats. The last-mentioned are splendid
fliers, and I think the best shooting, as they swerve round a tree
or bush in very disconcerting fashion. The Little Quail {Turnix
velox) is still to be found, but is not nearly so plentiful as before
the large birds came. Surveying over the downs after the dry
weather had thinned the grass revealed an astonishing number of
old nests and egg-shells, and also the fact that a large percentage
of eggs are not hatched.

Swifts appeared in great numbers on four occasions between
25th and 30th November, and on each occasion heralded a storm.
I shot one, and found it to be the White-rumped variety (Micro-pus)
with a spread of wing of i8| inches ; beak to tip of tail, 7I inches.

Wild Turkeys or Bustards are getting plentiful, and bred in
November. Most birds waited for the rain, but Pigeons seem to
have laid pretty well the year through. Laughing Jackasses and
Butcher-Birds are still very scarce, although the bush is teeming
with mice and locusts. Asiatic Dottrels revisited their favourite
ridge on Langton, and Little Whimbrel, Greenshanks, and Pratin-
coles were reported to me. A handsome white Hawk (probably
Elaniis axillaris) with black shoulders is fairly common, and lives
on mice. Quails, and locusts. The Cockatoo-Parrots seem to have
left again, but " Betcherrygahs " (Warbling Grass-Parrakeets) are
very common, and hundreds are now in captivity, the boys round
the townships making quite a lot of pocket money out of them. —
F. B. Campbell Ford. 7/1/05.

Clarke Island (Bass Strait) Notes. — It is surprising how
some birds of the same species differ in their respective nesting
habits as regards time. On one of the islands here, where I was
weather-bound for a week, I had the opportunity of noting this
with respect to the Cape Barren Goose [Cereopsis). Within a few
hundred yards of one another I found two clutches of young, one
of them comprising three well-grown birds just able to fly a little.
The birds of the other clutch, on the contrary, were only a few
days old. Proceeding a little further, I discovered another nest
with four fresh eggs, and still further another nest just built. The
Black Swan is the same to a less extent, as I have seen cygnets in
a half-fledged state, and within a few yards of them a clutch of
perfectly fresh eggs.

The Teal, Black Duck, Musk-Duck, &c., are hardly to be seen

Vol. IV.
1905 .

Stray Feathers. I J 5

here at all this year, owing, I think, to the lack of winter rains.
One clutch of Duck's eggs was found in a creek close to the home-
stead, and in due time four young ones were brought out. Needless
to say there were not molested.

The Brown Hawk is very rare this season. The Brown Quail is
just commencing to lay, and one will often start a pair getting
their simple though cosy nest ready.

I saw a most interesting case of devotion on the part of a Black
Crow-Shrike {Strepera fuliginosa). A pair built a nest in some trees
close to the house, and when the young were hatched I used to watch,
with great interest, the parents feeding them. They both objected
to my surveillance very much, and used to fly to and fro past me,
almost striking me with their wings, and uttering loud cries. One
day, slightly annoyed at their clamour, I seized a small stick and
struck at one as it passed. Unfortunately, I struck it on the pinion
and it fell, unable to fly, to the ground, and ran quickly away. I
was very sorry for this, both on account of the poor bird, and also
for the young, fearing that the other parent, when it discovered
the loss of its mate, would probably desert them. But not so.
Next day I saw the one bird feeding its family, and it continued to
do so until they were fledged. After the birds had flown, happening
to go into the heart of the scrub, I saw two Black Crow-Shrikes
perched on a bough. I startled them, and they both flew a short
distance. One of them was the bird that I had hurt, as I noticed
that the pinion was injured, but it had so far recovered that it was
fairly strong on the wing. I presume that the bird had both
procured food for its young and also for its suffering partner.

The Brush Bronze-wing [Phaps elee^ans) is very plentiful, and if
caught will get very tame.

The Pacific Gull and Sooty and Pied Oyster-catchers are nesting
in fair numbers round the coast. — J. D. Maclaine. 5/1 1/04.

Birds Observed and Bird-Skins Examined in 1903 and 1904
NEAR HoBART. — Long-tailed Blue Wren {Maliirus goiildi). — 9th
March, 1903. — -Two male Blue Wrens in a transitional stage of
plumage are seen. They take flight and maintain a fight on the
wing. A few light-blue feathers are visible below the eyes and a
few black feathers on the upper part of the breast. Black feathers
are continuous on the hind-neck and form a half-ring.

Lesser White-backed Magpie {Gymnorhina hyperleuca). — 2nd
January, 1903. — I have had an opportunity of examining the skin of
a young male Gymnorhina hyperleuca about three months old.
The general colour of the back is ashy-grey, like that of the adult
female, but a few of the feathers on the back have brownish tips ;
the wing coverts are black and white ; the two outer tail feathers
are also parti-coloured, the outer webs being black and the inner
webs white, except the distal third of each feather, which has both
webs black. The lower wing coverts next the body are silky
white ; those farthest from the body are black, as also are the

176 Stray Feathers. [isf April

axillaries. Some of the latter have obscure sub-terminal bars.
Bill lead-coloured ; iris hazel ; feet black. Wing, 9.4 inches ; bill,
1.48 inches.

6th January. — Have examined another skin of a young male of
the same species — a skin of a younger bird than that of the
previous one. The lower wing coverts have not appeared ; it may
have been hatched six or seven weeks ago. It differs from the
skin already described inasmuch as the feathers on the back are
ashy-grey, with buffy-brown tips and subterminal brownish bars,
and that the wing coverts are, with few exceptions, white, not
parti-coloured. The tail feathers are white with a black sagittate
mark near the tip of all except the two outer feathers. The arrow-
head points towards the body. The two outer tail feathers are
black, except a portion of the inner web, which is white. Bill
slate-coloured, darker at the tip than at the base ; the mandible
very slightly notched ; length, 1.46 inches. Iris and feet as in
previous example. Wing, 7.6 inches.

Spine-billed Honey-eater {Acayilhoryhuchiis teniiirosins). — 29th
January. — A family of these Honey-eaters frequents the garden
and visits a large fuchsia assiduously. One of them killed proves
to be a young bird in immature plumage. It differs from the
adult in being without the crescentic mark on the chest ; the throat
and chin are uniformly sandy-grey ; the rest of the under surface
is orange-brown ; head and back olive-brown ; upper surface of
wings glossy greyish-black (plumbaginous), under surface of wings
grey ; tail feathers, ten in number, black, except three, which are
white for about the half or one-third of their length reckoned from
the tip Iris brown tinged with red ; tarsus lead-coloured ; ui)per
mandible brown, lower mandible yellow. Wing, 2.25 inches ; bill,
0.64 inch. The long diameter of two eggs of this bird measures
0.78 inch and the short diameter 0.55 inch.

Crescent Honey-eater {Meliornis australasiana). — An immature
male shot on the 26th December, 1903, has the under surface dusky,
and is without the crescentic mark of the adult male. The quill
feathers and tail feathers have the outer webs bordered with olive-
yellow. Length, 5.4 inches ; wing, 2.6 inches ; culmen, 0.5 inch.

Welcome Swallow [Hiriindo neoxena). — A young Swallow was
being fed by its parent on the nth of February, 1904 ; it received
food whilst on the ground, and was also fed whilst Hying. On the
5th of September one Swallow was seen.

Fire-tailed Finch {Zonceginthus hellus (?) ). — A most singular
Weaver Finch was shot by Mr. A. R. Reid on the ist of January,
1904. It resembles Z. hellus, but the tips of the upper tail coverts
are rusty-orange, and one of the tail feathers is bordered with
rusty-orange. The bill is orange-red, the feet light brown. The
vermicular markings are distributed over the whole of the back
and of the under surface, and are narrower than the vermicular
markings on normal examples of Z. bc/liis. Culmen, 0.44 inch ;
length, 4.4 inches ; tarsus, 0.62 inch.

Pallid Cuckoo [Cucuhis pallidiis). —gth March, 1903. — A young

Vol. IV.

'905

J Stray Feathers. 1 7 7

Pallid Cuckoo obtained, in which the plumage is much diversified.
White predominates in its plumage, in many places tinged with
buff and brown, resembling the colour of sealskin. Brown and
white intermingle on the head ; the feathers of the mantle are
brown with buff tips ; the body feathers on the back are white
with brown centres ; the upper tail coverts are brown with whitish
edges, lanceolate in shape and ornamental in character, the ends
of the barbs being unconnected ; the tail feathers are sooty-brown
and deeply toothed with whitish. The throat is like the head ;
towards the lower part of the under surface the brown gradually
disappears, and on the abdomen all the feathers are white ; pri-
maries dark brown, toothed with white on the outer webs, and
having buff spots on the margins of the inner webs ; secondaries
similar to primaries but without buff spots ; wing coverts brown,
or brown with buffy tips ; lower surface of wings and tail grey,
toothed with white, except the lower wing coverts, which are grey
with wavy brown markings ; axillaries white, tinged with buff ;
iris brown ; feet horn-coloured ; bill yellowish-brown. Wing, 6.9
inches ; bill, i inch ; tarsus, 0.8 inch.

Tern {Sterna bergii (?) ). — A young Tern was brought to my
residence on the 21st of March, 1904. As the bill was yellow and
the iris black and the tarsi and webs of the feet wholly black, I
assumed it to be an example of Sterna bergii, Licht. (Thalasseus
poliocercus, Gld.) It was in the pied plumage of the young of that
species. Back and wings mottled with sooty-brown and white ; all
the under surface white ; head black, and the feathers of the head
slightly elongated ; nape white. It lived on the premises until the
5th of August, but never attained the use of its wings in flight.

Little Cormorant {Phalacrocorax melanoleucus). — This is the least
shy of the Cormorants which frequent the Derwent, and permits
one to approach within about fifty yards. A specimen received on
the i8th July, 1904, had the culmen brownish-black and the
remainder of the bill yellow ; feet black.

Little Penguin {Eudyptitla minor). — 3rd November, 1903. — Three
Little Penguin's eggs from Bruni Island measure in inches as
follows : — (i) 2.25 and 1.60 ; (2) 2.26 and 1.64 ; (3) 2.25 and 1.65.
Another egg of this Penguin measures 2.36 inches long and 1.70
inches broad. A partially incubated egg of medium size weighs
about 2 ozs. — James R. M'Clymont, M.A. Sandy Bay.

From Magazines, &c.

Yellow-rumped Finch. — " A specimen of the extremely rare
Miinia flaviprynina, Gould, from North- Western Australia, pro-
bably the first living specimen ever brought to Europe, was ex-
hibited at the Crystal Palace Show, 25th, 26th, and 27th October.
The judge, taking it for a hybrid, awarded it only a second prize,
the first going to a specimen of the familiar Zonogastris vielha." —
Avicultural Magazine (Nov., 1904), p. 53.

I 78 Ft'ODi Magazines, Sxc. [isf April

From the preface to vol. viii. of The Zoologist we note : —
" The Zoologist increases its circulation in our Greater Britain,
and colonial naturalists make use of its pages. Mr. Littler's memoir
on the birds of Tasmania affords an object lesson."

The Geelong Naturalist, September, 1904, contains " District
Bird Notes," by C.F.B., which comprise brief field observations
on the Spotless Crake {Porzana tahuensis), Boobook Owl {Ni)iox
boobook). Flame-breasted Robin {Petrceca phunicca), (Sic.

* * *

The Ibis for October, 1904, published a letter from Sir
Walter L. Buller on the subject of the foster-parents of the New
Zealand Long-tailed Cuckoo (Urodynamis). The writer considers
that of the ten native and one introduced species given by Dr.
Fulton, the evidence for five at least is not satisfactory.

Red-faced or Red-tailed Finch. — In The Aviciiltural Magazine
(January, 1905) the Rev. C. D. Farrar has contributed an article
entitled " The Breeding of the ' Ruficauda ' " in which a number
of interesting facts are recorded in humorously penned passages,
with homely illustrations. How often the collector has experienced
the reverend gentleman's quotation — " The enjoyment is the
pursuit, and this ceases when our hand closes down on the prize."

The Red-winged Lory. — In the February (1905) issue of The
Victorian Naturalist Mr. G. A. Keartland contributes an interesting
note on a pair of Red-winged Lories {Ptistes erythroptertis) which
he had in captivity for a year. On the 30th and 31st October the
female laid eggs on the floor of the cage, which were transferred to
a small box, where the bird continued to sit, and where, on the
2nd and 3rd of November, she laid two more eggs. After a fortnight
two of the clutch, which contained embryos, were unfortunately
broken, and the remaining two were not fertile. During the
fourteen days the female was noticed to leave her nest three times
only. While incubating she was fed by the male. The Lories
were received from Mrs. Chas. Clarke, Mary Vale Station, Queehs-
land, who, writing to Mr. Keartland, states that she liberated a
pair of Red-winged Lories in her garden. The Parrots stayed near
the house, and reared four young ones in a hollow tree near. The
birds came regularly to the verandah to be fed, and, when the
young ones could fly the whole family often came " walking down
the hall like pet chickens."

Bird-Lore. — The Sept. -Oct. number has a further set of coloured
illustrations of Warblers ; notes and photos, on "A Woodcock at
Home"; an interesting article on "October Bird Music"; a

° • J From Magazines, &c. 1 Vn

biography of a Crow, under the title of " King Cole " ; the usual
notes on the proceedings of Audubon Societies and their valuable
work ; Educational Leaflet No. ii, dealing with the Screech Owl
(by Mr. William Dutcher), &c. That the President of the United
States takes a warm interest in our work is shown by the following
passages from a letter to the editor of Bird-Lore : — " I would like
to see all harmless wild things, but especially all birds, pro-
tected in every way. I do not understand how any man or woman
who really loves Nature can fail to try to exert all influence in
support of such objects as those of the Audubon Society. .
Half, and more than half, of the beauty of the woods and fields
is gone when they lose the harmless wild things. ... As for
the birds, which are the especial objects of the preservation of
your society, we should keep them as we do trees."

" Some New Facts About the Migration of Birds " is the
title of an article in a year-book issued by the Department of Agri-
culture, U.S.A., and written by Mr. Wells W. Cooke, assistant.
Biological Survey. A reprint has been forwarded by the department.
Mr. Cooke deals with the subject in a masterful way, holding that
as to causes of migration the broad statement can be made that
the beginnings of migration ages ago were intimately connected
with periodic changes in the food supply, but this motive is at
present so intermingled with others unknown, or but imperfectly
known, that migration movements seem now to bear little relation
to the abundance or absence of food. How do birds find their
way, casualties during migration, its distance and routes, the
question whether birds are exhausted after a long flight, and
whether variations of temperature affect their movements, and
the speed maintained during the passage from one zone to another,
are dealt with. Unfortunately, so far as Australian observers are
concerned, nearly all the birds dealt with are American species,
but as the same problems exist almost all over the world, it is to
be hoped that some day, partly by aid of the schedules which the
Aust. O.U. has issued in connection with the matter, a similarly
valuable brochure may issue from this side of the world. Two
valuable maps are given — one as to route, the other showing speed of
flight.

* * *

Modern Egg-Collecting. — This subject has been attracting
some attention in the pages of recent numbers of The Zoologist.
The November (1904) issue has some hints from the pen of Mr.
J. H. Salter, of the University College, Aber3/stwyth, which might
be pondered over by even Australian collectors. After stating
something of the ruin which the modern system of egg-collecting
is bringing to the rarer native species in Britain, he writes : —
" Posterity will probably condemn altogether the practice of making
private collections of eggs, especially those in which it is sought
to illustrate every possible variety of colouration by means of a large

l80 From Magazines, &€. [,.f April

series of clutches of the eggs of each species, however rare it may be.
Many are induced to collect eggs by the same imj^ulse which prompts
others to amass old china or bric-a-brac, but with the difference that
the harm which they do is irreparable. Their selfish greed and
love of acquisition are seriously impoverishing the British fauna.
Unfortunately the high prices obtained for well-authenticated
clutches at recent sales encourage the unscrupulous collector to
pay a high figure in the belief that the value of his eggs will increase
with the growing scarcity of the bird which laid them, and that
consequently his collection can at any time be disposed of at a
profit if brought under the hammer. As illustrating the persecution
to which our rarer birds are exposed, it may be mentioned that in
a certain district in mid-Wales there are seven pairs of Ravens.
They have not been allowed this year to bring off a single young
bird. The Buzzards have fared very little better, while, needless
to say, the Kites, now reduced to a miserable remnant of three or
four pairs, have once more been plundered. The writer would ask
others to join him in strongly appealing to all true naturalists to
refrain from acquiring British-taken eggs of any species which is
within measurable distance of extinction in these islands."

In The Ibis for October, 1904 (vol. iv., No. 16, p. O72) there
appears a note from Mr. A. J. North on the nomenclature of the
Blue Wrens of Tasmania and South-Eastern Australia respectively.
In 1901 Mr. North discovered that the bird to which Ellis in 1777
first gave the name Motacilla cyanca came from Bruni Island,
Tasmania (then supposed to be part of Australia). The name
Malurus cyaneus would therefore, said Mr. North {vide Proc. Linn.
Soc. N.S.W., vol. xxvi., part 2, ]). 632) have to stand for the Tas-
manian species, and that of Malnriis superbus (Shaw) for its ally
of the mainland. From the note under review it appears that
Mr. North has now had access to further authorities, with the
result that he finds that Shaw's bird, called by him superbus, came
from Tasmania too. It would seem, therefore, that in the early days
of Australian ornithology the Blue Wren of South- East Australia
had no name at all, and that it has been simply masquerading in
borrowed noms-de-plume ever since. Mr. North thinks it is not too
late to rectify the omission, and accordingly ])roposes the sjjecific
name australis for the continental bird, leaving cyaneus for the
island form. Now, the first and chief objection to this is that the
Blue Wren of South- East Australia has been from the days of
Gould onwards catalogued by the British Museum and known to
collectors generally as Malurus cyaneus. Has not Gould's beautiful
plate in his immortal " Birds of Australia," portraying life-size
figures true to colour, stood for more than half a century over
the title " Malurus cyaneus " ? This long usage has given the
name a prescriptive right to retention which overrides all purely
historical considerations. To change it now would only be to
produce that confusion which it should be the very object of

Vol. IV.

1905

J From Magazines, &c. 1 3 I

scientific nomenclature to avoid. In the second place, even granted
the necessity for a change, the specific name aiLstralis is surely
much too wide and colourless for the case in question. There
are at least fourteen species of Maluri inhabiting Australia — why
should one of these have appropriated to it a name that is equally
applicable to all ? It was reasonable enough for the first naturalist
explorers to label a species noviv-hollandice or austrcdis, though
perhaps they rather overdid it ; they had at least the excuse that
they did not know of the existence of other Australian species
belonging to the same genera — a plea we nowadays cannot put
forward. No doubt it is not always possible to denote the specific
characters clearly and exactly by the specific name ; but such
should be the object aimed at, and for that reason the name
australis should be confined to species which have no congeners
in Australia. Mr. North's researches are of considerable historical
interest, but no adequate reason has been shown why the existing
name.i — that is to say, Malurus cyaneiis for the South-east Aus-
tralian bird, and M. goiildi for the Tasmanian — should not continue
to be used as heretofore. However, this is a matter for the Check-
List Committee to consider.

About Members.

Mr. F. M. Littler, F.E.S. (Launceston), has left by the Persic

for England. He has gone on a six months' trip, chiefly on

business, but hopes to have time for the pleasure and profit of

making the acquaintance of many ornithological brethren in the

" old land."

* * *

On the retirement of Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., &c., from the
hon. secretaryship of the A.O.U., the following letter was addressed
to him by his successor, Mr. A. Mattingley ; —

" On the occasion of your retirement from the position of honorary
secretary of the Australasian Ornithologists' Union, the Council
unanimously desire to convey to you their mark of the esteem in
which they hold you personally, and also to indicate the aj^preciation
with which they regard your labours as the first honorary secretary
of the A.O.U.

" The present successful position of the Union is largely due to
the indefatigable efforts maintained by you since its inception.
The tact, attention, and considerate manner with which you have
treated everything and everybody has endeared you to youi
Council colleagues, with whom you have worked so harmoniously.

" The Australasian Ornithologists' Union is indeed under a deep
debt of gratitude to you for the able manner in which you have
carried out the onerous duties pertaining to the honorary secretary-
ship during the first three years of its existence, while ornithological
science at large has been advanced. Hoping that you may long
remain one of the ' Birds of a feather.' " -

l82 Review. { JH

ist April

Review.

" CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS."

This reference work has reached its third and concluding part.
The original intention in preparing the " Catalogue " was to com-
plete the work in two parts, but the large amount of valuable
information which became available by the time Part II. was
completed rendered a third part necessary.

Part III. deals with the Sparrows. Swallows, Vireos, Warblers,
Wrens, Titmice, and Thrushes, including the order Passeres after
the Icterida-. The species are numbered consecutively, the ver-
nacular name coming iirst, in bold type, followed by the technical
designation and authority. Then follow succinct accounts of
habits and range, and reference to Museum specimens, concluding
with " Breeding Notes " when procurable.

The work is issued by the Geological Survey Department of
Canada, under the direction of Dr. Robt. Bell, F.R.S., and is
compiled by Mr. John Macoun, M.A., F.R.S.C, who cheerfully
acknowledges information and assistance so freely given by quite
a host of correspondents throughout the great Dominion. To Miss
Marie Stewart fell the somewhat dry work of compiling the useful
index, embracing the three parts, while the printing of the whole
is well executed by S. E. Dawson, Ottawa, " Printer to the King's
Most Excellent Majesty."

When will the Commonwealth of Australia issue such a useful
work of reference, or is such a national duty to be relegated to
private enterprise ?

The Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
in Captivity.

By (Mrs.) Mary G. Roberts, Hobart.

Having been asked to write some notes for The Emu on the little
Crested Pigeon {Ocyphaps lophotes) and the common Bronze-wing
{Phaps chalcoptera) in my aviaries, I sit down to make the attempt,
with the hope that I may be able to prove a few interesting facts,
to those who, like myself, take great interest in aviculture. The
two species have been in adjoining aviaries, only separated by a
wire partition ; thus I have had the opportunity of watching
closely their nesting operations from the latter part of August until
the present time (about six months) ; the work has been to me a
source of unlimited pleasure, although I have to record one or two
disappointments which have occurred. Referring more particularly
to the Crested Pigeons, they were the first, at about the end of
August, to show indications of nesting ; and to. those who have not
had opportunities of watching them, 1 may say that this species is
unmistakably more excitable and nervous than the Bronze-wing,
hence greater difficulties present themselves in observing their

VollV. I Roberts, T/ie Crested Pigeon in Captivity. 1 83

movements in captivity. They are not easily frightened from the
nest by other birds flying about them, there having been all along
several others in the aviary, besides a pair of Silver Pheasants ; but
from the time the eggs were laid, upon my approaching the door,
a note of alarm was always sounded by the sitting bird, although
I was then quite 16 feet away — a small cry, a sort of fretful " Wee
wee." As time went on they seemed to become less uneasy, and
more silent, until the young emerged from the egg, when the cry
was resumed.

When the male bird is paying his addresses to his love he is to
be seen to the greatest advantage ; he has a way of bowing or
curtsying to her, each time making a sound similar to " Woof,
woof," and at the same time spreading out his tail into a fan, the
wings on either side forming smaller ones, and on which can then
be seen four or five feathers forming two rows of jewel-like spots,
the outer having green, the inner purple, marks, reminding one of
emeralds and amethysts — a sight beautiful to behold, but too
transitory. The first young one appeared about the 15th of
September ; the other egg, although chipped, did not hatch. An
incident occurred in connection with this little bird. When it was
a few days old, fearing the parents might be disturbed by their
companions, I carefully, but unwisely as it proved, fastened a
bag across their corner, giving them only a small space to pass to
and fro. When evening came the sitting bird left the nest as usual,
but evidently the other one, which should have taken up the duty,
was either frightened or unable to find the way in, for on visiting
the aviary at 9 p.m. I discovered the baby bird forsaken, cold, and
weak. I immediately brought it to the house, warmed and fed it,
and took care of it for the night. Next morning about 10 a.m.,
upon going for a small box to keep it in, the thought occurred to
me that I might see what the parents would do, so I entered the
aviary, placed it on the nest, and retired outside to await results.
The attention of the mother was at once attracted by its presence,
and without much delay she evidently recognized it, and I soon
had the satisfaction of seeing her nesthng down on it once more,
and was able confidently to leave it in her care. The little bird
having been successfully reared, by the 15th October the parents
were building again, and laid this time in a nest built about a yard
from the door and barely that distance from the path that every-
one passed along. Unfortunately, some alterations had to be made
to the front of the aviary — palings removed, and wire-netting sub-
stituted—with the result that the sitting birds were frightened from
the nest, almost on the eve of hatching, viz., the 29th of the
month.

They shortly began to build again for the third time, in the same
position as the first nest, on a small platform of twigs, in a V-shaped
corner of the aviary. I kept no record of the date of laying, but
the first squab hatched out on or about 4th of December ; both
young birds were observed out of the nest on the 20th of the month.
One matter that struck me as remarkable was the almost complete

184 Roberts, The Crested Pigeon in Captivity. ["^^^

Emu
April

plumage the l)irds had at that time, excepting the shortness of the
tail ; another was that I never saw the parents feeding them after
they left the nest, although I was constantly passing and repassing
the aviary ; I think they must do so, unless they mature more
quickly than the Bronze-wing does. In February they began to
nest for the fourth time, and on the 14th were sitting on two eggs,
in the same obscure corner ; but misfortune was to overtake them
again, in a somewhat similar way to that which befel their second
effort. The grounds were about to be opened to the jmblic again,
for the benefit o' a charity, and it was necessary that this aviary
should be turfed, the only one in which the natural grass had
disappeared ; while this was being done, the bird got frightened
by the constant intrusion, flew excitedly from her nest, and event-
ually deserted it on the 22nd of the month.

I bewailed the loss very much, and concluded the end of the
season had arrived, but not so ; in a few days I noticed the male
bird curtsying and cooing to his mate, and nesting preparations
being made for the fifth time, by the 2nd of March they had settled
down to work again, and are sitting steadily enough at present.

I have not been able to supply any data as to the length of time
each bird sits, or at what hours they exchange places. The sexes
being so exactly alike in marking, I have found it difficult to tell
which one was on the nest.

The Coloured Plate (XIII.)

Mirafra woodwanii (Rufous Bush-Lark) was discovered by Mr.
John T. Tunney, the collector for the Western Australian Museum,
Perth, on the red sand tracts near Onslow in North- West Australia,
although, according to Dr. P. L. Sclater, F.R.S., one specimen was
received by the British Museum from the Gould collection, and
registered as M. horsfieldi. Mr. Tom Carter, lately of Point Cloates,
in his article entitled " Birds Occurring in the Region of the North-
West Cape,"* stated that his attention was first drawn to these
birds on the 30th October, 1900, when they were seen dusting them-
selves in the red sand. Mr. Carter further states that the birds
are tame in habit, and were only seen on the inland red sand plains,
and that they sit close in the grass, but occasionally perch in the
bushes.

The bird was described by Mr. Alex. Wm. Milligan,t the Honorary
Ornithologist to the Western Australian Museum, Perth, and named
in honour of Mr. B. H. Woodward, F.G.S., C.M.Z.S., the Director
of the same institution.

Mr. Robert Hall, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S., described the nest and eggs
of the species in the Vict. Nat., xviii., page 80.

Aniytis hoiisei (Black Grass- Wren) was discovered by Dr. F. M.
House in North- West Kimberley in the year 1901. J That gentleman,

* Emu, vol. iii., p. 95. t Vict. Nat., vol. xviii., p. 25.

+ Appendix F., "Report on Exploration of North-West Kimberley"' (Emu, vol.
i., p. 114).

t^

;x

Vo .IV.

1905

J The Coloured Plate. I 8 S

in his field observations, remarked that the l;ird was first observed
running over piled-up masses of red and black sandstone, with
which the colouring oi its plumage harmonized so })erl'ectly that
it might easily ])ass unnoticed. The bird was named by Mr. A. W.
Milligan after Dr. House, who acted as naturalist to the North-West
Exploration Expedition, led by Mr. F. S. Brockman. The nest
and eggs are undescribed.

Xerophila castaneiventris (Chestnut-bellied Whiteface). — This
species was also first discovered by Mr. J. T. Tunney at Pindar, in
the Murchison district of Western Australia, but as he obtained
only one skin, and that a bad one. it could not be declared a new
species until further skins were obtained. These were eventually
secured for the Western Australian Museum by Mr. Frederick
Lawson, in the district named. The birds associate in small com-
panies, and prefer the red soils. They are ground feeders. The
bird was named and described by Mr. A. W. Milligan* and the eggs
by Mr. A. J. Campbell, C.M.B.O.U.t

Obituary.

The news of the death of Mr. Harry E. Hill, at Kalgoorlie, W.A.,
on 28th February last, from typhoid fever, has been received with
the deepest regret by his friends in Victoria. Mr. Hill was a valued
member of the A.O.U. He acted for several years as honorary
curator of the Gordon College Museum, and in that capacity did
excellent work in classifying the museum specimens for the first
time upon a scientific basis. He was editor of The Geelong
Naturalist, and later of The Wombat, and by his field notes pub-
lished from time to time in The Emu and in the journals named he
contributed much to our knowledge of the birds of the Geelong
district and the Eastern Otway. He continued his ornithological
work in Western Australia, and only a few weeks before he died he
wrote to the editors to say that he hoped soon to be able to send
over full field notes on the birds of Kalgoorlie. Mr. Hill was a man
of a quiet disposition, who never sought popularity, but whose
friendship was all the more valued by those who knew him best.
As an ornithologist he was a painstaking and enthusiastic worker,
one who put the science he loved foremost and himself last. The
cause of ornithology can ill afford his loss.

Corrections.

Vol. IV., p. 45. — Under heading Fairy Martin, 5th line — Trans-
pose the months September and August, so as to read " from
middle of August to early in September."

Vol. IV., p. 46. — Under heading Coucal, " east of Townsville "
should read " west of Townsville."

*Einu, vol. iii., p. 70. f Emu, vol. iii., p. 120.

I 86 Fourth Iiitey national OrnitJiolosical Congress. \ ^"^^ ■,

o '^ List April

Fourth International Ornithological Congress,

This Congress, which is to be held in London during June, promises
to exceed all former ones in importance.

*"• The Congress is under the patronage of HTi.H. the Prince of
Wales, and will be presided over by Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe. Besides
a Home Committee composed of eminent ornithologists, there is an
influential General Committee representing all the more important
countries of the world, Australia and New Zealand being represented
by Sir Walter Buller, Messrs. x\lfred J. North, Chas. W. De Vis, and
Dudley Le Souef. Capt. F. W. Hutton and Mr. Frank Littler, who
will be in England when the session is sitting, will be the official
deputies of the Australasian Ornithologists' Union. The business of
the Congress will be divided into the following sections : — (i)
Systematic Ornithology, Geographical Distribution, Anatomy, and
Palaeontology ; (2) Migration ; (3) Biology, Nidification, Oology ;
(4) Economic Ornithology and Bird Protection ; (5) Aviculture; and,
as is the custom on a smaller scale in the Antipodes, the session
terminates with an excursion to a " rookery " of sea-birds — Flam-
borough Head, Yorkshire.

The subscription for members is £1, which also entitles members to
a copy of the published proceedings of the Congress. Circulars, &c.,
may be had on application to the editors of The Emu.

New Nature Study Societies.

A MEETING of persons interested in the formation of a Field Natural-
ists' Club at Cairns (Queensland) was held in the School of Arts on the
evening of 12th March. A Club was formed, with the following office-
bearers : — President, Mr. E. M. Cornwell ; vice-president, Mr. J. G.
Fearnley ; secretary, Mr. E. Allen ; committee, Messrs. D. Dean,

J. Hyland, F. Barrett, Ingram, Anderson, and Burnett.

* * *

At the invitation of Mr. C. L. Barrett a number of gentlemen
interested in field ornithology met at his residence, " Craigielea,"
Brighton Beach (Victoria), on the evening of 12th April.

On the proposition of the host, Mr. A. J. Campbell was voted to the
chair.

After discussion, it was resolved :--

To form an association of field ornithologists, limited to 25 members
(for the present).

That the association be called the " Bird Observers' Club."

That Mr. F. P. Godfrey be elected hon. secretary.

That the subscription be 2s. 6d. per annum.

That the Club meet once a month, at some member's residence or
other place to be named at the previous meeting.

The following were elected original members : — Messrs. Donald
Macdonald {The Argus), A. J. Campbell, Col. Mem. B.O.U., A. G.
Campbell, C. L. Barrett, F. E. Howe, A. H. E. Mattingley, A. J.
Kershaw, F.E.S., D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., C. F. Belcher, M.A., LL.B.,
F. P. Godfrey, R. P. Godfrey, C. P. Kinane, H. Kendall, Robt. Hall,
F.L.S., and E. Brooke Nicholls.

Walker, INIay and Co., Printers, Mackillop-street, Melbourne.

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