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

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OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

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

VOL. I. — 1901-2.

Welbourne :
WALKER, MAY & CO., PRINTERS, 25 MACKILLOP STEERS.

1902.

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BEePeORTAL NOTE.

IN completing with this issue the first volume of Zhe Emu the
editors most heartily congratulate members on the success
which has been attained. Much was expected, much has been
achieved. From the small gathering at which the Union was
projected it has grown to proportions that will make its influence
felt more and more, and numbers sufficient good workers in
its ranks to render efficient service both to the science of
ornithology and to the cause of bird protection. How much
remains to be done in those directions every student and bird-
lover knows. Nearly 100 known species have their nests and
eggs still undescribed, and of a large proportion of our birds
some phases at least of their life-history are unknown.

To those members who have rendered aid by writing and
forwarding papers the warmest of thanks are tendered, as also
to those who have given advice. From both a continuance in
the good work is solicited, as are contributions from other of
our fellow-members. Every item chronicled in Zhe Emu is
helpful in the cause we all have at heart, and the larger the
number of observers who prove that they are at work by
recording what they see, and publishing their notes, the more
efficient will the official journal of the Australasian Ornith-
ologists’ Union be. Up to the present the task of the editors
has been a pleasurable one; it remains with members to

make it continue so.

oe . ae
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the ~Emu.

PLATE VII.

or
>

annets (Su/a serrator) Nestin

G

LE SOUEF.

dD.

BY

FROM A PHOTO,

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.—igot-2.

About Members, 32, 78, 155.
Agricultural Journal of Victoria, 149.
Amongst Returning Birds, 19.
Apsotochromatism, 71.

Australasian Association for the Advance-
ment of Science, Report of 8th
Meeting, 75.

Australasian O.U., The—Its Origin, I ;
Future Work, 3; Zhe Emu, 5;
Inaugural Session, 34; President’s
Address, 36; 4x route for Home,

49.

Australian Birds at the Crystal Palace,
148.

Australian Birds at Sea, 118.

Australian Museum Special Catalogue,
28.

Awards for Aviculture, 148.

Bare-eyed Cockatoo, 25.

Bell Birds and- Caterpillars, 72.

Bird Protection, 10.

Bird Protection in America, 142.

Birds of Port Phillip in 1837, 24.
Bird-killing as a Method in Ornithology,

pea
‘© Birds of Siberia,” 76.
Bristle Bird, Description of.a New, 67.
Brush Cuckoo, 73.

Cairns Notes, 147.

Coachwhip Bird, First Recorded Nest, 70.

Correspondence, &c., 80, 156.

Corresponding and Observatory Stations,
62.

Do Musk Ducks Fly ? 147
Does the Female Emu ever Incubate?

144.
Drought and Dearth of Birds, 72.
Drought in Queensland, 146.

Effects of Drought, 146.
Emu Feathers, 6.
Emus in North Australia, 148.

Ephthianura albifrons, 70.
European Birds in Tasmania, 121.
Example for the Aust. O.U., 76.

Feathered Friends or Foes? 13.

Field Notes from Bedout Islands, 73.

Flight of Mutton Birds, A, 145.

Flycatchers v. Ticks, 23.

Forgotten Feathers, 24, 70.

For Observers, 71.

Formalin as a Bird Preservative, 132.

From Magazines, 26, 75, 149.

Frontal Shrike-Tits Breeding near Cities,
74:

Gannets, 23.

Golden Plover, 23.

Ground Bird, Spotted, 26.

Gymnorhina, Mr. k&. Hall on the
Genus, 30.

Halcyon sordidus, 25.
Halcyon westralasianus, 25.

Ibis Rookery, 74.
Illustrations, The, 154.

Lusus Nature, A, 148.

Maluri, Notes on Certain, with a
Description of New Species, 65.

Malurus—‘‘ Astray” for 77 years, 26;
M. cyanotus and M. edouardi, 65.

Migration of Swifts, 149.

Migratory Birds of New Zealand, Capt.
Hutton on, 139.

My Tame Wild Birds, 112.

Nankeen Herons, Note, 146.

Native Companions Nesting in England,
150.

Zaki Agricultural
(Grallina), 151.

New Zealand Bird Specimens, 27.
Nice Point, A, 75.

New Report

The

vill

North, Mr. A. J., on Malurus leucopterus,
M. cyanotus, and M. edouara?,
152.

North-Western Notes, 27, 56, 126.

Notes from Leyden Museum, 151.

Notes ona Collection of Bird Skins from

the Fitzroy River, N.W. Aus-
tralia, 87.

Notes on Various Birds Found in Tas-
mania, 82.

Obituary Notice, 79.

Original Members and Founders of the |

Aust..0.U 9 257

Painted Finches, 26.

Parrakeets in the City, 74.

Parrot Exhibition, 31.

Petreca ramsayz a Variety of P. good-
enovi2, Q.

Plain Wanderers, 26.

Porphyrio melanotus in New Zealand, 52.

Prosecutions under the Victorian Game
Act, I4l.

Protective Colouration of Australian
Birds and Their Nests, 57, 128.

Emu.

Reviews, 28, 76.

Rhinoceros Bird, 26.

Richmond River (N.S.W.) N ee 73:
Rookery of Nutmeg apy , 144.

_ Sad Misadventure, A, 74.

Shepherd’s Companion, 74.

Should Mutton Birds be Protected ? 69.

Snipe on Migration, 149.

Some Field Notes, 124.

Some Notes on the Birds of the Lake
Eyre District, 133.

South American Sparrow, A, 76.

Spine-tailed Swift and Dollar Birds, 80.

Spotted Bower Bird at Home, 73

Theology and Ornithology, 76.
Time Changes All, 74.

Victorian Naturalist, The, 27.
Warbling Grass-Parrakeets Breeding in

Captivity I51.
White Ibis, 147. '

ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. L

Signatures of Ornithologists, &c.

Finis Feathers

Brooding Gannets (Sula sula and S. ¢ cyanops)

Lesser Frigate Birds and Nests
Nest of Bald-Coot.. ae
Nest of Grass-Warbler

Nest of Orange-winged Tree-runner...

Malurus edouardi

Malurus leucopterus :
Gannets (Sula serrator) N esting
Red-capped Dottrel’s Nest..

Pied Oyster-catcher’s Nest ..

An Osprey’s Nest ..

Taking Topknot Pigeons’ Nests

plate i
page 7
plate 11
plate 1

_ plate iii
plate iv
plate v
plate vi
plate vi
plate vii
plate viii
plate viii
plate ix
plate x

e She Emu |

Official Organ of the Australasian Ornithologists’ Anion.

“ Birds of a feather.”’

VoL. 'I.] OCTOBER, 1901. [PART ‘2.

The Australasian Ornithologists’ Union.

ITS ORIGIN.

IN after years reminiscences of the beginnings of successful
societies possess a special interest. But too often, when the
history of what time proves to be an important event comes to
be written, material is either unavailable or only procured with
difficulty. Hence it may not be unwise to reverse the usual
order of things, and even before the first general gathering of
the Aust. O.U. in Adelaide, to “take time by the forelock,” in
this first issue of Zhe Emu, by giving an outline of the incep-
tion of the Union and the steps which led to the formation of
so necessary an institution.

The initial stages took the form of a series of ornithological
and oological dinners or reunions, delightful socials at which
nothing stronger than tea and coffee was drunk. The first was
held on 15th August, 1896, and the only record is the following
account given by a newspaper :—

REUNION OF NATURALISTS.

At the invitation of Mr. A. J. Campbell, about 20 naturalists * met at a
reunion at Britannia House, South Yarra, on Saturday evening.° There
were present :—Mr. D. M‘Alpine, Government Pathologist (in the chair),
Dr. Charles Ryan, Mr. Dudley Le Souéf, and several members of the Field
Naturalists’ Club and others who take interest principally in the oology or
nidification of Australian birds. The floral decorations of the table were
in strict keeping with the occasion, consisting of golden blooms of acacias,
native heaths, pink and white. A large and beautiful moss-made nest of
the Mountain or Ground Thrush, with eggs, fresh from the scrub, adorned
the centre of the table. Mr. M‘Alpine said that Mr. Campbell had been
naturalizing for 25 years. His egg collection had reached 500 species—the
largest purely Australian collection of eggs extant. Mr. M‘Alpine referred
to the instructive articles by Mr. Campbell appearing in 7he Australasian,
and said he hoped that when Mr. Campbell published his permanent work
(now in course of preparation) he would receive national assistance. In
lieu of the usual toasts, Mr. Campbell read a paper touching on ornith-
ological topics, describing some of his experiences as a field naturalist, and

* Those actually present were :—H. P. C. Ashworth, T. A. Brittlebank, F. G. A.
Barnard, A. J. Campbell, W. R. G. Campbell, T. G. Campbell, A. G. Campbell,
Ed. Degen, C. French, jun., J. Gabriel, J. T. Gillespie, Robt. Hall, D. Le Souéf,
D. M‘Alpine, Chas. Ryan, G. E. Shepherd, and J. Sommers.

2 Theta.

giving an account of the Bell Miner. The paper was followed by an
exhibition of lantern views depicting birds and nests seen by Mr. Campbell
during his excursions. Before breaking up the meeting resolved to form an
Australian Ornithological Union, on similar lines to the British and American
Ornithological Unions.

A return dinner was given at the Victoria Coffee Palace on
26th August, 1897. About the same number of gentlemen were
present as in the previous year, amongst them being Dr.
Chas. Ryan, Dr. Snowball, Mr. E. D’Ombrain, and other field
naturalists. Mr. T. A. Brittlebank and Mr. G. E. Shepherd were
present on behalf of provincial collectors, while the intercolonial
ones were represented by Mr. A. E. Brent, of Tasmania.
Apologies regretting absence were received from Sir Frederick
M‘Coy, Colonel W. V. Legge, and others. Mr. Campbell, re-
plying to the toast of his health, made the prophetic utterance—
“Tt is a very happy thought to make these reunions of ours
annual affairs. If we keep them going no doubt they will
merge into an Australian Ornithological Union at no distant
date.”* Lantern views of birds, nests, and eggs, and an
exhibition of some of the rarest and most beautiful eggs, filled
up a pleasant and profitable evening.

There was a lapse of two years ere the next gathering took
place, at the Coffee Palace, on the 1st September, 1899. This was
at the invitation of Mr. Dudley Le Souéf. The return dinner,
on 7th November, 1900, was an unqualified success, and at it
the preliminaries of a union had a definite beginning. Apologies
were read from Sir Malcolm M‘Eacharn, Mr. C. W. De Vis
(Queensland), Mr. S. W. Moore, M.L.A. (New South Wales),
Dr. Morgan (South Australia), Colonel Legge (Tasmania), Mr.
C. French (Government Entomologist), and others. There were
present—Dr. Chas. Ryan (in the chair), Mr. J. W. Mellor
(representing the Ornithological Association of South Australia),
Mr. C. F. Belcher (Field Naturalists’ Club, Geelong), Mr. D.
M‘Alpine, and several other prominent members of the Field
Naturalists’ Club of Victoria—in all 21 gentlemen.t (By a
remarkable coincidence, this was the exact number of the
founders of the now famous American Ornithologists’ Union,
started in 1883.) It was resolved that Dr. Ryan, Messrs.
D. Le Souéf, A. J. Campbell, G. A. Keartland, Robt. Hall, and
J. Gabriel form a committee to consider the matter of a union
fully, and bring up at an early date the result of its deliberations.
This committee went to work, slowly but surely, with the en-
couraging result that sufficient responses (including the gracious
patronage of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
of Cornwall and York) were received to warrant the committee
in recommending that a union be constituted from the Ist July,
1901, with its principal planks the study and protection of birds,
and that the first general meeting be held at Adelaide in October

* The Wombat, Oct., 1897, p. 6. + Signatures see Plate I.

PLATE I.
The Emu.

SIGNED? pre

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ALL
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Mii OPM Le tt

me

SIGNATURES OF ORNITHOLOGISTS, &c.,
Present at the Meeting which appointed the Provisional (First) Committee
of the Australasian Ornithologists’ Union.

(PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE LE SOUEF TESTIMONIAL.)

ig ake oe a ae ene hee eel ee ed a aren Sees wate Ste eens: ee ah 8 ceetin ee teed tee ety st SRA cite ce Ulemey (aR pemcn men Omas eee +

,

The Emu. 3

following, when a simple code of rules and a representative list
of office-bearers be proposed for adoption.

FUTURE WORK.

Already the membership roll includes workers whose names
are known beyond Australasia, and though the Union is not
confined to men who have made so prominent a mark, but
includes ordinary bird-lovers as well as scientific ornithologists
and oologists (this was necessary to secure the diffusion of
knowledge), it should do excellent work. None will deny that
there is a wide field to engage the attention of such a body,
or that there is much to be done both in the field and the
cabinet. There are technicalities to be settled, doubtful points
to be cleared up, and mysteries of nesting, &c., to solve. Our
knowledge of bird life is incomplete ; it is probable that many
new species remain to be discovered ; and some of the genera
are in danger of passing away altogether unless something is
done to save them. The efforts of isolated workers cannot be
so effective in such a cause as if all interested acknowledge
their undoubted interdependence and combine to render mutual
aid, to correct one another’s observations, deductions, or plans
by the light of their own experience, and to assist in the
common cause.

The Australasian Union has a very similar task before it to
that which the American Union had, and surely there is no
reason why it should not achieve as good results. It ought to
be possible to write of our Union, when it has been as long
established, in language like that employed by Dr. J. A. Allen,
the first president of the American Ornithologists’ Union,
sixteen years after that body had been formed. What he says
emphasizes the need of united action, and shows what can be
accomplished by it.

“ Between isolated workers in any field, jealousies and misunderstandings
arise, which personal contact tends to obliterate. Such was the case with
our ornithologists for some,.years prior to the founding of the Union.
There were two rival check lists of North American birds, each, perhaps,
equally authoritative, though differing in important details, which led to
confusion and a tendency to array our ornithologists into two hostile camps.
This being recognized as a threatening evil of considerable gravity, one of
the first acts of the Union was to appoint a committee on the classification
and nomenclature of North American birds, so constituted as to include the
most competent authorities on the subject and at the same time safeguard
all conflicting interests. The work of this committee long since became a
matter of history. It was conducted with the utmost conscientiousness and
care ; personal interests and personal bias were generously waived ; differ-
ences of opinion were settled by appeals to facts and the evidence, with the
result that agreement was established in respect to all points of nomen-
clature and other technicalities, and a new impetus given to systematic
investigation. Thus, through the work of this committee alone, one of
the primary objects in view in founding this Union was most happily
accomplished.”

After alluding to such important matters as “ Bird Migration,”

4 The Emu.

“ The Sparrow Pest,” &c., Dr. Allen mentions that at the second
congress of the Union it appointed a Committee on Protection
of North American Birds, which has been continued to the
present time, and has been an influence for good in this great
economic and humanitarian work.

In the important matter of bird protection there is a great
task before the Australasian Union. The Field Naturalists’
Club of Victoria has done some good work locally from time to
time. The Australasian Association for the Advancement of
Science promised to be a larger sphere of usefulness in this
direction. But possibly it has “too many irons in the fire,” and
the meetings only once every two years are not conducive to
the continuous efforts needed for effective bird protection. At
the Association’s first (Sydney) session, 1887, a paper was read
on “The Protection of Native Birds” (vide vol. i., p. 338), and
Professor Baldwin Spencer secured the appointment of a
committee to consider and investigate the question (page 33).
The committee was reconstructed at the following (Melbourne)
session, and brought up its recommendations (amended and
approved by the Council) at Adelaide, 1893 (vzde vol. v., p.
241, 242). But although eight years have passed since then,
nothing practically has been done, except to carry out the one
relating to the preparation of a systematic list of vernacular
names for Australian birds, which was adopted at Sydney (1898)
and published in vol. vii., pp. 128-154.

Probably one of the first acts of the Australasian Ornithologists’ .
Union will be to start where the Adelaide Committee of the
Australasian Science Association left off—namely, with the
recommendations, which for the most part are these :-—

(1.) That close reserves, controlled by local honorary
trustees, and supported by Government grants, should
be proclaimed.

(2.) That the existing game laws should be strictly enforced.

(3.) That in all Game Acts provisions should be made for
the proclamation of districts, comprising both Crown
lands and private property, wherein particular species
may be absolutely protected for indefinite periods.

(4.) That special legislation should be introduced in all the
states to provide for the protection of animals of
economic value or particular biological interest.

(5.) That a standing committee of local naturalists should
be appointed in each State to deal with the protection
of the native fauna.

All this cannot be accomplished at once, and it must ever be
remembered that ornithologists and bird-lovers will have to
“hammer, hammer, hammer” at some very apathetic skulls
before due protection is achieved. The public must first be
roused, then never be permitted to ignore the desired result.

The Union would achieve much, to commence with, if it only

The Bmw 5

got (No. 2) the existing Game Laws strictly enforced and brought
znto line, so that it may no longer be lawful to shoot, say, ducks
on the left-hand bank of the Murray (Victoria) up to the end of
July; and then to shoot on the right-hand bank (N.S.W.) for a
month later. Obviously close seasons in similar localities should
be assimilated.

“THE EMU.”

The Emu (with the motto “ Birds of a feather”) is intended
to be “an outward and visible sign” of union, and should prove
of value in the good cause. It will provide a recognized means
of intercommunication between all interested in ornithology,
whatever their branch of that study may be, and afford all an
opportunity of recording facts and valuable observations, and
of giving publicity to those and their own deductions. Thus
bird students will be kept in touch with one another, original
study will be aided, and an Australasian want supplied.

It will be noticed that, despite the fact that Professors A.

Newton and R. Lydekker prefer “ Emeu” in their “ Dictionary
of Birds,” it has been decided, with all due deference to those
eminent authorities, to adopt the common Australian spelling of
Sem in the title of thisi'magazine. The reasons are, briefly,
that this form of the word has been in use since 1774, is adopted
by the new English Historical Dictionary, given as correct by
Professor Morris in his “ Australian English,” and used by most
of the standard authorities. It has also been embodied in the
vernacular list of the Australasian Science Association, and is
generally recognized as correct throughout Australia, where
Emeu and its variant Emew are almost unknown. These
grounds should be sufficient to stand upon, but, as kindly
pointed out by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., there is the further con-
sideration that Emeus is the title of an extinct genus of New
Zealand struthious birds, and that when it became necessary to
allude to members of the Dromzidz in the plural, as Emeus,
confusion might be caused. In conclusion, it may be mentioned
that in the endeavour to get the fullest light on the subject an
appeal was made to Professor Tucker, Litt. D., who so ably
fills the chair of Classics and Philology at the Melbourne
University, as to whether there was any classical origin for the
word. His answer was that it has “no well-ascertained derivation,”
and that Emeu (through the current form in olden times) “was
only a way of representing the same sound as in Emu (E-myoo),
and from the phonetic point of view each is incorrect.
The question reduces itself to this—‘Shall we adopt an old,
phonetically incorrect, and rather unsettled spelling ; or shall we
adopt a spelling which, while phonetically incorrect also, has
become usual, is rather neater in shape, and appears free from
peceiiniyr 2s) « Yee feshould say ‘Emu. : If The Eon
sins as to the orthography of its name, which seems hardly
probable, it will not be without justification.

6 The Emu.

Emu (Dromzus nove-hollandiz) Feathers.
By D. Le Souer, C.M.Z.S., &c.

IT has been usual to place the Emus in the order Casuarizz, at
the bottom of the classification of birds, but in the newest
classification (Dr. Sharpe’s “ Hand-List of Birds”) the Emus
are given the primary place, in the order Casuarizformes. Itisa
happy circumstance, therefore, that the organ of the Aust. O. U.
should be named after a member of the highest order of birds,
both as regards classification and size, the size being exceeded
by the Ostrich only ; besides, the Emu is peculiarly Australian.

These noble birds have a wide range, being found in every
part of the continent except in the dense scrub-covered ranges
on the north-eastern coast, where the Cassowary takes their place.
Emus were formerly found in Tasmania and on Kangaroo
Island, and I have likewise found their bones on some of the
islands of Bass Strait—namely, in the Kent Group and on King
Island—which shows that they existed before. Tasmania was
separated from the mainland.

The late Mr. A. D. Bartlett described before the Zoological
Society of London, on 24th May, 1859, what he thought was
another species, and gave it the name of Dyromceus trroratus.
The type, he says, “was obtained with others far in the interior
of South Australia, several hundred miles from Port Phillip.”
As Port Phillip is in Victoria, the exact locality that his speci-
mens came from is somewhat vague. Subsequent to his descrip-
tion and to the remarks published by Gould in his “ Handbook,’
all the West Australian birds were called D. zrroratus.

In the Melbourne Zoological Gardens many live specimens
from different parts of Australia have been. received, including
those from North-Western Australia, and they are practically all
“the same, and when the fully adult specimens—that is, over three
‘ years old—from the latter district are placed alongside those of
Victoria or New South Wales one cannot distinguish any
practical difference ; but young specimens, both from New South
Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, which have their feathers
distinctly barred or spotted have been frequently received. In
some cases nearly every feather was barred. The spotted
plumage appears as they lose their down, but at the end of the
first year many of their mottled feathers, which have got worn
and ragged, are gradually shed, and new feathers, as a rule
without bars, take their place, but occasionally in some birds
barred feathers are again in evidence throughout the second and
third years, especially on the upper part of the back and the base
of the neck. For instance, there were two birds in their first
year received from North-Western Australia. They both came
from one nest, a male and female. The male lost.all his barred
feathers at the end of the first year, but the female, in her second
year’s growth of feathers, had a considerable number barred on

The Emu: 7

EXPLANATION OF PLATE.

1.—Barred feather from upper part of neck of a one-year-old Emu from North-
Western Australia.

2.—Barred feather from back of one-year-old Emu from the Riverina district, New
South Wales. .

3.—Albino feather from back of Emu two years old, from North-Western Australia.

4.—Barred feather from flank of Emu nine months old, from the Riverina district,
New South Wales. Shows portion of down still undetached from tip ofnewer
feather.

5.—Barred feather from breast of Emu nine months old. Shows down still attached
to tip of newer feather.

6.—-Feather with barred end, from bird one year old, from South-Western Australia.

7.—Barred tail feather from bird one year old, from the Riverina district, New South
Wales ; similar feathers from other birds are often much lighter, sometimes
nearly white.

8.— Barred feather from tail of a one-year-old bird from Gippsland, Yictoria.

8 The Emu.

the upper part of the back, and in the third year a very few
faintly barred, but these disappeared in the fourth year. Her
appearance in her second year would agree very well with
Mr. Bartlett’s description, especially as she was slight and her
feathers somewhat more silky than usual; but her nest companion
was much larger and stronger, and had no bars after the end of
the first year. Consequently, as has been shown, many young
Emus have more or less spotted or barred plumage, but these
spots as a rule disappear at or before the end of the third year,
though in some cases they may be more persistent ; and in a
clutch of young birds from the same nest some are spotted and
some are not, and some only faintly so, therefore I do not think
D. irroratus can stand even as a variety.

Young Emus vary much in the colour of their plumage;
some are nearly black, whereas others again are a light greyish-
brown, almost stone-colour, with the variations between, but after
the third year they are practically all the same, although in
adults some have the ends of their feathers darker, and also
darker for a longer distance down the feather than others, and
others again, especially from North-Western Australia, have a
dark reddish-brown tint and a lighter mark on the feather next to
the dark end, which gives them a spotted appearance, and often
before the fourth year many of the feathers have a white tip
instead of black; but there are links between all the variations,
and two Emus are rarely exactly alike. Some also have the
feathers of the upper part of the neck of a much lighter colour
than others, in some cases almost white. On two occasions
only have I found individual pure white feathers on the back. I
have only heard of one albino specimen, and that in Northern
Australia, where it was reported to a local resident by the
natives; one West Australian bird had several partially white
feathers on its back. Regarding the texture of the feathers,
there is again a considerable difference, as some are of a finer
texture than others and more silky towards the base. There is
always a difference in the two feathers that spring from one
base—one is longer and also sharper at the end than the other.

These birds vary in size and height; some are much more
stoutly built and some have longer legs than others. The male
bird seems to regard the nest as his own special property, as he
not only does most, if not all, the hatching, but also protects it if
need be. The male and female do not vary much in appearance,
but the former generally has the ends of his feathers darker, and
has a considerably larger tail than his mate.

THE veteran ornithologist and author, Professor Alf. Newton,
Cambridge (England), is the first person outside of Austral-
asia to join the Aust. O.U. No country or clime—only the
wide world itself—limits the work and enthusiasm of the true
naturalist.

The Emu. 9

Petroeca ramsayi, Sharpe, a Variety of P.
goodenovii, Vig. and Hors.
By ROBERT HALL.

Petreca ramsayz is said to be found only in the Northern
Territory and North-Western Australia.

P, goodenovit is said not to be found in these areas, but in all
others of Australia.

I have personally collected in Swan Hill, Victoria (21/2/1900),
a skin of P. vamsayz, and I know of one being found near the
centre of the continent, so that in the first place the distribution
of each may be extended. To see and collect P. vamsayz in
Victoria seems remarkable.

Now this Victorian specimen of P. ramsayz is only partially
marked red on the throat, but the few feathers have that colour
so definitely marked that it would not for a moment be called
P. goodenovu, which has a black throat.

It had occurred to me, judging by the known distribution of the
two species, that when the Red-capped Robins started from the
Cape York Peninsula to populate our continent* the red-throated
part went due west and had to stop at a little beyond the Fitzroy
River, owing to geographical barriers; and that the black-
throated part went due south as far as Victoria, then west to
Albany, W.A., and north to a little above Geraldton, W.A.
There it stayed, owing to the same desert barriers that stopped
the downward western course of the red-throated part.

The above specimen appears to be a connecting link between
the two. I mentioned the matter to Mr. G. A. Keartland, who
tells me he saw several mature birds in North-Western Australia
with only a flush of red upon their throats, and others without
any. |
The fact, in addition, of finding this abnormal specimen where
“black throats” alone are said to be found, leads me to consider
the two species one and the same. It is like a case of reversion,
where the black pigment of the throat has turned out the red
and the red of the forehead has turned out the black. This
would tend to make the species a much modified off-shoot of
P. leggit. However, this is by the way just now.

The Swan Hill specimen is a moulting bird, showing the wing
quills and many of the interscapulum feathers still brown as in
the young bird of the first year. It is interesting to note that
this brown pigment is a combination of the red and black that
are shown in strong contrast the following year. The forehead
is a blaze of developing “reds,” while the breast is uniform red
and concluded in the moult of the season. The usual black parts
of the adult plumage are nearly as black in this specimen.

It would have been interesting to know whether the next

* ** Key to the Birds of Australia and Tasmania,” Hall, pp. vi., vii., viii.

10 The Emu.

moult would have produced a stronger red on the throat or
reverted to the more ordinary black, as is now usual.

Upon the evidence I make P. ramsayz, Sharpe, a variety of
P. goodenovit, Vig, and Hors.

Bird Protection.
BY FRANK M. LITTLER, Launceston.

ALL lovers of our native birds view with dread the wanton
destruction that goes on year by year in every state of Federated
Australia. They feel that the time has arrived when united and
strenuous efforts must be made if we wish our feathered friends,
and even those we count as enemies, to survive and brighten our
bush wilds with their gay plumages.

Small boys, with their “catapults” and “ pea-rifles,” are not
the greatest offenders; it is that class of persons who ought to
know better against whom we have to contend. An inborn,
insatiable desire to kill something is one of the worst traits of
Australian youths. They take their guns into the bush and
are not content with legitimate game but must try their prowess
on all and sundry that come across their path. They appear to
feel that it is dependent on them to “slay, and slay, and slay.”

Farmers are responsible for the destruction of a great number
of birds, the reason for which being that they consider birds
are responsible for a large annual loss of fruit and crops.

Such being the case they (the birds) are shot unceasingly
whenever opportunity offers. I do not say that birds do not
commit a certain amount of havoc every year among fruit and
crops, but what I contend is that their good deeds far outweigh
their bad, and this is patent to all who take the trouble to
investigate the matter for themselves.

Would that our farmers and orchardists studied more to dis-
tinguish between friends and foes, and understood fully that
if a bird in the summer takes its share of the produce, it in
the winter pays it back with interest twice compounded by
destroying countless numbers of hibernating larve, eggs, and
full-grown insects, which in the summer would perhaps ruin his
harvest of grain and fruit completely.

Fortunately, in this island State birds are not destroyed for
the sake of their plumage, to satisfy the vanity of the fairer
sex. But this is done to a certain extent in the other States,
and in an alarming degree in nearly every other country in
the world.

Now to consider the case of a suburban garden, with its
limited stock of fruit trees, jealously watched over by their
owner, who, in his mind’s eye sees the luscious fruit ready for
picking when the right time comes. In due course the fruit
ripens, and the owner views it with expectant eyes, thinking
how well some will grace the table at next Sunday’s dinner.

ihe’ Emuwt; II

But, alas for human expectations! the birds come and take a
share. The owner is wroth, and vows to destroy them at all costs.
He sets nets, traps, poisons, and shoots them, declaring that
they are interlopers and have no business in his garden.

Let him pause a moment and consider: it is he and not the
birds who is the interloper. It was their right to fly wheresoever
they list before he or his forefathers inhabited the earth.

He, by his action (direct or indirect) has caused the forests to
be levelled, and thus partly deprived them of their chances of
obtaining food. How can he, in all common-sense, expect birds
to know that they have no right to touch certain food on trees
enclosed by fences? But have they no right? Are the fruits
of the earth to be man’s wholly and solely? I think not, more
especially as man, in many instances, takes away from birds the
opportunities of sustaining themselves on their natural food as
was given them from the first.

During a visit to a certain district in this State a few years
since, I inquired if there were any Magpies in the district, as I
had not seen any. I was informed that they had all been shot,
as the farmers considered they destroyed the grain by pulling
it from the ground while in the milk.

In connection with the foregoing, the following little incident,
which happened in England may not be out of place :—

A gentleman owning land in one of the counties was pass-
ing in a train, in company with a friend, a large field of corn
just springing from the ground, which he owned. On the field
were large numbers of Rooks, all intent on some work.

“ Look at those Rooks,” said his friend ; “they are pulling up
every bit of corn. . You won't have a bit left.”

Next day the owner, who was of an inquiring turn of mind,
went and examined the field in question. Sure enough there
were large quantities of corn on the ground. On examination
it was found to have been attacked by grubs. To get at these
grubs the much-abused Rooks had pulled up the diseased corn;
not a single blade of healthy had been molested.

Farmers and fruit-growers are apt to jump to conclusions too
quickly with regard to which are injurious birds and which are
not, without duly investigating the habits of the various ones.
If those farmers who accuse the Magpies of pulling up and
destroying their corn would take the trouble to examine a field
after they have been foraging there, they would find that it is
only the diseased corn that is pulled up, and that in search of
the enemy at the roots.

It has been stated that if all birds were destroyed from off
the face of the earth, in five years it would not be habitable.

A writer says :—“If the arrangements of nature were left
undisturbed, the result would be a wholesome equilibrium of
destruction. The birds would kill so many insects that the
insects would not kill too many plants. One class is a match

12 The Emu.

for the other. A certain insect was found to lay 2,000 eggs,
but a single Tomtit was found to eat 200,009 eggs in a year.
A swallow devours 543 insects in a day, eggs and all.”

It is by destroying the equilibrium of nature that we become
overrun with pests, there being not enough birds to keep the
insects in check. Birds are the best “sure cures” for all kinds
of noxious insects, but if the birds are destroyed because in
their endeavours to save the farmers’ crops they are observed to
be foraging in his trees and fields, then the pests will get the
upper hand, and there will be no checking them. No hard and
fast line can be drawn between friends and foes of the feathered
world. All the friends do a certain amount of harm, and all the
foes a certain amount of good. No two persons would altogether
agree as to which birds should be placed on either list.

As an example, I shall just mention one bird which I consider
ought to be counted among the beneficial species. It is the
White-eye (Zosterops cerulescens). These birds are fairly well
distributed all over the island, and often may be found in large
flocks round fruit-growing districts. They are considered by
the majority of orchardists as unmitigated nuisances from their
depredations among fruit, especially cherries and gooseberries.
It cannot be denied these birds eat their share of fruit whenever
they have the opportunity. I think I can affirm with a great
deal of truth that there is hardly a bird that won't take fruit if
it sees it growing within easy access, as it is on many fruit farms
where the trees are planted almost right up to the edgeof the clear-
ing. During the autumn and winter months numbers of White-
eyes come into the gardens in towns and eat off vast quantities of
aphides from chrysanthemums and rose bushes. When pear slugs
are full grown they feed on these toa large extent. Numbers of
Codlin Moth grubs and other noxious insects are cleared off the
trees or picked up on the ground by these industrious little
birds. I am sure if anyone takes the trouble to observe them
for a short time he will be convinced that their good deeds more
than counterbalance their evil, and that without fear or hesitation
they can be counted among the farmers’ feathered friends, one
that in a quiet, unostentatious manner helps him in his daily
fight against the multitude of pests with which he is waging
continual warfare.

In concluding, may I ask those who have the preservation of
our native avi-fauna at heart to endeavour to check the ruthless
slaughter of our best birds (not game birds) that goes on year by
year through poison and the gunof the “pot-hunter.” Itis onlya
question of a few years and many of our birds will be as extinct
as the Dodo. May I ask farmers and orchardists not to be too
hasty in the condemnation of any and every bird they see on
their fruit-trees and in their fields of growing corn? A little
time spent in observation, and one or two shot and their crops
examined, would save the lives of scores.

The Emu. 13

Feathered Friends or Foes?
By ‘“ ORCHARDIST.”

IT is, alas, sad to relate that the name of a Hawk cannot be
spoken of in the presence of the average farmer without bringing
forth some exclamation about a gun, for it is usual to associate
the bird with a diminishing brood of poultry; and the Magpie,
the Cockatoo, and the Crow are only thought of in connection
with scanty harvests and empty wine vats. Little is it reasoned
that by depriving nature of some of her agents the fitness of
things is in danger of being deranged, thereby allowing some
lower form of life to be ascendant ; and when one season the
locust, or the caterpillar, or the cockchafer devastates the fields,
the farmer cries out and asks what he has done to deserve the
visitation. Yet if questioned whether he would prefer to see a
percentage of the small members of the fowl-yard disappear over
the horizon in the claws of a Hawk, or patches on the outskirts
of the crop destroyed by Cockatoos and Magpies—whether he
would prefer these things to the possibility of having the whole
standing crop eaten over in a night by the caterpillar, or all the
estate denuded of vegetation by the locust, no food even
remaining for the unfortunate horses and cattle, then there is no
doubt what the answer would be. A beautiful balance has been
made in the world of nature, and is preserved as long as the
factors are in their right proportions. When this balance is
destroyed, as often happens by man’s wilful acts as much as by
the march of civilization, then the offender suffers. Birds
can be divided according to their manner of feeding—the
carnivorous, or those which catch and kill small animals,
reptiles, fishes, and birds for the purpose of food; then the
insectivorous, or feeders on insects; and thirdly those which feed
on seeds of grasses. Among the latter can also be put the fruit-
eating birds (those birds which take as their natural food the
native fruits of their forest home). Then, apart from, or
at least out of these, can be found individuals which are
omnivorous, to which a fixed diet is also a mixed one, and these
are the birds against which man is wroth when he sees them
leave their native feeding grounds for the cultivated fields.

It cannot be denied that devastators of vegetation, such as the
locust, the caterpillar, and the cockchafer, have increased since
the country was opened up, or at least their ravages have been
brought more under notice on account of the attacks on the
farmers’ crops when native vegetation is wanting. Or it may be
that the broad acres, being much more open and loose of texture
through cultivation, are better adapted for the reception and
nursing of the egg of such an insect as the grasshopper, or
indirectly, by supplying sufficient food, in the shape of tender
herbage, to the hordes of young insects after hatching, enable

D?

them to pass through their stages quickly, and, becoming

14 The Emu.

equipped with wings, make off in myriads to devastate the country
through which they pass. And in the case of the cockchafer,
which spends the greater part of its existence as a white grub
living just under the surface of the ground, it can be well under-
stood how loose soil would not hinder the insect travelling
rapidly and procuring abundant sustenance in the grass rootlets ;
and thus, when food is plentiful and easily reached, every larva
will mature.

But, with the increase of these depredators, it is pleasing to
notice that the hardier insectivorous birds are on the increase
also, and for the same reason—the food is plentiful and easily
secured.

Who has not watched the Magpie out in the fields in the early
morning, walking leisurely to and fro, carolling away to himself
for pure joy? A step or two and then he stops, for he sees a
slight ridge, hardly to be noticed above the level of the surround-
ing soil, but well enough the bird knows the cause of that ridge.
With one eye he will often contemplate the position, wondering
perhaps why the sign is so infallible ; then he steps up, and with
one or two dexterous twists of the bill shovels away the earth
and brings out a large, tasty grub.

But if a grasshopper hunt is the order of the day, then the
Magpie must be more lively ; the young locust just hatched is
easily picked up, but the older specimen requires some chase.
A bird, unless an adept in grasshopper chase, is very ungainly.
The farmyard fowl is very fond of the insect, but in endeavouring
to catch it many awkward antics are gone through, and if the
observer were not aware of what the fowl was after he might
think the bird had taken leave of its senses. But the Magpie
is much more graceful. The bird darts on the insect before
the latter is aware of its presence, and very rarely misses its
prey. The Magpie never gives chase to a locust on the wing,
preferring to take its food on the ground. In the early morning
many of the large locusts are sluggishly resting about the grass
tufts, for it takes the heat of the day to enliven them. They are
easily captured by the early bird.

After the morning’s meal the Magpies retire to the timber
to preen their feathers, and rest during the heat of the day.
Late in the afternoon they are again out in the fields seeking
the evening meal. The species of Magpie met with in the
coastal districts chiefly of the south-east is the White-backed
variety, and inland is found the Black-backed species. The
former is the larger and more shy, but the latter is the more
sprightly and energetic, and it is this species that is accused of
destroying crops by pulling up the young plants. It is said that
birds have been shot and on dissection the grain itself was found
in the gizzards; but this is hard to credit. It is not logical that
an insectivorous bird should eat grain in any quantity when
insect life is to be found readily, although, obversely, it is ad-

The Emu. 15

mitted that the imported Sparrow, normally a seed-eating bird,
does at times prey upon small insects. The true explanation
of the Magpie’s depredations is possibly that the birds have
discovered in pulling up the young cornstalk that they often
uncover worms, grubs, &c., which were lying in the soil about
the roots. This is just the position to look for the grub of the
cockchafer, and also the cut-worm caterpillar.

I am also sorry to record that the Black-backed Magpie has
taken to eating orchard fruits—the fig and the peach. Where
this was noticed the Magpies are very plentiful. After feeding
in the open, many birds take shelter in the fruit trees, and
perhaps it has come about that while the birds were dozing at
midday they were tempted to examine the ripe fruits around
them. With their strong bills they very soon disfigure the soft
fruits. They never touch the fig or the peach unless quite ripe.

But how can the farmer and the orchardist remember these
little items, when he knows what an immense amount of good
they do, what hordes of noxious insects they devour? Supposing
one bird were to catch a score of grasshoppers every day fora
week (that number would indeed be a very small ration), then a
total of 140 can be credited to one bird. But one bird is only a
unit of the flock usually found in the field. The Black-backed is
very much more sociable than its southern relative; it is no un-
common thing to see 50 or 60 birds feeding together, even during
the breeding season. One summer morning no less than 87 were
counted on a field of nine acres. Fifty birds, devouring 140
grasshoppers each in a week, would account for 7,000 insects.
Supposing, on a meagre estimate, a grasshopper would eat a
square inch of grass-blade per day, then the farmer would have
7,000 square inches of grass for his stock which would not have
remained his but for the Magpie. So the service rendered by
this much-abused insectivorous bird is quite incalculable. The
flute-like song or carol of the Magpie is indeed so well known
that the Australian bush or meadow is not Australian without
it. The bird has two other calls—the alarm note and a single
whistling call.

The Raven, and its smaller relative the Crow, inhabiting the
inland and western areas, are both as black as they are painted.
Although insectivorous birds, yet they have a well-known liking
for carrion. The squatter gives them very bad reputations, for
in the lambing season they are known to destroy numbers of
young lambs by picking the eyes out of the unfortunate animals
newly born. But during the greater part of the year, when
there is no mischief to be done, they are on good behaviour, and
spend their time in assisting to keep the locusts in check. In
some districts the Raven has developed a liking for fowls’ eggs,
and will rob nests that are any distance from the homestead.
The bird carries the egg away whole in its bill to some quiet
spot where it can enjoy the contents at leisure. One day

16 The |imu.

a friend found a china nest-egg lying some distance out in the
paddocks, and concluded that some poor Crow had had a bitter
disappointment.

When the fruit season comes round the Raven plays havoc
among small fruits like the grape, and in this nefarious occupa-
tion it has an able assistant in the Grey Crow-Shrike. With
their powerful bills the birds not only demolish the berries, but
pull off whole bunches and wickedly throw them to one side.
But, being wary, they only carry on their depredations on the
outskirts of a. plantation, whence they can retire on the
slightest alarm.

The diurnal birds of prey, the Hawks and the Eagles, are
always ruthlessly slaughtered whenever opportunity offers
throughout the whole country. Some of the species are
often guilty of taking chickens and young poultry, but does
the farmer ever ask himself where these birds are during the
greater part of the year, and what they feed on then? And is
it noticed that they are never seen about the poultry yards
during the springtime, when the young chickens are running
about in numbers? The poor birds have offspring of their own
to attend to, and are away in some secluded forest rearing their
-own young. ‘Two species, the Brown Hawk and the Goshawk,
are practically the only ones that are fond of stealing the poultry.
The other larger species live on quadrupeds-——rabbits, hares, &c.
—and the smaller species on small birds ; but are all very partial
to reptiles, and must devour an immense quantity of lizards
and snakes. The Eaglehawk is coupled with the Raven as
being very destructive to young lambs. But the large Harriers
or Swamp Hawks are never troublesome, for they live almost
exclusively on frogs and reptilia.

The good character of the Laughing Jackass has of late been
questioned, and rumours are about that he too has developed a
strong liking for young chickens ; but it is not at all possible that
this harmless bird would ever become a pest to the poultry
breeder, who in reality is bringing his losses on himself by his
own foolishness in allowing chickens to run in places where there
is no protection, and he has only himself to blame if a Hawk
picks off some of the tasty morsels, or a Jackass, thinking he has
found some new reptile which it is his duty to kill, batters the
life out of the little creatures. One morning a domestic hen
with a brood of chicks was making its way across a road in a
small country village, when suddenly a Jackass swooped down
and alighted on a small tree-guard only a few feet away. The
next move would probably have shown his intentions, but the
hen anticipated the move (she had evidently seen one of those
fellows before), and with one bound knocked him off his perch, and
the enemy was demoralized. Poor Jack flew off and laughed
dejectedly to himself in a neighbouring tree.

Although of ungainly appearance, the Jackass:is very quick it in

PLATE II.

The * Eixrru.

»

No,

anops).

~

Sew

1.—Brooding Gannets (Sula sula and

Lesser Frigate Birds (Fregata ariel) and Nests on Bedout Island,
North-West Australia.

2

PERTH.

MUSEUM,

T. TUNNEY,

FROM PHOTOS BY J.

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The Emu. 17

capturing its food, which consists of small reptiles and mice.
The bird selects some point of advantage, and keeps a sharp
look-out for its prey, pouncing down upon it with lightning-like
rapidity. At other times it feeds in damp and swampy ground,
collecting for itself worms, gruks, slugs, and snails.

But most harmless and yet most useful of all our insectivorous
birds is the Ibis. There are three species, and the largest, the
Straw-necked, can be taken as an example, not only of the Ibis
family, but of all other inland plain wanderers, like the Bustard,
the Curlew, the Plovers, and the Herons. The Ibis lives in
flocks, numbering from 10 to 20 to many hundreds, and these
systematically prospect great stretches of plain when feeding.
The flock walks to and fro, turning over small stones for slugs
and snails, and catching the wary grasshopper in myriads, for
on these great plains the locust is at home, and if unchecked
would rapidly increase. But while the Ibis remains nature’s
balance will be preserved. They are curious birds in that they
do not breed every season, and only in a good year do they nest
in any number. . The spring of 1900 was a good season, suitable
in that there was the promise of an abundant food supply for
themselves and their offspring. At one large swamp in Western
Riverina two Field Naturalists came across a very large colony
of birds nesting. The colony was made up of an immense
number of flocks, which came from far and near, arriving at
different times, for some of the companies were noticed with
large young while others had just laid their clutch of 3 eggs.
The birds were closely packed over 400 acres, and it was
estimated that there were no less than 200,000 birds in the rookery.
The crop of one adult bird examined contained actually 2,410
young grasshoppers, besides several caterpillars and _ snails.
And when it is remembered that each bird, besides having at
least two meals a day itself, collects food for its offspring as well,
then some idea can be formed of the myriads of locusts these
birds demolish. The snails found in the Ibis crop were those
that harbour the sheep liver fluke in one of its stages.

Most helpful are the Cockatoos also. Although looked upon
as a scourge to the farmer, yet they devour great numbers of
grasshopper eggs, which they find in the ground. The female
locust lays from 50 to 80 eggs in a small hole she has hollowed
out for the purpose. The eggs are deposited in a compact mass,
and these the Cockatoos root out with their strong bills and eat
greedily. The Rose-breasted Cockatoo and the White Cockatoo,
however, have bad reputations. They dig up newly-sown grain,
and even after the crop has started will pull up the young
plants for the sake of the grain, which still adheres to them.
And, not content with this, they go through the field nipping
off the young shoots as well. Then, again, in districts where
maize is grown, the White Cockatoos destroy the seed cobs
when they are ripening. The birds are extremely wary. They

18 The Emu.

are always in flocks, but while the main body is feeding several
remain on a neighbouring tree as sentinels, and on the approach
of danger give the alarm. The White Cockatoos are frightened
away for a time by shooting, but the Rose-breasted will not
leave—they simply go to another part of the crop. But the
Cockatoos, of course, are only troublesome for a few weeks in
the year, and after the crops are well above the ground their
visits cease. Even the harm they do is infinitesimal in com-
parison with their good offices in keeping down locusts, &c.

Then there are several smaller members of the Cockatoo and
Parrot family—the Rosella, the Blue-bellied or Blue Mountain
and the Musky Lorikeets—which prove very troublesome at cer-
tain seasons.

The natural food of the first-mentioned consists of grass
seed and native fruits, but all of them are very partial to the
cultivated fruits also. It is not to be wondered at ; they find
the fruits grown in our orchards much more luscious than
their native food, and consequently are tempted to try them—
much to the owner’s discomfort. The Blue-bellied Lorikeet
also visits maize-fields and strips the cobs just as they ripen,
but the Rosella has not shown a taste for this mischief yet.

There is much speculation concerning the reason why the
Blue-bellied and the Musky Lorikeets have become depredators
in the orchards, considering that they are brush-tongued species
and their natural diet is the honey of the eucalyptus flowers ;
but the fact remains that they have taken a liking to cultivated
fruits, and no amount of rough treatment will drive them away.
It seems a useless thing to attempt to kill them by poisoned
bait and shooting, for their numbers are immediately replaced
by others from outside. But here is a suggestion by which their
ravages can be lessened—remove temptation, in the form of the
fruit, from their way. The ’keets do not come to the orchard
until the fruit is ripening. Early fruits, such as cherries, they
do not touch, for they are busy at that time with their parental
cares. About Christmas the nesting and rearing of young are
over; then the families unite and visit the orchards .in large
flocks. Finding fruit in a suitable condition, they remain as
long as the supply holds out. But then there is no need to
leave the fruit on the trees until ripe. Apples, pears, peaches,
and apricots can all be picked when changing colour, and, in
fact, ripen better off the tree. If this is done then there is no
fruit to attract the ’keets, and they are cheated of the spoil.

The large Honey-eaters, the Wattle Bird and the Friar Bird,
prove exceedingly troublesome by devouring soft fruits when
ripening, and in certain districts the Bower Birds, the Orioles,
and the Koel can also be included in the same category. All
these birds, together with the ’keets, have no redeeming feature
whatever. They take all they can get and give nothing in
exchange. Their natural food consists of native fruits, grass

The Emu. 19

seeds, &c., and they do not assist in any way to keep down
noxious insects. They give no compensation for their villainy.

In this short article it will be noticed that three classes
of birds have been dealt with—jrs¢, the birds which are antago-
nistic to man’s interests at particular seasons of the year, be they
long or short periods; but these birds, it must be admitted,
more than compensate for their bad behaviour by keeping in
check insects which would otherwise certainly be the greater
evil ; secondly, birds which are content to serve the public good
without taking or requiring any compensation; and, ¢hzrd/y,
those with no good intentions, giving no obvious compensation.

Of course, these divisions could be still further enlarged. In
the first, for instance, we have those birds which trouble the
agriculturist, the grazier, and the orchardist; then there are
species—namely, the Bee-eater and the Wood Swallows—which
the apiarist views with much concern, seeing that the poor little
birds, merely chasing their natural food, sometimes demolish the.
honey bee, from which he is endeavouring to earn a livelihood.
But the birds must not be destroyed wholesale on that account.
Untold evils might arise if the factors now keeping them in
abeyance were done away with. There are extreme cases, of
course. A pair of Wood Swallows may take up their quarters
in a garden with the express purpose of feasting on the luxury
furnished by a hive in some secluded spot; then it. would be
expedient to do away with them; but that is no signal for the
extinction of the whole race. On the other hand, it should be
an incentive for a closer observation, in the course of which
bird-life will not be unnecessarily wasted, but rather conserved,
and thereby the inherent powers of nature fostered.

Enough has been written to point out the necessity for closer
observation, for the birds must not be judged harshly. It would
be an everlasting disgrace for a country, a nation, to destroy its
avi-fauna; and neglect or imperfect protection practically equal the
same thing. Surely we must admit that the destructiveness of
some of the birds is, indeed, a small matter in comparison with
the general good resulting from their presence, and if we do
not take a broad view and still allow them their liberty then it
will lead to our ultimate sorrow and loss.

Amongst Returning Birds.
By H. KENDALL.

IF in September's early days one spends a few quiet hours in
such a place as the fast-vanishing remnant of the bush between
Ringwood and the Dandenong Creek he soon discovers that
“the time of the singing of birds is come,’ and that some
wanderers have returned. Not with “the voice of the turtle” in
this locality as yet ; though Ground Doves may possibly appear

20 The Emu.

as days go by. A nest of this species is recorded as taken here
a couple of seasons since, and one hopes the birds may still be
denizens of these hills. The Bronzewing now dwells afar off;
but one knows that not so far away, where tea-tree lines the
shore, the cooing of the little Doves, when spring returns,
becomes monotonous. They began some weeks ago, what time
the Blackbirds and the English Thrushes in suburban pines
found joy in life again, and Indian Mynas and brown Sparrows
talked of love, and nests, and young.

When a recent visit to Ringwood was made in company with
one whose love for bird and ‘bush is great as that of any man,
the first native songster seen was a Rufous-breasted Thickhead,
who, perched on flowering fruit tree, reserved his whistled psalm.
But hardly was woodland entered ere “herald melodies of
spring” were heard. A faint low call was first—too distant to
be clear, though unmistakably a Cuckoo’s voice, proclaiming that
at least one small Bronze bird had left the northern lands to
dwell with us again. “ An invisible thing, a voice, a mystery” it
remained, yet welcome as was ever migrant on his return to
native land. Then nearer still it rang, a whistle with descending
notes, soon followed by undoubted utterance of the common
member of its clan. From valley to the west the mournful cry of
the Pallid Cuckoo rose ; and when we paused it was to listen to
the voices of several of the Bronze Cuckoos, and to see one
on the top of a dead tree, from which elevation he took his part
ina bird harmony that grew in volume, with notes that rose as
they poured forth. His voice broke often—an undoubted crack,
that brought the question whether he was still in adolescent
stage, or victim of a cold.

In the first hollow Fan-tails were about; a Pardalote emitted
a few notes suggestive of metallic clink; Sittellas whispered
frequently in their own quiet way, replied to by a Graucalus
(old melanops) in weak, sibilant voice, so inappropriate to such
a bird. He possibly had strayed across the line, for a little to
the north in summer days these Cuckoo Shrikes have gather-
ings of their own on hillside slope and sheltered dell. Within
this paddock Orioles long had summered, and were now at
home. With Lowell one could say—

“ Hush ! ’tis he!

My oriole, my glance of summer fire

Is come at last.”
From which tree-top their babbling melody first came could not
be told ; its utterers were unseen ; but that it came was proof
of spring’s return as positive as hardenbergia’s purple wreaths
or tetratheca bloom, or as the warm north wind or sun’s increas-
ing power. Though fitting pendent boughs were there, no sign
of nest appeared ; indeed, throughout the day the evidence grew
stronger that only singing, and not nesting, time had come.

What honour among small birds can be—or was it chivalry,

mahe Emu: 21

or mere gallantry of pre-nuptial days ?-—a pair of White-throated
Tree-creepers showed. The male was clinging to a rugged tree,
when suddenly the female came out of such hole as these birds
choose wherein to build. Within her beak a yellow moth was
held ; but though the male was within touch he made no attempt
to secure the prey, which certainly would have made a bite
apiece. How different from city Sparrow ways.

Where a hill sloped to the south, beside the railway line,a
shrubby, stiff-stemmed acacia clad the land with yellow prim-
rose hue—swaveolens most appropriately ; the sweetness of
its breath at eventide was something for the memory to
dwell upon. Above its blooms the Welcome Swallow darted
frequently, Tree Martins joining in the quest for food, and some
eight or nine Wood Swallows hawked persistently. It was a
lovely sight. Was ever anything more dainty than Artamus on
the wing, or curves more near “the line of beauty” than those
described by these Wood Swallows as they flew, or aught more
graceful than when one or other of the keen-eyed birds clung
momentarily to rugged bark, or with a white-rimmed fan out-
Spread it passed to handy twig? Each attitude was eloquent
and elegant. Whilst we watched a zealous sentinel gave a
danger call, all too quickly obeyed. It proved a false alarm;
for first one skirmisher appeared and darted after prey ; then
came another, and-another still, till all were back again. What
they caught could not be seen; the only way to discover would
have been to kill a bird and find out what its crop contained—
a deed akin to sacrilege. The strong north wind would waft the
insects here, and possibly the thicker fringe of timber would
make them stay; or the favoured spot, where sunshine and
humidity joined hands, may have made a fitting breeding
ground for more than the mosquito.

Leaving this breath from Riverina’s plains, that brought as
well suggestion of Tasmanian summertide, across the line, where
silver wattles still were full of bloom, a Yellow-breasted Thick-
head answered once to call of Rufous-breasted kinsfolk, who
peered keenly at invaders of the thicket which they held as
home, and whistled cheerily. Perhaps the tiny Buff-rumped Tit
had told them we were harmless; neither he nor they displayed
a fear. The Pied Fan-tail was not so friendly in his ways as
those “dainty Ariels” the White-shafted ones, whose pinions
gleamed within a few feet of us, and whose marvels of acrobatic
skill rank them amongst the most noted and notable of dwellers
in the creek-side scrub. He would be heard, not seen, on this
occasion. Has anyone yet solved satisfactorily the problem
why the White-shafted Fan-tail ventures so close to men, even
daring at times to touch one’s hat or coat, or, as once seen, to
perch on the muzzle of a gun? The Spinebills were almost as
daring. Once, while we rested, two were “rifling boughs”
within a couple of yards. Later on, a male hung on a slender

22 The Emu.

epacris spray, and probed its bells until the watchers were
within a yard, its ruby eyes distinctly visible, then dropped to
earth, and glided rather than ran through grass. and twigs to-
where the purple “sarsaparilla” had enwreathed a bent-down
wattle sapling. These blossoms he investigated in his search
for food, and inspection after he had gone revealed the very
place from which his nectar came. Has the “Cobbler’s Awl”
Bird been noticed feeding on this plant before? That the pea-
shaped flowers have honey at their base we proved by tasting
them. The whirr of Spinebills’ wings suggested Quail, and in
more open country these wanderers were about. The long-
drawn “scrape-scrape” of some Snipe, high in mid-air, had
already broken the night silence nearer town, and on a later
evening a cry of the real Curlew told that another traveller
was back.

Rosellas had been amongst the first birds seen; others were
afterwards observed, and a couple of Lorikeets were chronicled as
passers-by. The Wattle Bird let all know he was near, and Gar-
rulous Miners had remarks to make, perchance about the shock-
ing behaviour of two Brown Kingfishers who disturbed the peace
by wrangling as to which was favoured swain, and later had a
duel across the creek. Meanwhile, within short distance from
where we sat a lovely Blue Wren, in brightest marital garb, “a
very creature of delight,’ was singing a true love song, and atti-
tudinizing in Wren’s choicest style, finishing his serenade by
bringing his leg above his wing to scratch his head, as though
puzzled as to what was next to be. The voices of these Warblers
had been with us all the day, though not many could be seen.
Two Thrushes, who had sung a canzonet, dashed by so closely
as to be within touch, then observed the world in silence from
a gum sapling for a while. A yellow-breasted friendly bird,
awaking memories of mountain gully and seaside scrub, put in
appearance. The ‘“ psalm of dawn” of this Shrike Robin came
in late afternoon, in oft-repeated mellow note, with feeble twitter-
ings for preluding stave; and to it followed “crack” like that of
teamster’s whip, recalling autumn days beside the Don, when
Psophodes made his presence known to Bell Miner and to man.
The Ground Thrush was not visible, nor was the Halcyon, whose
advent September sometimes sees, but who usually prefers the
North until October comes. Another missing was the lively
Short-billed Tree Tit, generally an inhabitant of these parts.

As darkness drew near, the Magpies, “birds of liquid, piping
song, who had given constant reminders (and once an angry
warning) of their presence, became more active and musical ;
a Magpie Lark called loudly as it flew; and as we gathered a
few wattle sprays—“ each blossom laden with a thought ”—
and went homewards, rejoicing in the return of the birds, the
“ bats went round in fragrant skies ” above the acacia where the
Wood Swallows were. A couple of Brown Kingfishers sat

The Emu. 23

solemnly on telegraph wires, and seemed unheedful of the chorus
of their mates—a true Australian hymn to dying day—which rose
from all around. But: neither “Jackass” nor Magpie had last
word to say ; that was to be a voice of Spring. For us a Bronze
Cuckoo had begun the day; a Pallid Cuckoo ushered in the
night.

Flycatchers v. Ticks—Gannets.
By WM. M‘ILWRAITH, Emu Park, near Rockhampton.

THE dreaded cattle tick continues to extend the area of its
operations in Queensland, and there are some stockowners who
anticipate that it will migrate slowly to the Southern colonies.
It may be interesting to note that among the enemies of the
tick is the common and familiar Black and White Fan-tail, or
Flycatcher (AAzpidura tricolor). Cattle here are tick-infested,
and I noticed a cow at my gate on which gravid ticks were very
perceptible. She lay down to rest, and became the subject of
attentions froma Flycatcher. It alit on the extended side of the
cow, dug its beak into the hair, pulled and tugged, and dropped
to the ground with something in its beak. It went through a
gobble-gobble performance and rested for a few seconds. Then it
searched on the cow’s side, and again seized some object, pulled it
out, and swallowed it. This proceeding it continued for some time.
Though I was not near enough to see what it was feeding on, I
have not the least doubt it was immature ticks. Other insects
being scarce at present, the tiny ticks were evidently acceptable.
The common fowl is a tick consumer, and picks the mite off
cattle whenever it is visible and chuckie can get at it. Infested
cows keep still while their feathered friends are attending to the
parasites. ;

The weather here has been very cold, the sou’-westerly winds
experienced coming off the snowfalls in New South Wales and
South Australia. Among visitors driven north by cold weather |
are Gannets. They are not visible in summer. Now they are
numerous close in shore, and it is most interesting to witness their
aérial gyrations and diving. Yesterday forenoon (30th July) they
were very busy; at the turn of the tide—about three o’clock—the
wind fell, and it became a dead calm, when they ceased diving.
The calm lasted an hour, when one or two took wing again ;
others could be seen sitting on the water in parties of half a
dozen. There were brown immature birds besides the black
and white.

MR. CLARENCE SMART, in June, shot on the shores of Port
Phillip a Golden Plover. A veritable “stray,’ indeed. What
was the bird (a female) doing in Australia at midwinter, when it
should have been breeding under the “midnight sun” on the
tundras of Northern Siberia ?

24 The. imag.

Forgotten Feathers.”
By Epwp. A. PETHERICK, F.L.S., &c., Streatham, London.

JAMES BACKHOUSE, who visited the colonies during the years
1832 and 1837, when on a mission with Rev. Washington Walker
for the Society of Friends, frequently refers in his letters to
objects of natural history.

When he came to Melbourne in November, 1837, he made
several excursions up the Yarra to his friends, the Gardiners
and Langhornes, and had opportunity of seeing nature in its
original state round Melbourne.

On the 13th of that month he writes (after spending First
Day with the Langhornes) :—

“J. Gardiner conveyed us to Melbourne in his boat. The
river is fringed with shrubs and trees the whole way and
enlivened with the constant tinkling chirp of the Bell Bird;
the shrill whistle, terminated by a jerking sound, something like
the crack of a whip of a coachman, is also occasionally heard
here; and we noticed the Nonkin Bird, a small species of
Heron, cinnamon coloured on the back, sulphur on the breast,
and with a long white feather in its head.”

Again, on the 15th November, he writes :—“ The number of
blacks in the vicinity of Port Phillip, including its whole circuit
with Western Port, is estimated from 300 to 500. . . . The
plants which yield them sustenance are . . . Kangaroos,
Emus and other birds, and opossums are also generally eaten by
the blacks, and are abundant, though the Emus are fast retiring
before the white population and their flocks and herds. The
large bird of the Crane kind, colonially called the Native Com-
panion, and the Bustard, denominated Wild Turkey, are also
plentiful; and there are yellow-tailed and red-tailed Black
Cockatoos, round-headed White Cockatoos, Parrots of various
kinds, Pelicans, Black Swans, Ducks of various kinds (one large
species has a white patch upon the wing), White Hawks, greater
Laughing Jackasses, Kingfishers, Quails, and various other
birds, not to omit the Piping Crow, with its cheerful note, and
the Black Magpie.

“Among the vegetable productions which mark this as an
Australian settlement, and at once distinguish it from Van
Diemen’s Land, are the : |, .feeaind imn-the ees creation the
tinkling voice of the Bell Bird is scarcely less striking and
distinctive.

“On the 16th November . . . after dining with John
Batman, he presented us with some oval baskets, the manufac-
ture of the blacks of this district. . . . The blacks often

* As the early literature on ornithological notes is scarce and scattered, the editors
invite, under this heading, any interesting items that may have been overlooked, for
want of reference, by recent authors—notes likely to be found in old accounts of
exploration or in scientific magazines.

The Emu. 25

bring in the splendid tails of the Australian Pheasant, which
are said to abound among tthe hills.”—(Backhouse, Letters, part
5, 1839, PP: 6-10.)

“The blacks often bring in the splendid tails of the Lyre
Bird, Wenura superba, which is called in Australia the Pheasant
or the Bird of Paradise. It is said to abound among the hills of
this district. John Batman has some fine Emus captured
here.’—(Backhouse, Narrative, 16th November, 1837-1843, p.
506).”

Stray Feathers.

I AM indebted to Mr. Tom Carter for the skin of a Bare-eyed
Cockatoo, Cacatua gymnopis, from the region of the North-
West Cape, which tends to prove that the bird I debited for
that district* as the Long-billed Cockatoo (Lzemetis pastinator)
is really C. gymnopis. Therefore, obviously, it makes a good
note for “ stray feathers.” In 1890 I gave Western Australia as
a habitat of gymnopis,+ but appear to have turned my back on
myself without sufficient reason, except that I was swayed from
the actual fact by Mr. Carter’s fascinating field notes. Possibly
the Cockatoo noted by Mr. G. A. Keartland, of the Calvert Ex-
pedition, as having been noticed between Mullawa and Cue, and
again seen in countless numbers near the Fitzroy River, was
likewise referable to C. gymnopis, and not to C. sanguznea, as
stated.{ It is to be regretted that a skin was not preserved for
confirmatory evidence, especially from the Fitzroy, where the
birds were so plentiful.

A Halcyon (7. sordtdus) accompanied the Cockatoo, and was
interesting from the fact that I have not noticed this species
recorded previously for the Western Coast. Date on skin, 14th
June, 1900 ; locality, Point Cloates.

Mr. Carter also forwarded another Halcyon, which he shot
at Vasse, in the south-west, on the 3rd February last. It resembles
closely the common Halcyon sanctus, but has decidedly a more
bluish (bluish-green) coat, while the nuchal band and all the
under surface are white, instead of being buff-coloured as in the
Fl. sanctus. Should the examination of a series of specimens
from Western Australia prove the bird to be a new or Western
variety, I venture to suggest for it the name of ZH. westralasianus.
The following are the dimensions in inches of a male of both
kinds :—

HI, sanctus.—Length, 8; bill, 1.45; wing, 3.55; tail, 2.25.

1. westralastanus.—Length, 8.5; bill, 1.6; wing, 3.7; tail, 2.4.

A correspondent while Quail shooting near Melbourne during
midwinter (July) flushed a Pipit (Amzttus australis) from a
newly-hatched clutch of young.

* ** Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds,” p. 621.
+ Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict., vol. iii. (new ser.), p. 4.
+ Proc. Roy. Soc. S.A., vol. xxii., p. 169.

26 The Emu.

“ Astray” for 77 years! Recently (April, 1901) I described a
black and white Malurus (7. edouwardz) in the Vzctorzan
Naturalist. Since I have been induced to refer to Quoy and
Gaimard’s original figure of JZ. /eucopterus, which Gould queried,
and substituted for the species his own blue and white figure
(vol. iii, pl. 25). This transposition was apparently accepted as
being correct by the “British Museum Catalogue” (vol. iv., p. 290).
In Quoy and Gaimard’s figure I at once recognized a generally
fair drawing of edouard?. Should the black and white Wrens
of Barrow Island and Dirk Hartog Island (isolated localities
about 500 miles apart) eventually prove the same species, then
after a lapse of 77 years the real WW. /eucopterus has been re-
discovered, while Gould’s long-standing provisional JZ. cyanotus
will become the proper name for the blue and white bird.

A ee
* * *

DR. CHARLES RYAN, when out quail-shooting, near Mel-
bourne, the season just closed, captured a number of Plain
Wanderers. In one day he caught six. The Wanderers squatted
so closely (sometimes on the bare ground without any cover)
before the dogs that the Doctor had only to drop his hat on the
sitting bird. The captives, which are exceedingly tame, have
been divided among some private aviaries, where the birds exhibit
indications of breeding.

Mr. E, D. BARNARD, about the middle of July, found near
Gladstone, Queensland, a nest containing eggs of the Spotted
Ground Bird (Czuclosoma punctatum). Surely a northern range
and an early season for this species.

* * *

“PAINTED FINCHES (Eméblema picta) have been quite com-
mon lately (June).”—Tom Carter, Point Cloates, W.A.

From Magazines.

A CORRESPONDENT in a recent number of 7e /ézs chronicles
the fact that the Rhinoceros or Buffalo Bird (A4uphaga) has
earned the vernacular name sometimes applied to it (Beef Bird)
by combining with its old quest for insects on the skins of cattle,
&c., an attack on the bodies of the beasts. It is now, like the
Kea of New Zealand, a flesh-eater. It would be interesting in
such a case to discover why the change of habit took place.
The only change of environment apparent at first sight is the
substitution of sheep, oxen, &c., for the native fauna, and for
many years after the introduction of these animals the buphaga
was looked upon with favour by the settlers. Its bad habits are

of recent growth.
* * *

The Emu. 27

ACCORDING to The /bzs (July, 1901) the specimens of birds
collected by the Governor of New Zealand (the Earl of Ranfurly)
during various trips to the outlying southern islands have been
received at the British Museum. Although the birds were °
merely preserved in formalin, successful skins were made.
Besides two Southern Mergansers (Mergus australis) and the
Flightless Duck (Wesonetta aucklandica), there are specimens of
a new Cormorant (Phalacrocorax ranfurlyt)—named in honour of
His Excellency—and of other rare birds.

* * *

The Victorian Naturalest—the organ of the Field Naturalists’
Club of Victoria—has the distinction of having published more
matter in ornithology and oology than any other Australian
magazine. The issues for July, August, and September (1901)
contain a series of field notes by Dr. Wm. Macgillivray on
“Some North-West Queensland Birds.” The notes, although
- more or less brief, are sufficiently succinct, and many are quite
new. Through the instrumentality of the Doctor and his brother,
Mr. A. S. Macgillivray, two new birds from the district in ques-
tion have been described by Mr. A. J. North, of the Australian
Museum—namely, Péz/oizs /eclavalenszs and Barnardius macgilt-
vray.

In the August number Mr. Robt. Hall has described a
distinctly new and interesting Owlet Nightjar, which he has
called the Rufous—4#gotheles rufescens. Its characteristic name
adequately describes the creature. In the September number
he also describes a new Pseudogerygone—P. éenebrosa, or the
Dusky Fly-eater. This little bird, on account of its sombre-
coloured tail and general unassuming dress, and by having the
least conspicuous markings, is distinguished from the other known
members of its genus. It is noticeable of late that Australian
authors in describing new birds also coin an appropriate ver-
nacular name for the species—a distinct step towards popularizing
ornithology. Under ‘“ New Nests and Eggs,” Mr. Hall furnishes
descriptions of the nest of the Yellow-tinted Honey-eater
(P. flavescens) and the nest and eggs of the recently described
Rufous Bush Lark (Wirafra woodwardz, Milligan). Mr. Hall
acknowledges his indebtedness to Mr. J. P. Rogers, who collected
all the above-mentioned material in North-Western Australia.
Regarding M. woodward, some ornithologists (Vaturalzst, p.
70), without having seen the type, hint that the bird is possibly
the well-known forsfieldz. The authority, and not his critics, is
responsible for the naming of the new species. Mr. Milligan is
starting in a new and comparatively unexplored field. Whatever
ornithologists do, let them not discourage one another.

* % *

Mr. THOMAS CARTER, in The Zoologist for July last, contri-
butes an exceedingly interesting and chatty chapter on “ Notes
from Point Cloates, N.W. Australia.” A favourable rainfall had

28 The. Emu.

created a “lake” in the locality, on the “islands” of which were
rookeries of White-headed Stilts, Avocets, Gull-billed Terns,
Red-kneed Dottrels, &c. This was in the winter of I900. A
Crow’s nest with the unusual number of 7 eggs was found on
the 29th June. A Spotted Harrier’s nest was observed on
the 12th ‘July. “ ‘Western: records’? were established for tne
Black-throated Butcher Bird and the Yellow-throated Miner,
both nests being secured on the 20th July. Some hours before
daylight, by the light of the moon, the “ beautiful, rich, flute-like
notes of the Butcher Bird” were heard. Other “oologists” were
about besides Mr. Carter and his dusky “ Native Companion.”
In a colony of breeding Fairy Martins under a slightly hanging,
shaly cliff, two of the nests were discovered occupied by snakes.
Mr. Carter went below and fired shots into the respective nests,
when out dropped Carpet Snakes, so tightly coiled that they
rolled down to the foot of the cliff. Each reptile contained two
or three of the Martins. On another occasion, on poking a snake
out of a hole ina rock and killing it, Mr Carter found it had
“sot outside” of four Chestnut-eared Finches, which had evi-
dently come to slake their thirst at a small waterhole near.

Review.

[Australian Museum, Sydney. Special Catalogue No. 1. ‘‘ Nests and Eggs

of Birds Found Breeding in Australia,” by Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist,
Australian Museum. (Second edition of Catalogue No. 12, entirely re-written, with
additions). Part I., containing pages I-36; plates A 1, Br. Printed by order of
the Trustees of the Australian Museum: R. Etheridge, jun., J.P., Curator. F.
W. White, printer, Market-street west, Sydney. 1901.]
ALL ornithologists and lovers of birds will hail with satisfaction
the advent (of the first part at least) of the Australian Museum’s
“ Special Catalogue No. 1,” under the title “ Nests and Eggs of
Birds Found Breeding in Australia and Tasmania.”

Judging by the initial part a great deal of laborious study
and patient toil have been bestowed upon the production, which
is really more of a “life-history” of our birds than a work on
“Nests and Eggs.” The title does not do justice to the wide,
not to say ambitious, scope of the author’s work, and, as it will
be commonly cited, is misleading. It is cumbersome, too ; hence
one wonders why it was unduly lengthened by the words “and
Tasmania.” . Every zoologist reckons Tasmania as a part of
Australia, and even in Gould’s day the species found in that
island were included in his “ Birds of Australia.” And surely
it is an inadvertence that ‘“ Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds”
has been printed on some of the plates, that title having been
previously used by another author, who had announced his appro-
priation of it long before his book actually appeared. As a
whole the work promises, when completed, to be the greatest
publication on Australian birds since Gould’s great volumes, and
alike to scientific or non-scientific student will be invaluable. It

The*: Bmw, 29

should be in the hands of every ornithologist and in every public
library. Gould’s work will always be the standard authority,
but Mr. North’s possesses the advantage that our fuller know-
ledge of native birds and their ways is embodied in it.

The concisely written descriptions of the adult birds (male
and female) are valuable aids for the identification of species ;
those of the eggs are hardly so succinct, and are rather over-
elaborated as to detail. A scientific work, such as a museum
catalogue, should doubtless, to be complete, record all known
variations of form and colouration ; but in this case would it not
have been more advantageous and less confusing for the ordinary
student (and the majority of readers will belong to this class) if the
variations had been more clearly differentiated from the “ type?”
The remainder of the book is admirably written, and must give
pleasure and enjoyment to all who peruse it, and the whole work
is such as is only begotten by the experience of a lifetime, or
penned by one whose heart is in his task. The study and
research that have gone to the making of it are revealed in the
chapters on the perplexing species of the genus Strepera, of
which Mr. North’s handling is both goodand lucid. It is indeed
interesting to learn that he has identified S. fulzgznosa from as
far north as Central Queensland ; but is he justified in omitting
South Australia from the geographical range of S. cunezcaudata
and S. graculina ?

Whilst no “errors of commission” are noticeable in this first
part of Mr. North’s work, which deals with the families Corvzde
and Paradiseid@, some of his omissions are likely to discount
the high standard of his writings. Acknowledgment, or reference
to prior work, is an “unwritten” law both in science and in
literature ; yet, whilst the author frankly acknowledges notes and
specimens received from various correspondents, and refers to
older, even ancient, authorities, he entirely ignores the work of
contemporaneous authors on Australian oology. As he holds a
high position in our ornithological world, and represents his
branch in the premier natural history institution in the Common-
wealth, one would hardly expect him to thus lay himself open
to adverse criticism. He could afford to be generous. One
example of this shortcoming may be cited. He refers with
pardonable pride to his having first described the eggs from
New Guinea of the rare genus Phoxygama, but the first descrip-
tions and historical findings of the eggs of three species of
Australian Rifle Birds* mentioned by other authors are quite
ignored. Compared with Phonygama, these birds are equally
interesting, rare, and beautiful. Ignoring such items as these
is all the more remarkable when it is borne in mind that the

* Prilorhis paradisea — Campbell — Vict. Nat., vol. xiii, p. 145, with plate
(1897). 2. victorze—Campbell— Vict. Nat., vol. viii., p. 134 (1892) ; Le Souef—
Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict., vol. v., fig. (1892).- P. alberti—Le Souef—J/dis, p. 394
(1897).

30 The Emu.

“type” egg of the Victoria Rifle Bird, discovered by Messrs. D.
Le Souéf and H. G. Barnard on the Barnard Island, became the
property of the museum to which Mr. North belongs.*

From photo-mechanical and typographical points of view the
work leaves little to be desired. It is admirably printed on
coated art paper, quarto size, with broad margins. The half-
tone blocks of nests are splendid, but the uncoloured figures
of eggs suffer somewhat from “halation,’ affecting seriously the
markings about the “high lights.” Where subscribers have
ordered coloured copies, however, this fault will probably not
exist.

In conclusion, the author, and all concerned with him in his
task, are to be congratulated on the book’s general excellence,
while the trustees deserve hearty thanks for allowing subscribers
to obtain it complete (uncoloured plates), at 25s. It isa gift at
such a price. )

Mr. Robt. Hall on the Genus Gymnorhina (Magpies).

IN the “ Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria,” vol. xiv.
(August, 1901), Mr. Hall contributes an interesting and most
remarkable paper on the Australian Magpies, of which there are
four reputed species. Should the indefatigable author never
write another article on ornithology, this one alone will render ~
him famous—if all his deductions can be proved—for all time.

It appears to Mr. Hall that far away back in the dark ages an
extinct or ancestral “ Piping-Crow” took on the colour of its
times, and was a “uniform black type,” and out of it evolved
“one species only, G. /euconota (White-backed Magpie), with one
variety, namely, that having a black back, known as G. tzbzcen.”
As the original type was supposed to be black, one would have
expected to find the bird with most black about it (the Black-
backed) ¢he speczes, and the further removed White-backed bird
the variety.

The article bristles with hypotheses and exceptions. But do
not exceptions prove the rule? It is hard to definea species from
a sub-species or variety, but it may be fairly taken for granted that
a species stands good where the specific markings or features are
constant as a rule. Upon this rule, as well as on geographical
distribution, the Magpies can be readily divided into four species
or races, at least, which Mr. Hall has not apparently disproved.
(1) There are the adult birds (male and female respectively) with
white and grey backs (G. deuconota) confined to the south-eastern
coastal region chiefly ; (2) the lesser-sized white and grey backs
(G. hyperleuca) to Tasmania; (3) the white and dark grey or
black backs (G. dorsalzs) to the western territory ; while (4) the
black backs (in both male and female), G. tzdzcen, represent the

* Report of Trustees for the year 1893, p. 4.

The Emu. 31

great balance of the continent, particularly the eastern half.
With regard to the nestlings of the extreme eastern and western
“ White-backs ” there is a noticeable difference. Those of the east
(leuconota) possess rust-coloured or greyish mottled backs, while
those of the west (dorsa/zs), not to mention their longer and
narrower bills, have drowmnzsh-black or almost black backs.

With regard to the rule of the Tasmanian smaller race of
White-backs, Mr. Hall does not explain two potent factors. If
not a good species, why is the race smaller, when it is the rule that
Tasmanian birds of other species are /arger than their representa-
tives on the mainland? And why are no Black-backs found on
the island? Again, can Mr. Hall explain why no White-backed
birds exist, say, from the region of the Murray (excepting near
its source and mouth) tothe district of the Gulf of Carpentaria—
the great habitat of the Black-backs? By the way, it may be
noted too that the further north the smaller the birds. How does
that fact coincide with the smaller White-backs being further
south in Tasmania?

Mr. Hall’s material would have possibly been stronger were it
not mostly collected in Victoria, where the Black and White-
backed varieties inosculate, and where it is likely that hybrids
occur, instead of selecting specimens from the strongholds of each
“so-called ” species. The instances he has quoted at length from
a correspondent at Minyip, Victoria, are hardly fair tests, because
it is a locality where the two species are likely to overlap, and
possibly he has over-estimated the number of “ hybrid-like ” birds
in the neighbourhoods of Bacchus Marsh and Western Port—
there being only one or two known examples zx skzvs, at all
events.

Taking the paper as a whole, the author has put a deal of
thought and originality into it. He could not have selected a
more popular class of birds for Australians. No doubt it will stir
up investigation, and we hope to publish in due course in the
columns of Ze Emu correspondence on this fascinating subject
from all parts of Australia.

A Parrot Exhibition.

THE exhibition of Parrots, &c., at the South Suburban Canary
Show in July was a genuine success, there being 105 exhibits,
comprising 17 species of Cockatoos, Parrots, and Parrakeets.
Such a collection of gay forms has not been previously seen in
Australia.

It is to be hoped the exhibition will induce bird-lovers to study
more thoroughly aviculture by building spacious aviaries to
encourage Australian birds to breed (as has been successfully
done in England, Germany, and India), instead of confining their

pets in small cages and teaching the occupants merely to “speak
and whistle.

32 The Emu.

The Cockatoos were represented by 7 White, 4 Long-billed
(Corellas), and 3 Rose-breasted (Galahs) varieties. Although
the greatest competition was between the Whites and Corellas,
a Galah carried off the first prize. The Large Parrot class
consisted of 8 King and 4 foreign Parrots, 3 Pale-headed, 4
Crimson, 4 Yellow-banded (Port Lincoln), 3 Mallee (Barnard’s),
5 Black-tailed (Rock Pebblers), and 2 Green Leek Parrakeets.
The Kings carried off the first and third prizes, with a foreign
parrot second. Perhaps it wasa pity that the third prize went to
a second King when so many other splendid parrots bade for the
judge’s verdict. The 48 Rosellas had a class tothemselves. So
many beautiful and brilliant competitors made the judge’s task
not an enviable one, nevertheless the three prizes and five certi-
ficates were popular awards.

Of the Small Parrots there were 6 Cockatoo, 2 Warbling Grass
(Betcherrygahs), 1 Yellow-vented (Blue-bonnet), and 1 foreign
Parrakeets. The Blue-bonnet (usually a wild bird in the open),
by its homely manner and good dress, made a fair claim for the
award given to the second Cockatoo Parrakeet.

In future perhaps it would be better to break up the exhibits
into more classes, giving one prize only for the best bird in its
class or species.

About Members.

Miss AMELIA PIKE, 77 Princess-street, Kew (V.), enjoys the
distinction of being the first life member of the Australasian
Ornithologists’ Union.

Another good example. Mr. John Cumming, Mt. Violet,
Camperdown, has carefully preserved the Bustard and other wild
fowl on his estate, “ Keri Keri,’ Riverina, for the last 23 years.

Mr. A. W. Milligan, Perth (W.A.), is contemplating a trip to
the southern Karri tracts in quest of the Noisy Scrub Bird
(Atrichia).

Mr. T. A. Brittlebank, accompanied by his brother, intends
making an inland field excursion this spring.

Messrs. D. Le Souéf, G. A. Keartland, and Robt. Hall have
been appointed to represent the Field Naturalists’ Club ona
committee consisting of naturalists, sportsmen, dealers, &c., to
draw up suggestions for guidance of the Minister before any
alterations are made in the present Game Act of Victoria.

Mr. Alex. Morton, Hobart Museum, on behalf of the Fisheries
Commission, has sailed for British Columbia for a consignment
of Salmon ova for acclimatization in Tasmania.

Mr. Robert Hall has gone to Brisbane for three months to
undertake some zoological work, under Mr. C. W. De Vis, for
the Queensland Museum.

She €mu

Official Organ of the Australasian Ornithologists’ Anion.

“Birds of a feather.”’

Vo. I.] JANUARY, 1902. [PART 2.

AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

=:

CO-PATRONS:
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales.

OFFICE-BEARERS:
President: CoLtoneL W. V. LEGGE, R.A., F.Z.S., &c.

Vice=-Presidents: Mr. C. W. DE VIS, M.A.
Mien. EG. ZIE TZ. P-L. S:,' C. Miz. 8<

Hon. Treasurer: Mr. ROBERT HALL.

Hon. Secretary: Mr. D. LE SOUEF, C.M.Z.S.
(Address—Zoological Gardens, Melbourne.)

Mr. A. J. CAMPBELL.
Hon. itors of Th
Ed af The Emu} \ H. KENDALL.

Members of Council: Mr. J. W. MELLOR, Mr. A. MATTINGLEY,
Dr CRY ANS (AND Dr. G.~ HURST.

OBJECTS, &c. - - -

YHE objects of the Society are the advancement and popularization
a of the Science of Ornithology, the protection of useful and

{

ornamental avifauna, and the publication of a magazine called
The Emu.

The business of the Society shall be conducted by a Council, con-
sisting of a President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, two
Editors of Zhe Emu, and four members ; each office-bearer and member
of the Council shall retire at the end of each financial year, but shall
be eligible for re-election.

The Annual Meeting shall be held in the capital of one or other of
the different States, such capital to be decided at the previous Annual
Meeting. ;

Every member shall be required to pay an annual subscription of
fifteen shillings, due on the first of July each year.

The offices of the Society shall be at the office of the Hon. Secretary
of the Society for the time being, or at such other place as the Council
may appoint.

34 The ‘ Bmiu:

Australasian Ornithologists’ Union.

INAUGURAL SESSION.

PRELIMINARY LECTURE.

THE inaugural gathering of the Union was begun in Adelaide
on 3Ist October, on which day a party of members arrived from
Melbourne, and were received at the railway station by local
ornithologists. In the evening a lecture, illustrated by admir-
able lantern views, was delivered in the Federal Hall, Grote-
street, in the presence of His Excellency Lord Tennyson, Lord
Richard Nevill, the Chief Justice (Sir Samuel J. Way) and Lady
Way, and a large and representative audience. The subject was
“An Evening with Australian Birds,’ by Mr. D. Le Souéf,
C.M.Z.S., and the chair was taken by the Hon. T. H. Brooker,
Minister of Agriculture and Education. The lecture. was
arranged by and under the auspices of the various scientific
societies of Adelaide, including the South Australian Ornith-
ological Association, the Field Naturalists’ Section of the Royal
Society, the Birds Protection Society (Adelaide Branch), the
Native Fauna and Flora Protection Committee, and the local
Photographic Society.

In introducing the lecturer, Mr. Brooker said his department
had great interest in the protection of native birds, and had done
all it could to foster a love for them among the children by pub-
lishing articles and issuing placards giving views of the birds,
and interesting accounts of their habits. These articles had
been so well appreciated that arrangements had been made by
neighbouring States for republication in their territories. He
was glad, on behalf of the Government, to welcome Mr. Le Souéf
and his fellow-visitors, and hoped that, although they were “birds
of passage,” their visit would be pleasant to themselves and
profitable to South Australia.

Mr. D. Le Souéf then spoke for about two hours on the habits
and nests of a number of Australian birds, alluding to many
points of interest in connection with them, also to how useful
they were to man, emphasizing the fact that the more people knew
of and appreciated the birds around them the better protection
they would afford those feathered friends. The photographs
(taken by the lecturer during various trips) covered a great range
of bird life, and included inland as well as coast and sea scenes,
the last series showing the White-breasted Sea Eagle, the
home, &c., of the White-capped Albatross, views explanatory
of Albatross flight, &c. A view of Ibises in a Riverina swamp,
and the computation that this immense bird colony alone could
account for some 25 tons of grasshoppers per day, evoked great
applause, as did the pictures of a vast rookery of Penguins and
those illustrative of peculiar phases of Pelican life. The lantern
was well worked by Mr. R. B. Adamson. At the conclusion of

The Emit. 35

the address Lord Tennyson and the Chief Justice heartily con-
gratulated the lecturer.

THE GENERAL MEETING.—FIRST DAY.

The afternoon of 1st November was devoted to a visit to the
Museum, where Messrs. A. H. C. and F. R. Zietz courteously
spent some hours explaining various matters of interest.

In the evening, at the Royal Society’s Hall, the first general
meeting was held, the chair being taken by Mr. A. J. Campbell,
who thanked the South Australian members for the hearty
reception accorded to visitors from the neighbouring States.

Instead of reading the full minutes of the various meetings of
the provisional Council it was agreed that the secretary should
give a digest of the proceedings from the formation of the Union
up to present meeting. This having been read, Sir Samuel Way
moved that the minutes of preceding meetings be confirmed.
Seconded by Mr. A. H. C. Zietz, and carried.

Letters were read from their Royal Highnesses the Duke and
Duchess of Cornwall and York, accepting the positions of co-
patrons (the only favour of the kind conferred during their
Australian tour); also from Professor Alfred Newton, of Cam-
pices. Dr. P. L. Sclater, of the Zoological Society, London;
and the British Ornithologists’ Club (through a proposition of
the Hon. Walter Rothschild), conveying congratulations on the
formation of the Union and the publication of the first number
of The Emu.

The retiring members of the provisional Council were then
elected as office-bearers * for the ensuing year, on the motion of
Mr. J. W. Mellor, seconded by Mr. A. G. Campbell, and the
acting-president took the opportunity of thanking the members
of the provisional Council for their hearty support.

ae aa ee Zac, CiNEZ.S. ‘one of the’ vice-presidents,
having taken the chair, Sir Samuel Way proposed a vote of
thanks to the retiring committee. Seconded by Mr. Symonds
Clark, and carried.

The secretary then read the list of paid-up members, and
suggested that they be recognized as founders of the Union.+
Moved by Mr. A. J. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Thomas Hardy,
and carried.

The provisional rules were adopted as the permanent rules of
the Union, on the motion of Sir S. Way, seconded by Mr. A.
Mattingley.

The secretary proposed that Dr. Sclater be elected an
honorary member, adding to his motion, on the suggestion of
Mr. A. J. Campbell, the names of Prof. Newton and Dr.
Bowdler Sharpe. Seconded by Mr. Alfred Compton, and unani-
mously agreed to.

* See first page this issue.

+ These names will be published separately, together with the rules for the use of
members.

36 The Emu.

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.

Colonel Legge, R.A., 'FZ.55) &e,, the president, memesems

able to attend, forwarded the following letter and his address :—
HOBART, 24/10/o1.

Dear Sir,—In sending you my address, which you have kindly consented
to read, I must express my sincere regret at not being present at the
inaugural meeting of our Union.

I trust and wish heartily that you may have a very successful meeting,
and that it willbe the beginning of a sure and strong foundation for the
Union, whose labours I hope to see appreciated in the old country.—I am,

very faithfully yours,
W.. Vs LEGGE

Col. Legge’s address was as follows :—

In thanking the members of our newly-established Ornith-
ologists’ Union for the honour they have done me by my
election as its first president, it is my privilege to-day to warmly
congratulate those Australasian ornithologists who have thus
banded together and successfully launched this Union on the
sea of their hopes. In doing this I also express the earnest
desire that our brotherhood will be able to advance the science
of ornithology in Australia to the same extent that the parent
institution, the British Ornithologists’ Union, has done in
England and Europe, and that the Union will take an honoured
place by the side of the latter and live to see its labours
amply appreciated in the old country.

The members of the Australasian Ornithologists’ Union have
decided to give to the world the result of their labours through
the medium of a periodical styled Zhe Amu, thus following the
example of the British Ornithologists’ Union, whose well-known
and valued journal, 7%e /dzs, has through a long series of years
done so much to advance the science of ornithology in England.
We should, therefore, realize at the outset of our career the fact
that the measure of our success will assuredly depend on the
character of our publication both as regards subject material and
illustrations, and we should make this idea the mainspring of
all our work. The British Union has depended on the excellent
reputation of its journal for its existence, and our Union will
have to similarly depend on 7he Emu.

At this period of my remarks it may not be out of place to
comment on the causes which led to the establishment of the
British Ornithologists’ Union, and this can best be done by
quoting from Dr. Sclater’s preface to the first volume of The
lois, of which he was editor. He says :—

“ For some years past a few gentlemen attached to the study of
ornithology, most of them more or less intimately connected
with the University of Cambridge, had been in the habit of
meeting together once a year, or oftener, to exhibit to one
another the various objects of interest which had occurred to
them, and to talk over both former and future plans of adding
to their knowledge of this branch of natural history.

The Emu. 37

“In the autumn of 1857 the gathering of naturalists was
greater than it had heretofore been, and it appeared that
among some of them present there was a strong feeling that it
would be advisable to establish a magazine devoted solely to
ornithology.

“In November, 1858, the annual assemblage took place at
Cambridge, and after due consideration it was determined’ by
those present that a quarterly magazine of gencral ornithology
should be established, that a Jimited subscription should be
entered into to provide a fund for that purpose, and that the
subscribers should form an Ornithological Union, their number
at present not to exceed twenty.”

The original list contained the names of the then leading
ornithologists of Great Britain, such as Professor Alfred Newton,
Dr. Sclater, Canon Tristram, Messrs. Godman, Salvin, and
others, while before long foreign ornithologists of distinction
became honorary members, among whom may be cited Cabanis,
Hartlaub, Reinwardt, Von Pelzen, &c. In addition to these
latter, others such as Dr. Finsch and Signor Salvadori con-
tributed articles to the journal,

In addition, however, to the valuable articles contributed by
such men as I have quoted, there was a second factor which led
to the success of Zhe /bézs, and that was the character of its
illustrations, which thoroughly established its popularity and has
always caused the quarterly issue to be eagerly looked for. The
ereatest artist of that time, and who has never since been
excelled—I mean J. Wolf—drew for the journal till the latter
end of 1869, when failing eyesight compelled him to cease his
labours. His place was then taken by Keulemans, the celebrated
Dutch artist, who has illustrated nearly all the leading British
works, and has continued up to the present time on the staff of
The bts. During all these years the perfect drawing and
admirable colouring of his illustrations has placed 7/e /dzs in the
foremost rank of illustrated journals.

We cannot hope to extend: our sphere of observation through-
out the same geographical areas as the contributors to Zhe /ozs
have done; for the pages of this periodical have dealt with the
birds of the Old World from Australia and New Zealand to the
“tundras” of Siberia, and of the New from the plains of
Patagonia to Canada. So far, however, as our sphere of work
(about which more anon) may extend we can imitate in 7 he Linu
much of what has been done in 7he /ézs. Nothing has con-
tributed more help to. our knowledge of the “ geographical
distribution ” of birds, one of the most interesting subjects
in connection with the study of ornithology, than the invalu-
able “lists” of birds from special localities, combined with
notes on their economy, which have been for so many years a
feature of the pages of the journal in question. ‘These lists, so
often containing descriptions and illustrations of new species

38 The Emu.

discovered by either the writers or the energetic collectors
employed by them, have been of the utmost value to avifaunistic
workers. ;

There is so much to be learnt about the geographical
distribution of the birds of our great Island Continent that it is
to be hoped the pages of 7he Amu may be enhanced from time
to time with lists of birds, not only from the little-known
regions of the area in question, but from the already well-
worked districts of the various States. the time of the year that
the observations are made being always an important factor in
determining the movements of species.

The foregoing remarks in connection with 7/e /dzs have been
made in order to recommend a basis for our own work, and have
naturally led to the consideration of what 7e Emu should be.
I don’t think that we shall be wrong in maintaining that no
_efforts should be spared by those who are undertaking the
editorship of our journal to make it a worthy contemporary of
The bis, and that it should be conducted, with the means at our
disposal, on as close lines as possible with it. We may not be
able to command the artistic talent that is connected with the
parent journal, but no effort should be spared to make the
illustrations as good as possible, as it is certain that they will go
as much towards popularizing the journal as the subject matter
of its pages. Resource will, no doubt, be had to photography,
as it has been seen how excellently this class of illustration has
served the purpose in Mr. A. J. Campbell’s recently published
work. But, in addition, hand-coloured or chromo-lithographs
from drawings by good artists should be introduced as much as
our means will allow; and I see no reason why specimens should
not from time to time be sent home to Keulemans, who would,
no doubt, forward to us the completed plates, the articles dealing
with them, meanwhile, being held over till] their arrival.

A most important point as regards the work of the Aus-
tralasian Ornithologists’ Union will be the extension of the
sphere of our observation over as wide an area beyond the
purely Australian “ region ” as possible.

The greater the geographical area dealt with in our journal
the more will its perusal commend itself to foreign readers, and
at the same time an extension of our biological knowledge will
result from this policy. The “region” thus set apart for our
investigation should, I think, include the more adjacent islands
of the Malay Archipelago, including New Guinea and the large
groups of islands to the north-east associated with it, extending
thence south to New Caledonia and eastwards to Fiji, and finally
finishing off with that interesting ornithological “ district” New
Zealand. The study of Australian ornithology must of necessity
be incomplete without the inclusion of the Malayan and Oceanic
“regions” above enumerated, in which so many interesting
allied genera and species occur, and, on the other hand, the

The Emu, 39

exclusion of one of the richest ornithological areas in the world
would, I take it, be unworthy of such an influential brotherhood
as I trust the Australasian Ornithologists’ Union will ere long
find itself to be.

The treasures of parts of this region have been made known
to the world by Gould, Salvadori, Finsch, Buller, Tristram,
Layard, and others, but much of it is as yet untouched, and will
provide generations of work, more especially in those parts
which are inhospitable, such as the Admiralty and Solomon
Islands.

The entire area is in touch, as far as trade is concerned, with
Australia, and offers a magnificent field for the labours of
energetic and adventurous collectors. In addition, however, to
these comparatively new fields, there are those which have been
fairly well worked, such as Fiji, New Caledonia, and other
islands, in which much has still to be investigated ; also disputed
points to be settled (one of which, the alleged breeding there of the
Golden Plover, by Layard, occurs to me at the moment), while
the habits and natural history, particularly the nidification of
rare and little known species, remain to be studied.

Before touching on the work to be done, generally, or in any
one particular “region” of Australia, it will be right here to
shortly review the labours of the ornithologists and naturalists
who have led to the extensive, and I may say intimate, know-
ledge of the vast number of species which the island-continent
possesses.

First on the list of our workers, and now long since passed
away, is one who has immortalized himself—John Gould. Prior
to his arrival on the scene, the labours of naturalists may
roughly be said to have been confined to the work done during
the voyages of the early navigators—Flinders, Phillip, King, and
Cook—when collections were made by Sir Joseph Banks, Brown,
and Caley. Sundry species were described and figured by Shaw
and Lewin (the latter in the ‘“‘ Birds of New Holland ” ), also by
Cuvier, Latham, and Vieillot; whilst Messrs. Vigors and
Horsfield left an unfinished memoir of the birds of Australia
then in the Linnean collection.

The south-eastern portions of the continent, with Tasmania,
however, were the only parts of Australia which may be said to
have been properly worked, as the most of the remaining parts
of the continent were practically unknown.

In coming out to Australia, the object which Gould had in
view, with the help of his assistants, was the exploring of its
hitherto untouched tracts and the personal study of the habits
of the species collected. This done, the results of his labours
were to be given to the world in a work, the second of the
magnificent series of folio editions commenced with “ The Birds
of Europe.” He left England in the latter part of 1838, and
forthwith commenced his great task, working incessantly in the

40 The Emu.

southern parts of Australia, including Tasmania and its islands,
for two years. The outcome of his labour of love, in which he
was so ably assisted by the intrepid and unfortunate Gilbert,
has long since been known to the world and to you all in the
shape of the aforementioned great work, ‘““The Birds of Aus-
tralia.” The amount of work done by himself and his assistant
Gilbert during the three years and more which compassed their
combined labours was extraordinary when we consider the
difficulties which beset travellers in the interior at that period.
The material assistance, however, which he received from the
Governors of the various Australian provinces furthered his
efforts very much, and enabled him to accomplish all that he
did in the short space of his two years’ personal collecting.

As before said, his work was mainly confined to the south,
although he penetrated a long distance into the interior of New
South Wales. The exploration of the west, north-west, and
north of the continent he deputed to his able assistant, Gilbert,
which occupied him a similar time—two years After rejoining
Gould in 1841 he was again sent out by his employer, and
started work in Western Australia. He then made his way to
Sydney, where he joined Leichhardt in his ill-fated journey to
Port Essington, and doubtless had he been permitted to
accomplish this, the ultimate results of his journey across that
inhospitable region would have been very valuable.

Among those travellers and collectors who assisted Gould by
notes and information concerning species, chiefly in the far north
and west, must be mentioned Captain Sturt and Messrs. Elsey,
Drummond, Gregory, Bynoe, and Strange, the latter meeting
with a similar fate to Gilbert during the Leichhardt expedition.

The amount of work done by Gould can best be judged by
the fact that at the time of the publication of his book he
increased the number of Australian species from 300 to 600,
which was further augmented to 672 at the date of the issue of
his “ Handbook.” The characteristic energy and perseverance
which enabled Gould to complete his immense work fired him
throughout life, and resulted in the publication of his subsequent
splendid books—* The Humming Birds” and other monographs,
“ Birds of Asia,” and “ Birds of New Guinea.” Up to the very
last, though a confirmed invalid, he continued to work, for I
remember seeing him, shortly before his death, lying on his sofa
executing rough drawings in crayon for his artist, engaged on
“The Birds of New Guinea.”

Prior to the publication of Gould’s “ Handbook,” in 1865,
Dr. Ramsay, the Curator of the Sydney Museum (which institu-
tion has been for many years the focus of Australian ornith-
ological research), commenced work in the north-east of Australia,
and extended his explorations, as years went on, to the north
and north-west. With the assistance of Mr. Masters, of the
Sydney Museum, he largely increased the collections in that

The Emu. Al

institution, describing a number of new species, and finally
publishing his well-known “ Tabular List” in 1888, in which he
increased the number of our species to 760. This publication
has been of great value to all who are interested in the dis-
tribution of Australian birds, and will always rank as one of the
most useful of ornithological efforts in our Commonwealth.
In addition, Dr. Ramsay’s numerous papers and communica-
tions to the “ Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South
Wales” and other journals have formed a channel of added
information to the knowledge of Australian birds. Following
in the footsteps of Dr. Ramsay, Mr. A. J. North, who was then
assistant in the Sydney Museum, compiled, in 1886, his com-
pendious catalogue of the “ Nests and Eggs of Birds Breeding
in Australia and Tasmania,” admirably illustrated by twenty-one
coloured plates of eggs. Since then Mr. North has continued to
work zealously in the good cause, and, having control of the
splendid collection in Sydney, is in a position to elucidate many
interesting points as regards geographical distribution and the
economy of the species constantly coming to hand from his
collectors. Mention must not be overlooked of the labours of
of Mr. C. de Vis, Curator of the Brisbane Museum, who is a
worthy coadjutor of the naturalists already alluded to.

Much information, too, on the habits and economy of our
birds was for many years imparted in various writings to the
world by that keen observer and charming writer, Mr. K. H.
Bennett, whose “ Notes on the Habits of Birds Breeding in the
Interior of New South Wales” is a valuable contribution to the
ornithological literature of Australia.

Coming now to members of our own “ brotherhood,” allusion
cannot be omitted to the good work done in his widely
extended collecting tours and trips in the far north by our
energetic member, Mr. D. Le Souéf, and which has been accom-
panied by many interesting communications to 7he /ozs.

Mr. Robert Hall is also making his mark in the ornithological
literature of the country, his recent volume on “ Insectivorous
Birds” being calculated to do much good. I have lastly to
mention, though not least in rank by any means, Mr. A. J.
Campbell, whose years of open-air study of our birds, and un-
tiring observation of their breeding habits, has eventuated in one
of the most valuable contributions to oological science that has
been published. Our knowledge of the nidification of the Aus-
tralian ornis has been most materially increased by the acquisi-
tion of Mr. Campbell’s exhaustive and beautifully illustrated
volume. Nothing can exceed the beauty of the photographs,
which tend to bring’before the student the breeding haunts and
nesting habits of our species in the most instructive manner
possible. Among recent publications, allusion may finally be
made to the “ List of Vernacular Names for Australian Birds,”
compiled after much study and thought chiefly by Mr.

42 They Emt@

Campbell and myself, with the object of giving all our species
English names, as in other countries where our language is
spoken.

Reference to the work done by ornithologists in the Southern
Hemisphere would be incomplete without notice of the valuable
labours as regards New Zealand avifauna of Sir W. Buller,
who published his valuable quarto work, illustrated by Keule-
mans, in 1878, and further extended our knowledge of the birds
of that country by the issue, in 1887, of his splendid second
edition, in two vols.

We have now to turn to the subject of the field of investiga-
tion, labour, and research which is open to the members of the
Union. The vast region comprised in Australia and the con-
tiguous sub-regions which have been brought to your notice in
the foregoing remarks, offers an almost boundless treasury of
ornithological knowledge. It may be said that, in spite of the
work done by the numerous writers and naturalists aforemen-
tioned, the ornithology of Australia in some directions has only
been cursorily dealt with, for the territory is a vast one, and the
observers, proportionately to its area, have as yet been few. We
must therefore look forward to much new work being done by our
Union. Speaking generally, we all admit, I think, that the study
of the natural history of birds is one of never-failing interest.
They are the most interesting of all the great “classes” or
divisions of creation. The beauty of their plumage ; their at-
tractive mode of life and habits ; their nidification, so fascinating
to the oologist; their mysterious instinct of migration, only
vaguely understood—all these tend to make the study of this
great Class a most captivating one. And here, in Australia
future close observation and inquiry cannot fail to bring to light
many new points of interest in connection with our lesser-known
species.

To allude first to one great Order which I know is a favourite
with many of our members—I refer to the Limicolae—there
exists in it alone, without going further, a wide field for research.
The position of our continent, lying immediately to the south of
the vast Asiatic breeding haunts of the Waders, affords these
birds a very extensive region for winter migration, beyond which
the vast Southern Ocean stops their flight. Consequently typical
Asiatic species travel down to us in fair numbers, some reaching
farther south than others. At the same time we have as winter*
visitants in our summer season not a few of those interesting
globe-wanderers which, for lovers of this “order,” always have a
peculiar fascination. These are the Turnstone, the Common
Sandpiper (Z7vzngozdes hypoleucos); the Grey Plover, Knot,
Sanderling, and the Curlew Stint. Further, we are visited, by
way of Oceania, by those interesting American species Heéer-
actitzs incanus and Lartramia longicauda. In connection with

* Used in connection with the breeding season of the species.

The Emu. 43

all these migrants further attention should be given to their
varying times of arrival on our shores, and their subsequent dis-
tribution or wandering throughout the various States; and records
of their occurrence in New Zealand, where some have not as yet
been met with, will be highly interesting. Again, the internal
distribution and migration of our purely Australian Limicole
is a point which demands our notice and study. Chief among
these is our Dottrel, and next to it, as regards northern limits,
the Double-banded Dottrel.

Very interesting work in connection with the Waders will
continue to be done, we may depend, along the vast stretch of
coast line from about Dirk Hartog Island to Cambridge Gulf,
in a portion of which Mr. T. Carter has already made many
interesting discoveries. This north-western littoral region of our
continent is a paradise for the observer of Waders: for it is
here that so many species first make land, or push onward to
after alighting on the north coast. Apparently it is here, too,
where the immature of several well-known species manifest the
singular propensity already alluded to in my “Birds of Ceylon” *
of foregoing their return journey to northern climes and remain-
ing with us throughout the year.

Species which will occur under these conditions, and which
have already been recorded from the district in question, will be
the Turnstone, the Sanderling, Eastern Stint, Curlew Stint, ard
the Golden Plover. This habit forms another problem for solu-
tion in connection with the migratory instinct, about which we
know so little.

Turning now to the sea birds, I recommend for investigation
and discovery, as regards their distribution and breeding, certain
of our Terns, such as Gygzs candida, Procelsterna cinerea, Sterna
melanauchen, S. media, and the Ternlets S. xervezs and S. placens,
which have mostly a northern distribution as far as Australia is
concerned. It is worthy of passing remark that members of
this family and the allied Skuas (Stercoraritd@) are apt to be
overlooked somewhat strangely, one instance as regards our
waters being Richardson’s Skua. This was the first bird I
noticed in Port Phillip Harbour when I arrived in 1883, and
also at the same time in the Derwent, to which it is an
annual visitor after Christmas.

Again, the Tubinares, so well represented in Australian
seas, will no doubt furnish material for many interesting notices
and articles in 7he Emu. Of the several species of Petrel
whose eggs and breeding habits are still undiscovered, some no
doubi will be found to nest within the limits of the Aus-
tralasian region or contiguous to it, for it is not unlikely that
Kerguelen Island, which has already rendered to science many
oological discoveries, may be the breeding place of the Black-
bellied Storm Petrel, while on the north-eastern islets of the

*7ringa subarguata, p. 879.

44 The Emir

continent we may not unreasonably expect that the eggs of
the White-bellied species may be found.

Though much work remains to be done in connection with
the feathered denizens of our coasts and seas, the vast territory
comprised in our Commonwealth offers us a still grander field of
labour. Difficulties in connection with climate and exploration
have combined to make vast districts as yet almost inaccessible
except to the intrepid and determined explorer; but whenever
they have been penetrated, and the expedition accompanied by
a collector, I think Iam right in saying that they have nearly
always rendered ornithological novelties, some of which, it may
be remarked, have fallen to the share of our member, Mr.
Keartland. I inciude in this category the Northern Territory,
the extensive sub-littoral region round the Gulf of Carpentaria,
York Peninsula, the north central region and north-west, lying
at the head and along the courses of the Victoria and Fitzroy
Rivers, and the ranges of the great interior, south and west
of Lake Amadeus. All of these tracts have yet to yield
further undescribed species, possibly, of new desert-loving
forms or hitherto undiscovered members of the Pszttacede.

The Pszttactz/@ are, with the exception perhaps of the Honey-
eaters, the most typical of Australian families, and a more intimate
knowledge of the economy of the rarer species from the interior
and northern parts of the continent, together with the discovery
of their nests and eggs, is very desirable. In what better way
could this be afforded us than by the publication of a mono-
eraph, with coloured plates, of every species of this beautiful
group? For the purpose of such a work exhaustive information
must be got together, and access afforded to the best collections
we have. An opportunity is thus within the reach of one of our
New South Wales members to give to the world the result of a
few years’ hard work and devotion to the life-history of the
Parrots. We might hope also to see the Welzphagide (Honey-
eaters) treated in like manner. The members of this interesting
family, so strongly represented in Australia, invite more attention
by reason of their active and sprightly manners, and their lively
notes, so typical of the vast Australian forests and “ brushes,”
than the Parrots. The Honey-eaters, too, do not fall far behind
the Parrots in the attractiveness of their plumage, which, though
not so gaudy as the dress of the latter, is perhaps more striking,
owing to the rich and handsome contrasts in their colouration.
Details still wanting in connection with this family are descrip-
tions of the nests and eggs of not a few species of northern
habitat, whose nidification is not yet known to us.

Special interest, likewise, attaches to the Me wphigide on
account of their near relationship to the beautiful family of the
Sun Birds, which they may be said to represent in Australia,
and to which the handsome genera Myzomela and Acantho-
rhynchus connect them. The genus J/yzomela, distributed over

Tie: Efren. 4s

the Austro-Malayan region, forms a connecting link between
the two families, and has a foothold in Australia through the
five species found in the north of the continent.

Certain characteristic and well-represented groups, the mem-
bers of which are more or less numerous, should now be
alluded to as representing many points of interest to workers in
Australia, some of their genera containing species about which
much has still to be learnt :—

1. The Wusczcapide (Fly-catchers), fairly well represented by
the Asiatic and Oceanic genera RAzpedura and Myzagra respect-
ively, and centaining slightly aberrant groups—viz., the Robin-
Chats (Perreca), which are the strictly Australian representatives
of the European “Chats,” and the Wren-Warblers or “ Chat-
Wrens,” as they might well be called, represented by the beautiful
genus JMa/urus. Both of these genera are typical of the Australian
open lands and sparsely timbered districts, and attract universal
notice on account of their lively habits and showy plumage.
Associated with the Fly-catchers are the several species of that
peculiar Australian and Oceanian genus Gerygone, and which
have been named Fly-eaters in the recently compiled vernacular
list, owing to the peculiar mode of feeding which these tiny
arboreal birds possess.

2. The beautiful Finches, with their representative genera
Estrilda and Poephila.

3. The Tree-creepers (Cervthzzde), represented here by the
genera Climacterzs and Sztel/a, both of which are highly interest-
ing as being the Austro-Malayan and Australian prototypes of
the old world “ Creepers” and “Nuthatches” respectively.

4. The members of that unwieldy family the TZze/:zde,
and represented with us in part by the Tits (Acanthiza) and the
allied Scrub-Wrens (Serzcornzs), denizens of our thick scrubs
and forests; the Babblers (Pomatorhinus\), a pleasing link
between Australia and India; and the genus Afphthzanura, the
species of which are true “‘ Chats” in mode of life, deportment,
and nidification.

5. The Australian representatives of the important family
Lanwde—namely, the Crow-Shrikes (Gymnorhina), the “ Butcher
Birds” (Cvractzcus), and the numerously represented “ Thick-
heads ” (Pachycephala), all of which are well-known birds, but
of such interesting habits that they present a never-tiring topic
for study.

Sundry other groups might be mentioned, but it will suffice
to have enumerated the above, and allusion need only now be
made to several remarkable genera which add no little interest
to ornithology in Australia. Those typical and well-known
forms, discovered before the days of Gould, and which we may
style our characteristic Australian birds—such as the Emu,
Lyre Bird, Brush Turkey, Mallee Hen, Bower Bird, and, one
might almost say, the Laughing Jackass—will always hold our

46 The Emu.

interest and attention, and further details of their life-history
will be welcome. There is no doubt but little in the way of new
material to be brought to light in connection with these birds,
except, perhaps, in the case of the Northern Bower Birds,
the eggs of one of which, the Tooth-billed, are still undescribed.
There are two genera, however, Péz/otzs and Podargus, almost
purely Australian, regarding which much useful information may
still be afforded, such as descriptions of their nestling and
immature plumages, which, if I mistake not, have yet to be
made known. The Rifle Birds and so-called Podargi are of
special interest, the first being the Australian representative
of the Birds of Paradise of New Guinea, and the second the
prototype of the little-known Malayan “ Frogmouths” (Batracho-
stomus).

Finally, it is right to mention certain genera in the afore-
mentioned widely extended group of the TZzmelzzde@, which,
though not being remarkable as regards plumage, are birds of
interesting and obscure habits, being denizens of lonely forests
and dense scrubs—such as Orthonyx, Psophodes, and Hylacola.
Their economy is all the more interesting owing to their
sylvan retirement and habits of shyness and timidity.

From my own experience in tropical jungles I know that it
is long before a full knowledge of the natural history of forest-
loving birds can be acquired, and doubtless there is much yet to
be learnt concerning the species now alluded to. For example,
the Log-runners (Orthonyx) and Ground-Wrens (/Aylacola) are
birds of peculiar interest, and it is to be hoped further research
will bring new facts to light concerning them.

It is finally desirable to mention, in concluding this all too
imperfect reference to the families and genera of interest among
the great concourse of Australian birds, that the nidification of a
few of our well-known species, such as the two Barn Owls and
the Night Parrot (G. occzdentalzs) is still unknown, and that
members of our union should endeavour to supply the hiatus
which exists in their natural history.

It only now remains for me as president of our Union to
wish success to all your efforts, and to express the hope
that many valuable discoveries in the directions which I
have indicated, and in others perhaps overlooked in this address,
may, through the medium of our journal, largely add to
the general knowledge of Australian ornithology. Above
all, let us try to raise our journal above a provincial standard,
and devote its pages as much as possible to matter which
will supply desired information to naturalists and workers
abroad who are interested in the ornithology of our great
country. We may, I think, rest assured that if we content
ourselves with the publication of matter of merely local interest
in our journal, our Union will not take the place it should in
the ranks of the world’s scientific bodies. It will be for us to

the Envu. A

secure membership and correspondents from all parts of the
Commonwealth, and from the whole region which I have brought
under your notice. It is sincerely to be hoped that our brethren
in New Zealand will extend the hand of fellowship to us, and
resort to the pagesof 7/e Emu to impart to us information from
time to time on the ornis of that remarkable country. Person-
ally my own ambition is that Ze Amu should specially prove
itself to be the standard medium of information to the world
at large on the ornithology of Australia. To this end let
naturalists from all our States join the ranks of the Australasian
Ornithologists’ Union and make its journal worthy of the new
nation, which has such a grand future before it.

The president’s address having been read, Sir Samuel Way
proposed that the thanks of the Union be conveyed to Col.
Legge for his very able and instructive address. Seconded by
Mr. Edwin Ashley, and carried.

SECOND: DAY.

On Saturday, 2nd November, members were taken in a drag
to Happy Valley Reservoir, in the vicinity of which, in company
with their hosts—the party, including ladies, numbering 23—
they spent some hours pleasantly. Some interesting birds were
noted, among them being the Boobook Owl, Yellow-rumped
Pardalote, Bee-Eater, Swallow Diczum, Warty-faced Honey-
eater, Bronzewing Pigeon, &c., while on the reservoir a Musk
Duck and a number of Coots were seen.

At the evening meeting on Saturday, at the Royal Society’s
Hall, Mr. Symonds Clark took the chair, in the absence of the
vice-president.

It was proposed by Mr. E. Ashley, and seconded by Sir
Samuel Way—‘“ That the next session of the Union be held in
Melbourne.” Carried unanimously.

Mr. Zietz having taken the chair, the secretary read a paper
by Mr. W. M‘Ilwraith, Rockhampton, on “ Corresponding and
Observatory Stations,’ in which the author advocated the
appointment of corresponding members and the establishment
of observatory stations in different parts of the Australian
continent.

Sir Samuel Way suggested that the Council of the Union
should take steps to carry out Mr. M‘Ilwraith’s suggestions, and
moved—“ That it be an instruction to the Council to endeavour
to arrange for correspondents in the manner suggested by the
paper.” Circulars might be distributed amongst the members
in the various States, and it would thus be possible to ascertain
what members, like Mr. M‘Ilwraith, were willing to become
corresponding members, and in that way a beginning could be
made.

Messrs. A. J. Campbell and E. Ashley having spoken in support
of the motion, it was seconded by Mr. H. Kendall, and carried.

48 The “amir

The Secretary said he would have circulars printed and sent to
members who were likely to establish observatories, especially to
those living on the coast line, because Australians knew practically
nothing concerning the migrations of birds in this part of the
world, a subject on which the Union desired information.

Mr. D. Le Souéf then read a paper on “ Protective Coloration
of Australian Birds and their Nests,” in which he pointed out
that the various species of birds nested in environments which
more or less harmonized with their colour, and constructed their
nests so as to be in harmony with their surroundings and secure
the necessary protection. The admirable lantern views of the
lecturer’s photographs were exhibited by Mr. R. B. Adamson.

The Vice-President having thanked Mr. Le Souéf for his very
interesting paper,

Sir Samuel Way said the visit of their Victorian friends had
given them great pleasure, and they had spent a most profit-
able time listening to their interesting remarks on bird life.
They had paid South Australia a great compliment by holding
the inaugural meetings in Adelaide. The foundation of the
Union had been laid in Victoria, where so many distinguished
ornithologists lived. They had made Adelaide the theatre of
what bade fair to be a useful and influential society. Not being
a scientific man, he expressed the hope that the lectures and
illustrations which had been given by Mr. Le Souéf might still
be further popularized. It was a great advantage to have Mr.
Campbell’s valuable volume upon their shelves for reference and
study, and it would be a good thing if Mr. Le Souéf, who had
travelled so extensively, would give them the result of his in-
vestigations. It would be an enormous advantage if in country
institutes and schools lectures of that character could be given,
illustrated with lantern views throughout. If that were done
there would be less occasion to credit young Australia with
being anxious to destroy bird life; rather the children would
learn to appreciate the beauty and usefulness of birds. He
hoped that at the next session of the society in Victoria South
Australia would be as well represented as was the sister State
at the inaugural gatherings in Adelaide. There would probably
be meetings in Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, and New Zealand,
because the operations of the society were not confined to the
Commonwealth, but extended all over the southern hemisphere.
He hoped that when the next session of the Union was held in
Adelaide they would find their visiting ornithologists a complete
theatre at the University, which he was sure would be at the
service of the society. He hoped for a long succession of years
they would have the pleasure of welcoming their visiting
specialists or experts, and that the membership of the Union
would grow.

Mr. D. Le Souéf, having returned thanks on behalf of
the visiting delegates, hoped that the meetings which had

one. .E miu. 49

been held would result in the promotion of the objects of the
Union.

THIRD DAY.

‘ On Monday morning, 4th November, the visiting members
went, by invitation, to the Museum to inspect the unique fossil
bones of extinct mammals, &c.—many from the lacustrine
deposits of the interior of the State.

In the afternoon members of the Union went to the
Zoological and the Botanic Gardens. At the former Mr. A. C.
Minchin was congratulated upon the fact that a number of |
native birds had bred while in his charge, amongst them the
Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) and the little Plumed Pigeon
(Lophophaps leucogaster). The party were entertained at after-
noon tea by Mr. and Mrs. Minchin, to whom a hearty vote of
thanks was given. In the Botanic Gardens the party, under the
guidance of Mr. M. Holtze, noted the various birds who find a
safe and congenial resting-place in this reserve, and also the
many points of interest in connection with the place.

The proceedings of the session were closed by an “at home,”
given by Mr. J. W. Mellor, at the residence of his father,
“Holmfirth,” Fulham, where already the visiting members had
spent some time most pleasantly and had been most hospitably
entertained. Amongst others present at the “at home” were
Meee ter, CNS. Dr. A. Morgan, Mr. C. Winnecke,
F.R.G.S., and Mr. Symonds Clark. After a most enjoyable
evening, in returning thanks to the host, Mr. A. J. Campbell, on
behalf of the company, congratulated Mr. Mellor on having
collected and properly classified the coveted number of 500
species of Australian birds’ eggs, and also that the collection
included such an absolutely unique specimen as the egg of the
extinct Tasmanian Emu.

EN ROUTE FOR HOME.

At the invitation of Dr. Thos. F. Ryan, a member of the Union,
three of the Melbourne visitors—Messrs. D. Le Souef, A. J.
Campbell, and A. G. Campbell—broke their return journey at
Nhill, the centre of the great Mallee district of Victoria, to enjoy
a day amongst the Mallee birds.

The ornithologists were up before six o'clock. Numerous
feathered friends were soon found to the northward of the town.
Black-breasted Song Larks were singing over the crops ;- others
were perched on fences, their tails upward, wren-like, and
making good subjects for binocular observation. Reaching the
edge of the Mallee, a mile or two out, the place was literally
filled with bird music, notably the extraordinary gulping-like
notes of Wattle Birds, gurgling voices of Spiny-cheeked Honey-
eaters, whining cries of Choughs (Corcorax), melodious flute-like
tones of Butcher Birds, merry calls of Singing, Yellow-plumed,
and the more familiar White-plumed Honey-eaters. Beautiful

50 | The Emu.

Blue-bellied, Musk, and Little Lorikeets were screeching while
ravishing the blossom-laden branches of certain Mallee trees,
some of the birds feeding so low that they might have easily
been felled with a short stick. Other small birds were present,
such as Chestnut-rumped Tits (Acanthiza), Red-capped Robin,
a nest of which was found empty, but the young ones were
sitting close by. Passing through a patch of acacia scrub,
where the scarce Scrub Robin has been known to dwell—a nest
having been found the season before last—the ornithologists
broke on to a long sandy rise covered with low bushes, white as
if enveloped with snow, and shining in the morning sun. The
bushes (Leptospermum) were arrayed from top to bottom ina
mass of flowers, perfumed like wild honey, and attracting
insects humming in hundreds, and of course various birds. Here
were heard the quaint notes of the wild Fulvous-fronted and the
rarer White-fronted Honey-eaters, which are usually partial to
such heath-like tracts, while near the ground were heard the
lively trilling songs of a Malurus or Wren. Although difficult
to get a sight of, a male was soon bagged, and proved to be the
newly named Purple-backed Wren (JZ. assimzlzs)—the inter-
mediate species between JZ. /améerti on the east coast, and the
MM. pulcherrimus in the south-west—the species which led to
an interesting discussion at the gathering of ornithologists only
two evenings previously at Mr. Mellor’s. A female of the
species was also secured for museum purposes.

After breakfast the visitors found that Dr. Ryan had
thoughtfully provided a buggy and pair of horses to send the
visitors further afield into more virgin Mallee. Proceeding
northward along the Netherby road, the party halted occasion-
ally to explore the wayside scrub, where Chestnut-backed
Ground Birds (Thrushes) and Ground Wrens (apparently /y/a-
cola cauta) were disturbed, and where a solitary Mallee Hen was
flushed. Two or three Wedge-tailed Eagles were seen circling
on high, and on returning home one was observed near the road
perched on a low tree. At about ten miles from Nhill the party
turned to the left, and made for a clump of tall timber in a
hollow near a farm-house, and halted, this time for luncheon.
With the usual bush hospitality the farmer invited the party to
stable horses, while the good “missus” boiled the billy; then,
selecting a grassy glade ’neath a spreading gum, the ornith-
ologists discussed, to their hearts’ content, “ billy” tea as well as
the contents of a hamper which Miss Ryan had kindly provided.
Amid such romantic surroundings it was indeed a delightful
“spell.”

At 2 o’clock a start was made to explore the scrub. Leaving
all behind except guns and collecting bags, the party beat the
scrub in a northerly direction, at 4 o'clock making a right-about
turn, and, after having traversed about ten miles, returning to
within a quarter of a mile of its starting-place shortly after

The Emu. 51

6 o'clock. Many things interesting were noted during the four
hours’ journey. The scrub itself was beautifui, having evidently
been refreshed by recent rains. The Mallee (eucalypt) leaves
wore a bright golden-green hue, relieved here and there with
crowns of yellowish flowers. Occasionally patches of tea-tree
(JZ, welsonz), with stems and branchlets ablaze with lovely lilac
blooms, were come across, not to mention a hakea with cream-
coloured flowers, a grevillea in scarlet, and other plants.

The principal birds noted were the beautiful Purple-backed
Malurus that was seen in the morning; two Pardalotes—
P. ornatus and P. xanthopygius ; the White-eared Honey-eater,
and the rare Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater (Ptzlotis cratztza).
A nest of the latter, containing a pair of eggs—an oological
prize—was discovered in a hakea bush, from which the female
was flushed. A Bell Bird’s (Oveozca) nest, with eggs, was also
observed, likewise other Mallee denizens, such as the Red-
throated (Gilbert’s) Thickhead, Red-rumped Tit (Acanthzza
pyrrhopygia), besides several families of White-browed Babblers,
which made curious chattering calls as they darted off through
the bushes. In the densest portion of the scrub a Mallee Fowl’s
egg-mound was discovered. An examination proved it had not
been used by the birds since last season. It was a fair-sized mound.

A practical suggestion arose out of this hurried but interesting
scrub outing. Could not a combined party of ornithologists
from Melbourne and Adelaide meet for a week’s camp-out to
investigate the birds of this peculiar district? Nhill being about
half-way between the two termini, and where the express trains
cross each other, a meeting might easily be arranged. The
Mallee is indeed a peculiar district. Why are several of its
species adorned with conspicuous rich red or chestnut-coloured
upper tail coverts ?—to wit, Czuclosoma castanonotum (Ground
Bird), Drymaedus brunneopygius (Scrub Robin), Hy/acola cauta
(Ground Wren), and Acanthiza pyrrhopygia (Red-rumped Tit).

After a most pleasant drive in the gloaming, during which a
Bronzewing Pigeon was flushed from the wayside, and a single
Freckled Duck was observed on the water of acrabhole pool,
the party arrived at Nhill about 8 o’clock.

Dr. Ryan, knowing that a social meeting—the presentation of
the tennis championship trophies—was to take place in the
town that evening, arranged that it should also hear Mr. D. Le
Souéf’s popular lecture on Australian birds. The additional
attraction packed the meeting, and by the aid of an optical
lantern, kindly loaned and manipulated by the Rev. A. Perkins,
a capital evening was spent, as attested by the fact that the
audience did not break up till 11 o’clock. Two and a half hours
later the visiting ornithologists were in the express whirling
home to Melbourne. This wayside excursion most pleasantly
ended the inaugural gatherings of the Australasian Ornith-
ologists’ Union,

52 The Emu.

Porphyrio melanonotus in New Zealand.
By J.°C. M‘UCEANMsISBORNE, NZ:

THE land birds which are common to New Zealand and the
Australian continent are few in number; and, although we in
New Zealand receive occasional stragglers of some Australian
species, they do not appear to obtain a footing. |

Perhaps Zosterops cerulescens is the only bird which has made
a home for itself after straying from the continent ; but here a
doubt exists as to whether this species was not at all times a
resident—migrating from the South Island to the North,* and
after one or two years becoming a resident of our northern
island, where to-day it is one of our commonest birds.

One of our best-known representatives of the Australian
avifauna is the Swamp Hen or Bald-Coot (Pukeko and Pakura
of the Maories), Porphyrio melanonotus.

This handsome Rail is evenly distributed throughout the
colony, wherever the country is suitable. Its strongholds are
the dense raupo swamps, but occasional pairs may be found
along the banks of creeks and rivers where sufficient cover
exists. Owing to the reclamation of marshy land and the
clearing of fern and scrub its numbers have decreased consider-
ably of late years.

In July, 1888, a party of three guns, in Hawke’s Bay, bagged
62 Pukekos in a day’s walking up swampy gullies running off a
large swamp and lake, and I suppose not more than 60 per cent.
of the birds shot were picked up. To-day probably not half a
dozen birds can be seen in that locality.

Our New Zealand observers remark the appearance of the
bird in localities where formerly it was unknown. This, I think,
is accounted for by the fact that land in the vicinity, suitable to
the Swamp Hen, has been cleared and drained, and the Pukeko
has sought fresh fields and pastures new.

In 1888 the bird was quite a rarity in this part, but in 1893
it appeared more numerous, and seemed to increase up to 1898,
when it again went back in numbers, and few can now be seen.
Birds were noted flying and calling at night (as if migrating)
during the years 1893, 1894, 1895, and 1896; but for the past
three years none have been heard. Our Government have, with
other birds, protected the Pukeko for this season and each
succeeding fourth season, but I am afraid some other force than
the gun is responsible for the decrease.

As a table bird the Pukeko is excellent; but as a game bird
affords poor shooting, as the flight is laboured and slow, and it
is hard to flush. If not mortally wounded, it is practically
impossible to retrieve. This bird would sooner trust to its legs
than to its wings for safety, and many a sheep-dog becomes
proficient in the art of catching the bird. Starting a Swamp

* See Buller, ‘‘ Birds of New Zealand,” 2nd edition, p. 77.

ce)
ite)

The Emu.

PLATE

AN

c

JOATY UULIOT, IVON

"NVATW 'O ‘f AG 'OLOHd VW WOUS

‘(snjououmau o1tdyg4o7 ) yOOD-P[eg JO ISIN

54 The -Emu.

Hen from a patch of marshy land, he follows, and probably
marks the bird down in some adjacent scrub. Following
quickly, the dog is on the bird, which, trusting to its length of
leg, finds itself no match for the dog, and falls a victim. The
Pukeko is hated by sportsmen on account of its running powers.
Often one’s setter draws away on a strong scent up some steep,
rough face. Hope runs high in the expectation of a good cock
Pheasant at the finish. However, the sportsman is disgusted,
after a hundred yards’ climb, by seeing our blue-coated friend
sailing back to whence he came.

The young must be taken early if it is intended to tame them.
Mr. Guy Chambers had a pair which appeared quite domes-
ticated, and followed him about the place ; still, when the
breeding season came round they became restless, and finally
went astray. I have often watched these birds using the claws
of one foot when feeding by holding the food up off the ground
and breaking it off in pieces with the beak.

The food consists of the young shoots and roots of various
swamp plants ; it is rather destructive to young corn and vege-
tables planted near its haunts. It also feeds on the freshwater
mussels (called pipi by the Maories), but whether it dives for
these or simply obtains them by wading in shallow water I am
unable to say. I once saw a bird obtaining them from the edge
of a shallow stream by simply probing the edge. Inthe autumn
it may be observed far up the hillsides among the grass in
quest of crickets and grasshoppers, but it only ventures out in
such exposed positions at dawn or dusk. A Pukeko was, on
one occasion, surprised feeding on the fallen berries of the
white pine at the edge of the bush.

The Swamp Hen swims well, but does not readily take to
water, although the young do, and are expert divers.

Albino and partial-albino varieties are occasionally met in
the colony, and in July, 1888, I observed one with a good deal
of white on the primaries ; this was very marked when the bird
was flying.

Dr. Sharpe has described (Cat. B., xxiii., p. 202) the Swamp
Hen from the Chatham Islands as P. Chathamenszs,* but
appears to have only compared it with P. dellus. The female of
P. melanonotus is smaller than the male and of duller plumage,
and, so far as I can see, the female does the larger share of
incubating the eggs—if not all.

The breeding habits do not appear to differ in New Zealand
from those of the Australian birds. As a rule the nest may be
found in a swampy situation, either on a tussock or among
raupo ; usually some water surrounds the site. I have, however,
found the nest some distance from water.

On 24th December, 1899, I took, or rather cbserved—it was
taken with a camera later on-—-the nest of a pair of P. melanonotus

_ * Ibis, 1893, p. 531.

The Emu. 55

near the Totangi River. It was placed in an isolated rough
tussock fully 200 yards from the river on a clear grassed flat.
Now, these birds would never have bred in such a position had
not their previous haunts been interfered with. In the follow-
ing December (1900) I took another nest containing five eggs,
in a position almost similar, but further up the river. The nest
of 1899 contained two eggs and a newly-hatched young. One
peculiar thing noticed was the number of broken pipi shells
lying around this nest. The sitting bird had evidently been fed
by its mate, and these mussels had been carried 200 yards from
the river. There were no shells about the 1900 nest, but then
the eggs were very slightly incubated. I have also observed the
nest in a crop of Cape barley fully half a mile from water.

As to the nest of the Swamp Hen, I have never noticed any
green stuff used as lining—always dry grass or raupo. One
peculiar point noticed in the greater number of nests observed is
that the cavity is somewhat oval, with a run or stepway to one
end of the oval. They are never built very high from the
ground, and measure about 12 inches by 9 inches for the cavity,
and from 1.5 inches to 2 inches in depth.

The usual breeding months are September, October, Novem-
ber, and December, but I have caught young as late as May.

Mr. A. J. Campbell, in his historical work on “ The Nests and
Eggs of Australian Birds,” gives the clutch as from four to six
in Australia. I have taken a large number of nests, and place
the average at five. On one occasion, however, I took the large
number of fourteen eggs from one nest, but, as must be the case
with large clutches such as this, two or more birds probably
used the same nest. This is most likely, as the swamp from
which I took the eggs had been burnt, and, although originally
about five acres in extent, was reduced to a couple of patches of
raupo measuring about forty yards by fifteen. In these patches
all the Pukekos in the locality had to build, and from them I
took nests containing 4, 14, 6,6, 7,5. Four of the eggs from
the fourteen clutch were more boldly splashed (not spotted) with
chestnut than any I have ever seen. Other clutches taken in
New Zealand are as follows :—8, 5, 5, 5, 3, 7, 5-

The eggs do not vary much in size or colouring, and those of
each clutch are always much alike in shape and markings. In
some the markings are larger and bolder than in others, while on
others the spots are of uniform size and evenly distributed. Some
have the chestnut markings confined more or less in a ring at
the larger end and the underlying violet spots thinly scattered
all over the egg. The ground colour varies from a pale cream
to a rich brownish-cream, and the eggs are lightly spotted and
splashed with chestnut brown and underlying violet. They
measure from 2.1 inch to 1.85 inch in length, and from 1.49 inch
to 1.31 inch in breadth. An average egg measures 1.96 inch x
1.38 inch,

56 The Emu.

The young leave the nest within a short time of hatching, and
hide at once if danger threatens. If one remains quiet for a
few moments, the soft whistle reveals the hiding place, and they
are easily captured,

Nothing is more interesting than the helpless Pukeko of a
day or two old, with its dark bluish-black down, with silvery
hair-like tips, and i ivory bill.

North-Western Notes.
By THOMAS CARTER, POINT CLOATES, W.A.

ON the 1oth September I paid a flying trip north in the hope
of finding eggs of Eremzornts cartert, but was unfortunately too
late. When driving in a buggy through the thick, scrubby grey-
leaved species of saltbush, in which one finds this bird, and
which, crowing from 3 to 4 feet in height, is very difficult stuff
to “ wade” through, I “npHeed an old bird fly out. On going to
the spot I found a nest, which I have no doubt belonged to this
species. It was built among the twigs, about one foot from the
sround, and was a bulky structure measuring about 4% inches
across the top, and 3 inches in depth. The top was quite open
and somewhat ae The nest was built of dry grass and fibre,
some of the latter being of a texture like loose twine. Lining
there was none, but several dead saltbush leaves were in the
bottom, having probably fallen in. Inside the nest and
below it were numerous elytre of beetles, mostly of a small
shield beetle. The old bird perhaps resorted to the nest to eat
them. I have noticed remains of black beetles in the crops of
specimens shot before. The young birds appeared to have only
recently left the nest. The bird I shot was a male.

A little farther on, the same day, I saw a family party of
Rufous-crowned Emu Wrens (S7zpzturus ruficeps). One of the
young birds I shot had apparently just left the nest, and it had
no trace of the bright rufous crown of the adult bird.

It appears, therefore, that both these species lay about
August, or it may depend much on the rains. This is a some- *
what dry season.

With reference to Mr. A. W. Milligan’s lately described
Mirafra woodwardi, when driving about 50 miles inland from here
on the 30th and 31st of October last year, I noticed some smail
Larks of a very rufous colour that were strange to me, and I
shot three or four. They were feeding in the short grass by the
road, and when disturbed rose with a rising and falling flight to
settle again not far away, and lie close; and they seemed rarely
to perch on bushes, though I noticed them doing this last
month, when I saw numbers of them in the same locality.

On reading descriptions of YW. horsfieldi and M. secunda, I did
not feel satisfied that my birds quite tallied with them, and men-
tioned, casually, in a letter to Mr. A. J. Campbell, that I had

The Emu. 57

shot some very rufous Larks, and thought of washing a skin to
see if the colour was permanent or only dust off the red soil
they seem to haunt. However, I did not do this, nor yet send
a skin away for proper identification as I had intended, until I
heard of Mr. Milligan’s description, when I sent a skin on to
Mr. Woodward, and have just heard from him that Mr.
Milligan examined it, and says it is identical with his species.

Protective Colouration of Australian Birds and Their
Nests.

PART I.

By D. LE SoueEF, C.M.Z.S., &c., MELBOURNE.
(Read before the Aust. O.U., Adelaide Session, 2nd November, 1901.)

THIs is possibly rather a hackneyed subject, but always an
interesting one, and which is so frequently brought under one’s
notice when in the country that I thought a few brief observations
upon instances which have come under my notice may be of
interest to some; and in writing these notes I am presuming
that birds have the same vision as ourselves, and that what
would be difficult for us to see would be equally so for them,
and personally I think that is the case.

It may be accepted as a general rule that in birds that build
their nests in more or less exposed situations the female is
generally protected by her sombre colour—as, for instance, the
Birds of Paradise and many others ; and in bright-coloured birds,
where the female does not differ much from the male—as, for
instance, Cockatoos, Parrots. Kingfishers, and Bee-eaters—the
birds nest in holes, either in trees or on the ground; and when
the colour of the male bird harmonizes with its surroundings,
and is practically the same as the female, he generally takes his
place on the eggs as well asthe female bird—as, for instance, Emus,
Frogmouths or Podargus, Nightjars, Green Fruit Pigeons, and
sea-birds ; and it is a rare thing for any bird which nests in the
open to have a brightly coloured back, that being the only part
exposed to view from above when a bird of prey may be passing
over. But we must remember that there are aiways exceptions,
and we cannot make a hard and fast rule. We may now briefly
mention some of the families. Eagles, Hawks, and other birds
of prey hardly require any protection. The male and female
differ little in colour, but the latter is the larger. Their nests
are generally large and conspicuous, and apparently no effort is
made to conceal them. The same applies to Crows, Ravens,
and Crow-Shrikes (Strepera), and I have never yet seen a bird
of prey attack them. In Rifle Birds (Péz/orhzs) the males are
very bright and showy, but the females dull brown. Their nests
are constructed of twigs and leaves, often with pieces of cast

58 The Emu.

snake skin fastened on, and built in thick vegetation, which, com-
bined with the dull colour of the sitting bird and the general
gloom of the scrub, screens them to a great extent from above,
and the male generally keeps well away from the nest. Orioles are
a bright colour, in which green largely predominates, especially
on the back, and they build their deep hanging nests well towards
the end of a bough, among the green leaves, and from above the
sitting bird is very difficult to distinguish. The Collyrzocincle,
or Shrike-Thrushes, are all mostly of a dull grey colour, and not
much difference between the male and female. The large
varieties build their nests generally of shreds of dry bark, nearly
the same colour as themselves, and place them either on a dead
stump or in a hollow, in places where the surroundings are of a
similar colour, and frequently in open forest country. The
smaller varieties, which live in the scrubs of Northern Queens-
land, build their nests low down in Pandanus Palms or other
shrubs, and the material they use is mostly palm fibre or rootlets,
and very difficult to distinguish. The male often relieves the
female at incubation, both birds being of a protective colour.
The Graucalus and Lalage both build nests which are very diffi-
cult to see, being small and almost exactly the same colour as
their surroundings, and also of the bird, as the backs of the hen
birds in both families are more or less dark grey, and their nests
are situated in the horizontal fork of a bough where the outside
bark is rough and dead, and not smooth and green as it is
towards the end of the branch. The nests are composed
mostly of small twigs well held together with cobwebs, and very
difficult even at a short distance to distinguish. The Caterpillar-
eater (Edoli7zsoma tenuzrostre) places pieces of lichen on its
nest, if any happens to be on the branch near it.

The little Lemon-breasted Flycatcher (I/zcrwca flavigaster) has
a habit of covering its tiny nest with pieces of bark, taken
from the tree on which the nest is built, and, being so diminutive
as well, it simply looks like a small excrescence on the
branch on which it is situated, and is a beautiful instance of
the way the bird makes its home almost invisible even from
a short distance.

In the beautiful family of Robins the back of the female is
dull brown or grey, and the small amount of red or other
colour on her breast is well hidden when she is sitting. Their
nests are built in various situations, and the material used
depends on the locality. Such Robins as Petreca rosea, building
in gullies, where moss is abundant, generally use plenty of that
material, frequently placing the nest on green or moss-covered
branches. Others, such as the Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin
(Eopsaltria), to make their nests look more like the surround-
ings, hang strips of bark on, often 4 inches long, also pieces of
lichen and empty spider cocoons, fastening them on with cobweb.
Those varieties, again, that nest in open forest country, such as

The Emu. 59

the Hooded and Dusky Robins (P. dzcolor and P. vittata) are
much duller and plainer in colour, and use thin strips of bark
wherewith to construct their nests and fix them either on dead
branches or stumps or on boughs that are covered with grey
bark of a similar colour to that of which their homes are com-
posed. The back of the female harmonizes very closely with its
surroundings.

The Large-billed Fly-eater (Pseudogerygone magnirostris) is
another wonderful instance of how a bird can build its nest to
look like surrounding objects. Its home is constructed on the
end of a creeper which is hanging either over a swamp or
stream. It is about a foot long, and consists of fibre, &c.,
very loosely twisted round and fastened to the creeper, and
at the very bottom the small nest is fixed. When you first
see it you at once think it is simply a piece of rubbish left by
some flood, as plenty of pieces similar in appearance can be
seen that have been so left, and the birds seem to have imitated
them to perfection.

In the MWalurz, or Wrens, the males are resplendent, but the
females grey, but as their nests are domed the sitting bird
cannot be noticed. Their homes are generally constructed of
dry grass and well hidden in thick vegetation about a foot or so
from the ground, where a good deal of undergrowth is dead, so
making them difficult to detect.

In the Fan-tails (AAzpzdure), the White-shafted, and others of a
similar grey colour, construct their wineglass-shaped nests of
fine shreds of grass and bark, well covering them with cobweb,
and they are situated in some cases high up, especially in the
Western Fan-tail (#. prezssz), and occasionally low down,
generally on the branch of a eucalyptus tree, where the outer
covering of bark is dead and grey, and harmonizing in colour.
The Common Fan-tail (2. ¢vzcolor), having a black back, and
therefore more conspicuous, builds its nest generally a few feet
from the ground under a leafy cover, or, failing that, on a small
branch jutting out underneath the covering of a larger bough ;
it is rarely that this sociable little bird has its nest exposed
from above. The Myzagre construct their nests of shreds of
bark, and situated on the outer dead bark of the horizontal
branch of a eucalyptus tree, such as those of the Leaden Fly-
catcher (M/. rebecula), and the back of the hen bird is dark-grey,
corresponding in colour to the bark. The Spectacled Fly-
catcher (Pzezorhynchus gouldi) constructs its nest on a small
shrub in thick scrub, and generally in a dry watercourse, and
fastens on the outside of its nest, by means of cobweb, green
moss and cast skins of lizards, &c., and the back of the female
bird is inconspicuous. The Ground-Thrushes (Geoczch/a) build
their nests in the densest thicket they can find, and if moss is
plentiful construct them principally of that material, otherwise
of grass. The birds themselves generally live on the ground,

60 The~ Emu:

and their dull brown colour harmonizes to perfection with the
deep shade of their surroundings. The Bower Birds (Chlamy-
dere) construct their open nests of light twigs on dead or grey
branches of some light eucalyptus tree in open forest country,
and the female bird, being practically the same colour, is very
difficult to detect, whilst the Satin Bower Bird (Ptzlonorhynchus
violaceus), where the hen is of a mottled green colour, builds on a
branch well among the green leaves, and often in the centre of
a bunch of mistletoe, generally choosing a thickly timbered
gully or similar place, and although the birds are plentiful
enough in places their nests are rarely found, yet they are not
often, built more than twelve feet or so from the ground; they
line their nests with a few dead leaves. The Cat Birds (Aeluredus),
also being green, likewise build their nests towards the end of a
branch, among the green leaves, and they also choose thick scrub
in which to construct their home, and the bird harmonizes with
its surroundings. The Bristle Birds (Sphenura) are of a dull
brown colour, and live in the densest scrub, on the ground, as
does the Pilot Bird (Pycnoptzlus), of a somewhat similar colour,
but darker, and they construct their domed nests of grass and
leaves on the ground, generally well hidden by scrub.

The little Grass-Warblers (Czstzcola exiles) construct their
delicate nests frequently of the fluffy seed stems of the dande-
lion, or similar soft material, held together with cobweb, and
they also use the latter material as thread, with which they sew
together the neighbouring leaves, which they draw round the
nest, almost completely hiding it from view, or if the nest is built
in long grass or standing grain they wind the long leaves round
their delicate homes, apparently to make them assimilate with
their surroundings, which they do to a remarkable extent. The
birds, being light reddish-brown, are inconspicuous. Acanthizas
are dull-coloured birds, but they build domed nests, which are
generally made of bark or other material obtained from the tree
or shrub on which they are built, and, if possible, choose a site
alongside a bunch of dead leaves or twigs, generally low down,
and the nest has a very similar appearance to what is alongside
it, and may easily be mistaken for such a bunch, and I have no
doubt often is; The familiar Tits (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) are an
exception, as they often build their bulky nests in conspicuous
places, but they are very fond of constructing them in prickly
bushes, such as Acacta armata; they do this especially in
Western Australia, and although the nests are easily seen they
are difficult to get at, especially for a large bird of prey. The
birds are plentiful over the greater portion of Australia and
Tasmania, which shows that their nests are not much interfered
with. The Orthonyx, in New South Wales and Queensland, are
very dark-coloured birds, but they build domed nests on the
ground, the interior being composed of green moss and the
exterior of leaves and sticks, picked up from the immediate

61

The Emu.

IV.

PLATE

sian ali Cia
1 ay i

CS ees aig

lis).

CXt

Nest of Grass-Warbler ( Cisticola
Showing cobweb threads used to fasten leaves together.

LE SOUEF.

BY D.

FROM A PHOTO.

62 The Emu.

neighbourhood, and consequently they are practically impossible
to detect unless one is on the ground opposite the entrance.
These birds live on the ground in the thickest scrub, and conse-
quently their colour harmonizes with the dark-coloured soil on
which they are found. The Czxzclosoma, or Ground-Bird, makes -
an open nest of bark or leaves on the ground, generally alongside
a tussock of grass or log, but so correctly is the back of the bird
assimilated with its surroundings that one only discovers the nest
by seeing the bird fly off close to one’s feet. The Coachwhip
(Psophodes) is another scrub-loving, dark-coloured ground bird,
and its shallow open nest is placed some two or three feet from
the ground in any very dense cover, which completely hides it
from observation.

Magpies (Gymnorhina) and Butcher Birds (Cractzcus) are to a
certain extent conspicuous, but the backs of the females are
much duller than those of the males, not having so much
white on them ; their nests are fairly conspicuous, being gener-
ally in forest trees or large shrubs in comparatively open country,
but both birds are quite capable of defending themselves
if necessary. I do not think they are ever attacked by others.
In Thickheads (Pachycephale) the females are always a dull
colour, but they build their open nests in the thickest bush they
can find, which effectually hides them from above, even without
the inconspicuous colour of the hen bird. The Sittellas or Tree-
runners construct a most wonderful nest. It is lined inside
generally with lichen, and the outside is covered with pieces of
bark which are well and evenly fastened on with saliva and cob-
web. It is situated in the fork of a tree and is exactly like its
surroundings, so much so that when it is seen it is generally not
recognized as being a nest but simply a short broken piece of
bark-covered branch. The hen bird herself is of an inconspicuous
colour, and as long as she remains quiet on the nest is very
difficult to detect.

Corresponding and Observatory Stations.
By WILL. M‘ILWRAITH, ROCKHAMPTON.
(Read before the Aust. C. U., Adelaide Session, 2nd November, 1901.)

ALL readers of Gould’s famous book on the birds of Australia
must have noticed that he was largely indebted for information
respecting them to correspondents and observers in different
parts of the continent. Among the objects of the Australasian
Ornithologists Union must be the acquisition and dissemination
of accurate and scientific information respecting the avifauna.
It goes without showing that these cannot be attained or
accomplished without following the practice of the father of
Australian ornithology. The appointment of corresponding
members and establishment of observatory stations, in the

The Emu.

PLATE V.

Nest of Orange-winged Tree-Runner (Stttel/a chrysoptera).

FROM A PHOTO. BY D. LE SOQUEF,

64 The Emu.

opinion of the writer, ought to receive the early and practical
attention of the Council. Members of the Union, it is to be
hoped, will be found in widely separated localities of Australasia,
not merely willing but anxious, as far as in them lies, to collect
information about birds which are most common in their
districts, and communicate it for the general information and
entertainment of bird-lovers. By such means we may he able in
time to determine the area of greatest production—the very.
cradle or nest-land—of species; trace the radii of distribution
from it, discover the occurrence of varieties and the conditions.
by which they have been evolved or created. Only by close
and continuous observation will we be able to complete the list:
of Australasian native birds, and their range within the sphere
of our observations. |

The residence of every member, in a certain sense, must
be an observatory station. Your true ornithologist cannot help
it being so. There ought to be stations, however, dotted along
the coast, and all over the interior of the country. This is
most desirable in connection with observations upon the
migration of birds. Most interesting information upon this
subject has been collected within recent years, and with amaze-
ment we have learned that the breeding-places of our gralla-
torial summer visitors are to be found among the tundras of
Siberia, within the Arctic Circle. The migration of birds has
not received so much attention in this country as it has done in
the United Kingdom since the days of Gilbert White, and in
America since Alex. Wilson marked the flight of the enormous
flocks of pigeons. Twice in the year we have literally flying
visits of Snipe, Sandpipers, Godwits, and other less known
waders. Once in a while, too, one catches glimpses of the
Great Swift, hawking for a time low over the coastal scrub,
and then disappearing high up in the empyrean. The con-
tinental, as well as the extra-continental, migration of birds
calls for careful observation. Their movements are seen to be
due to changing physical conditions in their usual habitats
affecting supplies of food. Is it to similar conditions that the
great north and south migrations of birds in Europe and
America are to be traced ?

The establishment of stations would be highly conducive to the
collection of information. Persons who found a strange bird
would know where to send it for identification, and in this climate
the more stations we have the better. Birds sent to Rockhampton
from western downs country, even when carried by rail, are
rather high on arrival. Members of the Union having or taking:
occasion to travel would find at each station someone able to give
information about the birds of the district, and where particular
species might be found. There are few pleasures more enjoy-
able than an interchange of ideas upon a subject in which the
persons concerned are enthusiastically interested, When it has

The Emu. 65

been determined to prepare a list of correspondents and stations
I am quite willing my name should appear as correspondent .at
Rockhampton.

Notes on Certain Maluri, with a Description of a
New Species.

By A. J. CAMPBELL, Melbourne.

I. OWING to the great interest aroused by the discovery (or
perchance, re-discovery) of a black. and white Malurus for
Australia (see page 26 previous number), it has been thought
worth while to give illustrations pertaining thereto. See plate
vi. Fig. 1 is WZ. edouardi as it is set up in the Perth Museum.
Fig. 2 is a copy of Quoy and Gaimard’s figure J/érion leucoptere
or Malurus leucoptera, from an original sketch made on the
spot. ;

a will be noticed that the bill as shown in the French
naturalist’s figure is comparatively very stout for a JJalurus.
The following is the text of the description of this bird, trans-
lated from the French :—“ This bird comes from the same place
as the previous one (Amytis textilis). We only met it on the
Island of Dirk Hartog, living among the ¢raguets, which it
seemed to us to resemble in its habits. It is shown with natural
splendour in the sketch which M. Arogo made of it at the time.
Its whole head, neck, belly, and the upper part of the back are
of so dark a blue as to appear black ; the wings are white on the
upper part and brownish at their extremities. Perhaps the
latter colour depends on the age, and is not that which
ought always to be there. The beak is black and the claws
are brown. Total length, 3 inches 4 lines, or thereabouts.”

2. Gould has figured an exceedingly beautiful J/alurus in
his great folio work, vol. iii., pl. 20, and named it J7. melanotus
(Black-backed Wren), and another equally splendid species in
his Supp., pl. 23, called J7. callatnus (Turquoise Wren).
Between these there is apparently an intermediate species or
variety, at least if difference of colouring may be taken as a
criterion. I alluded to this possible third or intermediate
variety in my work “Nests and Eggs,” page 171. Since the com-
pletion of my MS. for the volume, I have had the opportunity of
examining more material, which has confirmed my opinion, and
‘I think ornithologists will eventually recognize this third
species. Therefore, I venture to name the new bird Walurus
whiter, in memory of the late Mr. Samuel White, of Adelaide,
who was the discoverer of Gould’s type of WW. callainus, and who
lost his life indirectly in the interests of Australian ornithology.
' Respecting Mr. White, Gould wrote :—“ No one of my many
correspondents in Australia is more keenly alive to the interest
which attaches to our favourite branch of science—ornithology.”

66

The ‘ Emu.

1. Malurus edouard..

Malurus leucopterus (after Quoy and Gaimard).

PLATE

Vi.

The Emu. 67

The new bird, however, may be known on the Vernacular List
as the Darker Turquoise Wren.

Description of the male of Walurus whztec :—Crown of head,
mantle, breast or abdomen, and upper and lower tail coverts
bright metallic blue, nearest shade turquoise ; chin and throat
rich cobalt or “new” blue; ear coverts light turquoise blue; lores,
back of neck, band across breast, and lower back velvety black ;
wings brownish, with external margins of feathers bluish-green ;
tail also bluish-green, some of the feathers being tipped with
dull white ; irides, bill, and tarsi dark. | Dimensions in inches :
Pegethias. .culmen, 10.3 siwing, 1.905 ;taiki2a4 tarsus, 1.

It will be obvious that 7. whztez, with its head and mantle
turquoise blue and ear coverts light turquoise blue, differs on the
one hand from J. melanotus, which has head and mantle
brilliant ultramarine and ear coverts light blue; and, on the
other hand, from J/. callatnus, which has head and mantle light
turquoise blue and ear coverts silvery turquoise, almost white.

Geographically J/. whztec also appears intermediate between
MM. melanotus and M. callainus. M.imelanotus is found in the
Lower Murray district and parts adjacent thereto, W/. whttez in
the interior, and J/. callaznus in the interior also, with a leaning
towards the west, if an example in the National Museum, Mel-
bourne, be correctly located.

Description of a New Bristle Bird (Sphenura).
By ALEX. WM. MILLIGAN, PERTH.

THE discovery of a new species of Sphenura was made by me
on the 12th October last in the dwarf coastal shrubs at Ellens-
brook, in the south-west division of this State, about midway
between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin, whither I had
gone in the hope of obtaining specimens of Atrzchia clamosa.

The new bird closely resembles Sphenura broadbentz, and at
first sight I thought that it was that form, or a western variety of
it, but after examination of a skin of the eastern form belonging
to the Geelong Museum, and kindly lent by Mr. W. Mulder, I
felt that I need not have the slightest hesitation in separating it
from that species.

The chief differences between the species are that the new one
is much smaller than Sphenura broadbentz, and that in the former
the rufous or chestnut head is brighter, and the under surfaces
lighter than in the latter, and that the yellow gape and triangular
loral spot present in Sphenura broadbenti is absent in the latter.

The bird has two distinct calls—alarm notes and song notes.
The former it utters when closely pursued and pressed, and
. resembles the words “pink, pink, pink.” The latter is a series
of clear, liquid, thrush-like notes.

The bird was most difficult to flush or even see, and it was

68 "The. Bais.

only in the afternoon of the second day’s pursuit that I obtained
a momentary glimpse of it as it rushed across a kwagga (species
of Wallaby) track in the scrub with tail elevated. My next
sight of it was on the fourth day of pursuit, just prior to shooting
it, when my old Quail bitch disturbed it. Its motion on this
occasion (perhaps due to its being severely pressed) was
distinctly different from that observed on the former. Appear-
ing, as it did, running at top speed across one of those
beautifully rounded sand hills (which abound on the coasts), with
its tail depressed below the plane of the body, and its dwarf
rounded wings used as an aid to its running, its toes just
touching the ground, and its neck stretched to the utmost,
the bird reminded me very much of the action of the Lyre Bird
in similar circumstances.

The food of the bird, as revealed by dissection, consisted
wholly of land snails, those marine-like looking forms which are
found in abundance on the coastal limestone hills, apparently
lifeless in hot weather, but full of vitality after a shower of rain.
One snail, with the shell perfect, was found in the stomach.

The bird was an adult female, but there was nothing to
indicate that incubation was near.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION.

Upper Surface.—Head and ear coverts bright chestnut, with
a narrow whitish zone round the eye. Upper portion of hind
neck showing faint chestnut, with round, blackish edgings to
feathers. Mantle dark slaty-brown, faintly tinged with rufous
and with dappling formed by ashy-grey margins to feathers.
Wings, rump, and tail chestnut-brown; shaft of tail feathers
black.

Under Surface—Chin and throat white, with numerous
darkish markings on outer margins, giving a dappled-grey
appearance. Breast—much darker dapples, with greyish outer
margins, the difference in the colouration between the throat and
breast and the dark markings of the feathers of the latter forming
a divisional and crescentic line between these parts, the same
line being also faintly discernible around the whole of the hind
neck.

Abdomen —Dapplings less distinct and irregular, flanks dark
slate-brown.

Under Tail Coverts.—Reddish-brown, long, and feathers loose
in texture.

Mandibles.— Shining dark brown, approaching blackness,
except the lower one, which is much lighter towards gape, but
not yellowish.

Legs and Feet.—Dark brown.

Irides.— Red.

Wings.—Very rounded, the first quill very short, the sixth
and seventh terminating equally, being the longest. Feathers,
on back flanks and under tail coverts, loose and coarse. The

The Emu. 69

tail feathers set in pairs, the upper pair being the longest, and
gradating to the under pair, which is the shortest.

I have given the new bird the specific name of /tora/zs, and
the vernacular name of “The Lesser Rufous Bristle Bird.”

For comparison I append the following measurements :—

Total

fcubth. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. | Culmen.
Sphenura broadbenti 10.5 g.7 5 1.4 95
Sphenura litoralis 9 3.4 4.5 i:2 6

Should Mutton Birds be Protected ?

MUTTON-BIRDING (according to the species of Petrel) has
almost become a national affair in some parts of New Zealand,
in Southern Australia, notably on islands in Bass Strait (where
alone it is reckoned that the number of young birds taken for
food amounts annually to about 600,000), and on certain islets
off South-Western Australia. In the interests of these sea-fowl,
should they be protected ?

Regarding Victoria the question has been brought somewhat
prominently under notice lately by a sensational letter from
Mr. Charles French, jun., Assistant Government Entomologist,
which appeared in the Melbourne newspapers anent the wanton
destruction of these interesting and profitable birds on the
rookeries on Phillip Island, Western Port. Happily it is
believed that the cruel cases cited by Mr. French are of rare
occurrence. However, Mr. French was able to arouse the
indignation of the Field Naturalists’ Club, and it was resolved
to recommend the Administrator of the Game Act to protect
the Mutton Birds on the islands off the Victorian coast. Of
course, there are other interests to be conserved—to wit, those of
some of the islanders, whose staple food is Mutton Bird flesh and
eggs when in season—therefore it is apprehended that any
protection extended to the birds will not be absolute, but
will merely regulate the traffic in eggs and young birds.

It was a coincidence that at the recent meeting of the
Aust. O. U. at Adelaide, when it became known that the next
annual meeting was to be held at Melbourne, an excursion to
the rookeries on Phillip Island was casually mentioned, so that
there would be an opportunity to ascertain whether or not it
was time to regulate the birding traffic. Some of our older
- ornithologists have been keeping a “fatherly” eye on the
rookeries on the island for years, to see if there be any
diminution in the numbers of birds that annually visit the
place. So far, the result of these casual observations has been
slightly in favour of the birds.

It may be mentioned that this season there were an extra-
ordinary number of egg-gatherers on the Cape Wollomai

70 ‘The: tmiit

rookeries. Not only did parties come from Melbourne, but
from Geelong and even Ballarat. Several ladies accompanied
their husbands, being provided with tents and the necessary
utensils to enjoy the novelty of an egging picnic for a few days.

Forgotten Feathers.

ONE of the first-described nests of the Coachwhip Bird was
recorded in a paper read by A. Dobree, Esq., before the Royal
Society of Victoria on 27th August, 1861. The writer says :—
“The present nest and eggs were obtained by me near the
banks of the Yarra Yarra, near Heidelberg, on one of those
points of land or ‘bends’ of the river still left in their
original state, and where the underwood and tangle are ex-
tremely dense. . . . The female bird was sitting so closely
as almost to allow herself to be captured, thus removing all
doubt as to the identity of the nest and eggs. The nest was in
the most tangled part of the thicket, and was placed in the
forked branches of a shrub, about 4 feet from the ground. It is
cup-shaped, about 5 inches outside diameter ; the exterior of dry
slender twigs, and the interior lined with thin fibres and a few
pieces of horsehair, the latter evidently owing to the accidental
vicinity of some farms; the whole structure is neither very
solidly nor elaborately built. It contained two eggs—length
exactly one inch, extreme width three-quarters of an inch. In
shape they are not much pointed at the thinner end, and the
greatest girth is about the middle. Their ground colour is pale
greenish-blue, with streaks and dots of various sizes scattered
pretty equally over the whole surface ; these markings are of a
brownish-black colour, and of two kinds—the one being very
distinct and sharp, the other somewhat less numerous, more
sreyish, and much fainter, having the appearance of being under
the shell. From the fact of the bird sitting so closely, I con-
clude that no more than two eggs are generally laid, though the
present ones had not yet been perceptibly incubated. I regret
to say I have kept no precise memorandum as to the date of the
finding of the nest, but believe it to have been about the end of
October.”

It may be added that the Coachwhip Bird was heard in
Willsmere Park, East Kew, amongst the dense scrub which then
existed there, several times as late as the spring and summer of
1886. The bird was possibly there later, but an interval of four
or five years elapsed before the observer’s next visit, and then it
was not to be heard or seen. A Satin Bower Bird was seen
there during the same year.

Concerning Ephthianura albztfrons, whose nest he regarded as
up to that time undescribed, Mr. Dobree wrote (Trans. Roy.
Soc. Vict., vol. v., p. 143):—‘‘It may be met with in the dry
portions of the swamps extending between the Saltwater

The Emu. 71

and Yarra Rivers. I discovered its nest about 4 feet from the
ground, in a stunted bush, on the edge of a tea-tree scrub which
covers part of that locality. The structure is cup-shaped, some-
what deep, and about 4 inches outside diameter; dried fibres,
fine twigs, and stalks form the exterior, and the lining is com-
posed of horsehair and fine grasses. It contained three fresh-
laid eggs; length, +¢-inch; extreme width, 35-inch ; shape, not
much pointed ; ground colour white, with fine red-brown mark-
ings, consisting of points, streaks, and roundish dots, the larger
markings being most abundant at the thicker end, where they
form a sort of wreath, while some of. the smaller ones are
scattered over the other parts of the surface. The markings are,
in nearly every case, surrounded by a faint ashy margin of their
own colour, imitating the appearance of having been painted
on the white ground before the latter had properly dried, thus
causing them partially to run into the white surface. This seems
to be a decided characteristic in these eggs. The nest was dis-
covered about October.’—H.

Stray Feathers.

APSOTOCHROMATISM. — Those interested in the discussion
which is vexing the souls of contributors to English and
American bird magazines. as to whether a moult takes
place at every seasonal change of plumage, and _ which
has been conducted in some cases under the barbarous
heading of “ Apsotochromatism” (literally a non-falling-off
of colour), may find food for thought in the following in-
cident, recorded in the Vzctorzan Naturalist (vol. ix., p. 168),
and mentioned originally in a letter to one of the editors of Zhe
Emu. Mr. E. M. Cornwall, a close observer of birds and their
ways, says that a Galah “managed to injure its wings when
flapping them, as birds love to do, after a shower. . . . It
was soon noticed that the whole of one side of his plumage was
becoming of a darker colour, and two days after the injury the
pink of the injured side had turned a dark red, and the grey of
the back was distinctly darker on that side. . . . The bill
also assumed a darker colour on that side.” The vane of a
feather is usually regarded as physiologically dead, but this
occurrence, though an exceptional one, seems to strengthen the
argument of those who contend that it is possible for colouring
matter to pass from the basal gland throughout the whole
structure.
a * *

FoR OBSERVERS.—No detail in bird life is too trivial to
be overlooked. All aid to a complete knowledge of its life-
history, which is not revealed only in what may be called its
public appearances, but in those chapters of its existence when

72 The Emu.

it is unaware of being watched, and during which the observer
must lie patiently hidden, but ever alert. A wider knowledge
of bird anatomy would also be an assistance to exactness in
the study of ornithology.

Where species are divided by very narrow lines, as in the case
of some Australian birds, there is always the probability of an
intermediate one being brought to light which may connect one
with another. A good collector, in any branch of natural
history, is always on the watch for such specimens.

The date of each migratory bird’s appearance in and disap-
pearance from each district would furnish valuable reading for
ornithologists. If supplemented by the date of nesting, number
of clutch, &c., and verified by the signature of the observer, these
details would be worth preserving for reference and for checking
purposes. Migratory might be more clearly distinguished from
non-migratory birds, geographical limits of species defined, &c.
Other details, such as variations in size, plumage, colour of eggs,
or in habit, would also be of interest. True “field notes” for-
warded for publication will always be acceptable.

* * *

BELL BIRDS AND CATERPILLARS.—“ Saw a Bell Bird’s
(Oreotca cristata) nest about the middle of June. Male was
sitting on two eggs, one about half the size of the other
and addled. MHairy caterpillars in nest. Have found young
during July.,.—Tom Carter. Hairy caterpillars placed in the
nests of Bell Birds have also been noted in Queensland (“ Nests
and Eggs,” p. 311—Campbell). Can any member suggest
a reason why the insects are found in this particular bird’s nest ?

* * *

DROUGHT AND DEARTH OF BIRDS.—“ Native Companions
have been very scarce in this locality this season. In the early
part of the year small flocks were to be seen flying overhead in
a northerly direction, but of late there are only odd pairs to be
seen, whereas at this time last year they were here in hundreds.
The scarcity at present is owing, no doubt, to the drought.

“The young grasshoppers are not so plentiful either, which is
nothing more than expected, as last year there were very few
female grasshoppers about, not more than 20 per cent. being
females.

“T noticed that favourite little bird, known here as the Summer
Martin or Wood Swallow, arrived to-day. These birds always
seem to come here from the north, flying in large numbers high
in the air. They are great destroyers of the young grasshoppers,
—more so, I think, than the Ibis. A peculiar feature about the
Summer Martins is that as soon as the grasshoppers begin to
fly they cease destroying them.

The Emu. 73

old birds of both sexes about, but through the drought they
have not laid.’—A. J. Simpson. Deniliquin, N.S.W., 8/1o/or.

* * *

FIELD NOTES OF JNO. T. TUNNY, WESTERN AUSTRALIAN
MUSEUM, MADE ON BEDOUT ISLANDS, 30 MILES N.W. OF
CONDON, APRIL, 1901.— One egg of the Crested Tern
(Sterna bergzt) in each nest, which is only a small hole in the
sand. In colonies.

Sooty Tern (S. fuliginosa). One egg in each nest.

Small Tern (species ?). One egg in each nest, usually in
the sand, under the tall grass.

Booby or Brown Gannet (Sz/a sula). In each nest two eggs.
Nest is usually a small hole scratched in sand, sometimes a few
pieces of sponge, &c., strewn round. (See plate ii., part 1).

Masked Gannet (S. cyanops). Two eggs to each nest, on the
sand. (See plate ii.)

Lesser Frigate Bird (/regata ariel). One egg to each nest.
(See plate ii.)

* * *

RICHMOND RIVER (N.S.W.) NoTEs.—Mr. Henry R. Elvery
reports two curious notes from the Richmond River scrubs :—
(1.) In several instances he has observed that the small Brown
Tit (Acanthiza pusilla) relines deserted domiciles of the Yellow-
throated Scrub Wren (Sericornzs citreogularis), and lays its own
eggs therein. (2.) Not far from Mr. Elvery’s house was a bower
of a Satin Bird in a patch of second-growth scrub. When the
Satin Bird left the district (it does not breed there) the bower
was appropriated by a Regent Bird. Mr. Elvery was witness to

these facts himself.
* * *

THE BRUSH CUCKOO (Cacomantis variolosus).—An egg was
found on the King’s Birthday (9th November) at Scotchman’s
Creek, Oakleigh, near Melbourne, in a White-shafted Fan-tail’s
nest, together with two eggs of the Fan-tail. Incubation had
commenced in all the eggs, but was more advanced in the strange
egg. The nest, which was situated in a thick belt of tea-tree
(Melaleuca), was placed so low that one could look into it whilst
standing alongside.—P. AND A. YOUNG. Caulfield Grammar
School.

* * *

A SPOTTED BOWER BIRD AT HOME.—‘ There is a Bower
Bird’s playground here (Crowsdale, Q.)—quite a new one. The
bird is getting quite a collection about him—small stones,
snails’ shells, pieces of paper, bleached and burnt bones,
green berries, caterpillars’ webs, and a Hooded Robin’s egg-
shell. The last-mentioned, which I gave him, occupies a place

7

74 The) Emu.
of honour. . He is a very clever bird—gets fresh ironbark
(eucalypt) leaves every day, places them in the bower, and
throws the stale ones out.,—-ERNEST D. BARNARD.

* * *

FROM. A LADY CORRESPONDENT (QUEENSLAND). — “ A
little Shepherd’s Companion (Rhipidura tricolor) has built in the
vine right in front of my window, so I can watch it while
doing: my hair at the glass. Though I do not agree with
the poet that

‘Birds in their little nests agree,’ &c. , &c.,
yet since I saw the R.T. savagely attack a small Honey-eater
(Ptdlotis fusca) and get it down onto the path on its (the P.F’s.)
back, I have ceased calling them (R.T.’s) ‘ dear little things.’ ”

* * *

TIME CHANGES ALL, HOW SOON !—Lately a British ship: (the
Knight Errant, with a cargo from New York), 500 feet over all
in length—the longest vessel that has come up the River Yarra
—was berthed in the Victoria Dock, over the spot which not a
quarter of a century ago was the edge of the West Melbourne
Swamp, where Wild Ducks dabbled and Black Swans paddiew
in the mud.

% * *

A SAD MISADVENTURE.—On the 23rd October, at Barcal-
dine (Q.), a bird fancier named Watts met with a fatal accident.
He had climbed a large gum tree to a height of about 60 feet
after a stray bird when he fell (through a branch breaking) to
the ground and was killed.

* * *

PARRAKEETS IN THE CiTy.—A pair of Red-backed Parra-
keets (Psephotus hematonotus) has been for months frequenting
the vacant pieces of ground between the Australian Wharf and
the Victoria Dock. Possibly they roost in the roof of some
of the adjacent buildings, probably the Gasworks.

* * *

_FRONTAL SHRIKE TITS » BREEDING NEAR. CITIES.—This
season (October) a pair of Shrike Tits built a nest and reared
young in a tall gum tree overhanging the Yarra, not three miles
from Melbourne. Another pair had a home in a tree above the
kitchen at “ Holmfirth,’ Fulham, about six miles from Adelaide.

* * *

AN IBIS ROOKERY.—“ Thousands of Ibises are nesting on
Widgiewa station, and within ten miles of Urana. Their
nests are on ‘ligrun bushes and on the higher tufts of ground

The Emu. 75

between, and are filled with eggs (or rather 4 or 5 in a nest) *,
making 50 to 100 eggs on a bush. The birds are packed
together on these bushes as close as they can stand, till. nothing
of the bushes or ground between can be seen for them. It is
a wonderful sight to one who has never seen it before. The
young. birds began coming out about three days ago, but some
are still laying.’—CoNway M. MACKNIGHT, Surgeon. 24/11/o1.

From Magazines.

“REPORT OF THE EIGHTH MEETING OF THE AUSTRALASIAN
ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT ‘OF SCIENCE, HELD AT
MELBOURNE, 1900.”—In connection with this volume, which has
just been issued, it is to be regretted that for the want of the
necessary funds the following papers are recorded only, and not
published, viz. :—“ Protective Colouration of Australian Birds
and their Nests,” and “ Variation in the Colour of Australian
Birds’ Eggs,” both by Mr. D. Le Souéf, C.M.Z.S.; “Notes on
Some Desert Birds,’ by Mr. G. A. Keartland; “Notes on a
Collection of Birds from Western Australia,’ by Mr. R. Hall;
and “ Reserve Fertility of Birds,’ by Mr. A. Sutherland, M.A.
The loss of publicity of these interesting articles emphasizes the
necessity for the existence of such a purely ornithological journal
as The Emu.

While on the subject of the last Melbourne Congress of. the
A.A. A. S. it was perhaps an error of judgment in the “ Hand-
book” to have furnished old and obsolete names with such
excellent descriptive matter as that on the “Birds of the Melbourne
District.” This is all the more remarkable seeing that at the
previous (Sydney) meeting a “ List” of Australian birds’ names,
both technical and vernacular, was adopted by the Association
and afterwards published.

* * *

A NICE POINT.—At the Sale police court four lads were
charged with being in possession of Swans’ eggs, contrary to
the provisions of the Game Act. The first case was that of
George Palethorpe, who pleaded guilty to having 55 eggs in
his possession. He was fined Is. for each egg, or 55s. in all.
The other three defendants, who were in company with Pale-
thorpe, were defended by Mr. G. Wise, who objected that, as
Palethorpe had been convicted of having the 55 eggs, the other
defendants could not also be convicted for having them. Mr.
Cresswell, P.M., said the objection was fatal, and dismissed the
cases against the three, adding that if they had all been charged
collectively they would have been convicted.—7he Argus,

20/7/01.

* Usual complement 2 to 4.—EDs.

76 The Emu.

THEOLOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY.—Missionaries, although
they have often good opportunities, are, as a rule, poor natural
history collectors. A notable exception is mentioned in the
Presbyterian Messenger of 4th October last. Some Roman
Catholic missionaries in Shen-si, a remote inland province of
China, happen to be men with a turn for ornithology. The
museum at South Kensington has recently been the recipient of
a case of birds collected by these ardent naturalists during the
continuance of the Boxer outbreak of last year.

* * *

AN EXAMPLE FOR THE AUSTRALASIAN O.U.—American
milliners are likely to cause the extermination of sea birds,
especially Gulls and Terns, on the coast of the United States, and
as Gulls are useful scavengers, as well as a charm of the seaside,
the committee of the American Ornithologists’ Union has under-
taken to guard and protect their nurseries.

* * *

A SOUTH AMERICAN “ SPARROW.’—The strange table-land
of Mount Roraima, in British Guiana, which is some 8,700
feet above sea level, has been visited for the second time by
Messrs. F. V. M‘Connell and J. J. Quelch on a collecting
expedition. The only bird noted isa new species of Zonotrichia
(Z. macconnellz). A coloured plate in the Trans. Lin. Soc.
(vol. vill, part 2) figures this new member of what Darwin
(Journal of Researches) called the “Sparrows” of South
America, as well as Z. pzleata, from which Dr. Sharpe says it
is distinguished by being “a larger and darker bird, much
ereyer, and with the rump and flanks dark grey instead of
brown.” Were Sparrows here as handsome many would
forgive their introducer.

Review.

[‘‘ The Birds of Siberia: a Record of a Naturalist’s Visit to the Valleys of the
Petchora and Yenesei.” By Henry Seebohm, F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.R.G.S. With map
and illustrations. London: John Murray, Albemarle-street, 1901. ]

THIS interesting volume contains the narrative of the late Mr.
Seebohm’s two Siberian expeditions—the first undertaken in
1875, in company with Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown, to the valley of
the Petchora River ; the other to the River Yenesei, in 1877, when
he had for a companion Capt. Wiggins, the well-known Siberian
navigator. The results of these journeys were published in
“Siberia in. Europe”. (1880) .and :;“Siberia in-Asia~” (1862)
respectively. Both these works having passed out of print, it
was arranged to combine them in one volume.

The work is of peculiar value to Australians, because many
Australian migratory birds to and from high northern latitudes

The Emu. 77

are mentioned. Besides it is written in an easy and uncon-
ventional style, free from technicalities. Perhaps the most
interesting portion is Part I].—the Yenesei journey—in which
the author sledged (it being winter) 3,240 miles, from Nishni
Novgorod, in Russia, to the Kureika, an affluent of the Yenesei,
just within the Arctic Circle. Including stoppages, the journey
occupied 46 days, during which nearly 1,000 horses, 9 score of
dogs, and two score of reindeer were used, the total number of
stages being 229.

When the winter broke up Mr. Seebohm, a servant whom he
hired on the way, and the captain proceeded from the Kureika to
Golchika, at the mouth of the Yenesei. The break-up of winter
is most graphically described, spring—or a leap from winter to
summer—lasting just 14 days.

The field notes of birds recorded throughout the journey,
especially during the summer months, are most fascinating, and
could have only been penned by one brimful of enthusiasm, and
with an extraordinary capacity for hard work. An example of
the author’s perseverance is the fact that for two days in
succession he worked amongst the swamps and mosquitos for
20 hours out of the 24—literally all day, because the “midnight”
sun did not set at that season of the year.

On the 5th June Seebohm shot a species which he had never
seen in the flesh before—the Asiatic Golden Plover, the variety
that migrates to Australasian quarters. (The month following
he saw many more and discovered their nests.) The next day
he secured another Australian bird, the Terek Sandpiper.
Then followed more specimens of the Common Sandpiper.
Subsequently in the “ full flood” of migration (as well as of the
river), Curlew Sandpipers in splendid breeding plumage,
Cuckoos (C. ztntermedius), Shoveller (European) Ducks, and
other wanderers were obtained.

Besides being an ornithologist of great repute, Seebohm was
a keen oologist. Under date of 23rd June he wrote :—

** My fourth important observation this morning was, however, the most
valuable of all—in fact, by it I obtained one of the special objects of my journey.
As I was making my way downhill to the boat amongst tangled underwood
and fallen tree-trunks, rotten and moss-grown, a little bird started up out of
the grass at my feet. . It did not fly away, but flitted from branch to branch
within six feet of me. I knew at once that it must havea nest near at hand,
and in a quarter of a minute I found it, half-hidden in the grass and moss.
It contained five eggs. The bird was the Little Bunting. It seemed a
shame to shoot the poor little thing, but the five eggs were, as far as I knew,
the only authenticated eggs of this species hitherto obtained, therefore it was
necessary for their complete identification.”

Touching another rare species which he was obliged to shoot
for identification, Seebohm wrote—“ It seems too bad to shoot
these charming little birds, but as the ‘Old Bushman’ [referring
to the late Mr. H. W. Wheelwright, who was camped at Mordi-

78 The Emu.

alloc, Victoria, in the early fifties collecting——EDs.] says, what is
hit is hestory, and what is mzssed is mystery.”

He might well grow enthusiastic on such an occasion as
this :—

“Suddenly a Thrush flew off its nest with a loud cry, and alighted in a
tree within easy shot. I glanced at the nest, snapped a cap atthe bird with
one barrel, and brought her to the ground in a second. ({ picked her up,
expecting to find a Redwing, but was surprised and delighted to find the
rare Dark Ouzel. I lost no time in climbing the tree, and haa the pleasure
of bringing down the nest with five eggs—so far as I know the first authenti-
cated eggs of this species ever taken.”

An ornithologist’s paradise is thus described—time, midnight,
r2th July :-—

‘We climbed up the steep bank (of the Yenesei) and found ourselves in a
wild looking country, full of lakes, swamps, and rivers, dead flat in some
places, in others undulating, even hilly. This was the true Siberian tundra,
brilliant with flowers, swarming with mosquitos, and fad of birds.”

There is no naturalist’s expedition, however successful, but
begets idle regrets. Notwithstanding the mass of material
(over 1,000 skins), and the amount of information obtained, the
author of the “ Birds of Siberia” concludes thus :-—

“TI now bade adieu to the tundra, with feelings somewhat akin to disap-
pointment and regret. My trip might be considered almost a failure, since

I had not succeeded in obtaining eggs either of the Knot, Sanderling, or
Curlew Sandpiper. Nevertheless I was glad to turn my face homewards.”

About Members.

IT is understood that Mr. A. W. Milligan has been appointed
“ Honorary Ornithologist” to the Perth Museum.

Amongst the original members and founders of the Australasian
Ornithologists’ Union are six members ofthe British Ornitholo-
gists Union, namely :—Mr. J. J. Dalgleish (Scotland), Mr. C. W.
De Vis (Queensland), Col. Legge (Tasmania), Mr. D. Le Souéf
(Victoria), Mr. J. C. M‘Lean (New Zealand), and Prof. Newton
(England).

Mr. Clarence Smart, with two of his cousins, spent a pleasant
fortnight in November, camped on the Gippsland Lakes. Over
100 species of birds were identified, but only six were secured as
new for his collection, including the Black-faced or Carinated
Fly-catcher and the Sanguineous Honey-eater. Mr. Smart
reports that the latter was fairly numerous in some of the dense
gullies running down to the Lakes.

The Furneaux Group of Islands was visited in the latter part
of November by a party of members, consisting of Dr. C. Ryan,
Mr;.J8. 3B. i Bitchie,. Mr... Le: Souef, and , Mr @.oF Belcher:

The Emu. 79

They had an interesting time, and were able to photograph the
nests and eggs of several birds, including the Pied and Sooty
Oyster-catchers, the Hooded and Red-capped Dottrels, the
Pacific and Silver Gulls, also the beautiful rookery of the
Australian Gannets and White-breasted Cormorants. They
were enabled to see the wonderful flight of the Mutton Birds as
they come in after sunset to the nesting holes—a sight to be seen
and remembered. They were rather early for some of the sea
birds, as the Crested and the White-fronted (Southern) Terns
had not commenced laying, and the Silver Gulls (Larus nove-
hollandi@) were only just starting. Caspian Terns had mostly
young ones. A few nests of the Brown Quail were found and
young ones seen. The Cape Barren Geese were noted on
several islands, and a nest found from which the young had
only just been hatched, the two pretty little youngsters being
caught and let go again. The Gannets had all fresh eggs,
having evidently only just commenced laying, and they are
later this season than usual. The fish they often disgorged
before flying away weighed in some cases three pounds.

Obituary Notice.

GILLESPIE.—On the 7th October, 1901, at his residence, Dartford, Staniland-
avenue, Malvern, John T. Gillespie, aged 36 years, late with Alex. Cowan
and Sons Limited.

HE who walks with Nature walks close to the great heart of the
God of Nature. The late Mr. J. T. Gillespie was a true disciple
of Nature—withal a modest and retiring one—with a leaning
towards oology. His collection is a valuable one, mostly the
result of his own field outings. He had conscientious scruples
about mercenary dealings with birds’ eggs, and was never known
to purchase specimens, much less to sell them, though he did not
object to enrich his cabinet by fair exchanges.

Our late naturalist was also an expert amateur photographer,
securing at recent inter-State competitions several important
prizes. His last prizes were won as lately as June at Sydney,
where he secured third award (bronze medal) for a set of lantern
slides, and special award (gold medal) for the best single picture
in the exhibition, the prize picture being a pair of young Laugh-
ing Jackasses artistically posed on a rough-barked piece of
stick.

At the age of 16 Mr. Gillespie entered the employment of
Messrs. Alex. Cowan and Sons, where, by diligent application to
business, he rose to be deputy-manager of the Australian branch,
Melbourne.

About 18 months ago Mr. Gillespie showed signs of tuber-
culosis, which too rapidly wore down his young and useful life,

80 The Emu.

to the great regret of his many private friends and ornithological
brethren. This regret was amply testified to by the representa-
tive gathering at the Boroondara Cemetery on the bright spring
day when his remains were laid to rest in sight of the beautiful
blue ranges to the east, where he so often and dearly loved to
roam in life.

Among the many floral tributes sent was one from the Field
Naturalists’ Club of Victoria, and another—an exquisite wreath of
wild flowers, singularly appropriate—from the Government
Entomologist and Mrs. French.

Correspondence, &c.

THE following is an extract from a letter received from Pro-
fessor Alfred Newton Magdalene College, Cambridge, by Mr. D.
Le Souéf :—“I have to thank you for No. 1 of The Emu, on
the publication of which I most heartily congratulate you and
all concerned. Any number of times during the last twenty,
if not thirty, years I have been inciting such correspondents as
I have had the good fortune to possess in Australia to take an
active part in working out the ornithology of their own country,
and now there seems to be every chance of this being done. You
may be sure that I shall watch the movement with the keenest
interest, and that my very best wishes attend the development
of the newly-hatched nestling.”

Mr. Frank Fay (Melbourne) sends clippings from English files
on the “ Migration of Quails.”

Mr. Henry Holroyd (Tarlee, S.A.) : Received a note on the
incubation of the Emu.

Articles—* English Birds in Tasmania,” by F. M. Littler
(Launceston); and “Notes on Various Birds Found in Tas-
mania,” by Col. Legge (Hobart), will appear in the next issue.

NOTE.—Rockhampton, 29th November.—“ To-day a small
flock of that rare visitor, the Spine-tailed Swift, was seen high
up above the Fitzroy River at Lake’s Creek, hawking insects.
In company with them were a few Dollar Birds) Two Swifts
were seen on the following days.”—WILL. M‘ILWRAITH.

| The Emu

| Official Organ of the Australasian Ornithologists’ Anion. |

a ,

“Birds of a feather.”’

VoL. I.] APRIL, 1902. [PART 3.

[ENLARGED NUMBER.

AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

—

CO-PATRONS:
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales.

OFFICE-BEARERS:
President: CoLonEL W. V. LEGGE, R.A., F.Z.S., &e.

Vice=-Presidents: Mr. C. W. DE VIS, M.A.
Mey eee. Lee 2, LS. CNLZ.S.

Hon. Treasurer: Mr. ROBERT HALL.
Hon. Secretary: Mr. D. LE SOUEF, C.M.Z.S.

(Address—Zoological Gardens, Melbourne.)
Mr. A. J. CAMPBELL.
Hon. Editors of Th
E _— Emu} \\ H. KENDALL.
Members of Council: Mr. J. W. MELLOR, Mr. A. MATTINGLEY,
Dr. C. RYAN, AND Dr. G. HURST.

OBJECTS, &c. - - -

WS) GNHE objects of the Society are the advancement and popularisation
AA {/) Des : : ;

of the Science of Ornithology, the protection of useful and
ornamental avifauna, and the publication of a magazine called
The Emu.

The business of the Society shall be conducted by a Council, con-
sisting of a President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, two
Editors of 7ke Emu, and four members ; each office-bearer and member
of the Council shall retire at the end of each financial year, but shall
be eligible for re-election.

The Annual Meeting shall be held in the capital of one or other of

the different States, such capital to be decided at the previous. Annual
Meeting.

Every member shall be required to pay an annual subscription of
fifteen shillings, due on the first of July each year.

The offices of the Society shall be at the office of the Hon. Secretary
of the Society for the time being, or at such other place as the Council
may appoint.

82 The: ‘agi:

Notes on Various Birds Found in Tasmania.
By CoL. W. V. LEGGE, F.Z.S,, &c,
1. STRIX CASTANOPS (Gould), Chestnut-faced Owl.

This species, whose eggs are stated in Campbell’s “ Nests and
Eggs of Australian Birds” to be undescribed, breeds in Tasmania
in the early part of November. Mr. Eric Kermode, of .Mona
Vale, one of our best-known egg-collectors, informs me that
some years ago he and some _ brother collectors were
taking a Goshawk’s nest, and hard by stood a smooth, dead
bole of a gum tree, from which all the upper part had fallen
away, leaving an open funnel top. The noise alarmed one of
these owls, which flew out of the “funnel,” and was evidently
breeding. So smooth and slippery, without any outstanding
“ points,’ was the bole that all attempts to get a rope over it
failed, and the eggs remained undiscovered. It is not an
abundant species in the island, but widely distributed, inhabit-
ing, no doubt, as nocturnal birds do, many parts where it
continues to be unobserved. I have seen it in the ranges above
Falmouth, and it is met with in the north-east, while in the
comparatively open country in the midlands Mr. Kermode tells
me it used to be not uncommon.

2. CRACTICUS CINEREUS (Gould), Grey Butcher Bird.

This is a familiar bird in Tasmania about homesteads
where there are many trees. The name “ Derwent Jackass,”
referred to in Campbell’s “Nests and Eggs,” is not a well-
known appellation in the island, the common name for the bird
being the “Jackass” simply. It is a favourite bird with the
farmers for caging, on account of its whistling propensities and
grotesque manners in confinement. In the breeding season it is
a most noisy denizen of one’s plantations, choosing the tall
Pinus insignis for nesting in, building in its upper branches,
and taking charge of the surrounding grove by keeping off the
Parrots and “ Miners” from the proximity of its brood. A nest
some years ago was blown out of a high pine at my house, and
its contents, two young birds, tumbled out into the surrounding
herbage ; they were found and deposited in the nest, which was
placed in the fork of a willow, where the old birds continued
their care of them until the nest was again blown out of its rest-
ing-place, and the young fell victims to the cats. Three is the
usual clutch of eggs, occasionally two only are laid. They
are “regular” ovals in shape, and usually pale olivaceous, the mark-
ings of pale brown being much washed out and, in some, clouded
into confluent patches at the larger end. The breeding season
is October, during which, and the following months, the
“ Jackass’s” loud and melodious call-notes are the most familiar
sounds about Tasmanian homesteads, and last into late evening
after all birds but the Magpies have retired to roost.

The. Emu. 83

Cracticus cinereus is a true “ Butcher Bird” in its habits, and
has apparently the same propensity for “spitting” its prey on
thorns as its English namesake, which, however, is a true
Butcher Bird (Lanzus). I base my belief on finding a few
years ago a freshly-killed Blue Wren (Malurus gouldz) “ spitted”’
on a large sweetbriar thorn in a hedge close to a grove of
trees frequented by the Butcher Bird.

3. EPHTHIANURA ALBIFRONS (Jard. & Selb.), White-fronted
Chat.

This interesting little bird is a marked illustration in Tasmania
of an exodus of certain species alluded to by Gould so many
years ago. Climatic influence—great droughts, prevailing heavy
rains, or sudden storms, and the like—cause, no doubt, those
movements which locate species in a district or province wherein
they were never before observed. In his “Handbook” the author
in question states that the Ephthzanura is not found in Tas-
mania, though common in the. Strait islands. That it should
not, therefore, be found on the north coast (so far as I can
ascertain) is remarkable, for its first appearance, as recorded, was
in the Sorell district, not far from Hobart. It was noticed there
in the seventies, and from thence extended gradually to the
midlands and along the east coast. About fifteen years ago
it was first seen in the Ross district, and is now more abundant
perhaps in the gorse flats in the valley of the Macquarie than
anywhere else. To reach this part of the island it had high
ranges to cross, probably taking in the flat lands above the
Derwent, at Bridgewater, in its migration, for there it has for
many years been firmly established. It delights in the gorse-
covered paddocks on.the Macquarie, and in the breeding season.
every little isolated patch has its pair, with the young troop
accompanying them, the male bird uttering its peculiar, lonely
little note—“ Pianng ”—by way of warning to its brood.

Some eight years ago it appeared as far north as Falmouth, on
the east coast, having no doubt reached there by way of the
open littoral tract of country from Spring Bay past Swansea* to
the north, along which it also occurs. How far north of Fal-
mouth it has settled down I do not at present know. In this
locality it frequents the sand-dunes, open shore paddocks, raised
pebble reaches, &c, It may be seen close to the tidc-line, flitting
from boulder to boulder, and darting up several feet into the air
at passing flies and insects. In the Bridgewater district it has
the same habit -of frequenting the borders of the Derwent
estuary, where thére are reedy and rushy flats instead of the
epen’ grassy “dunes” of the east coast. The habits of this
Chat are most interesting. During the breeding season, when
the female is aroused from its nest it flies to the ground, and
with . extended. and fluttering wings runs and tumbles along

{2 2.2072 Or perhaps followed the coast down from. Bank Strait.

84 The Emu.

+

in the quaintest manner, trying by its gestures as a wounded
bird to lead the traveller from its nest. It not only does not
shun the presence of man, but rather courts it, as I have observed
it on several occasions in the middle of the military camp at
Ross, picking about near the tent openings in the most fearless
manner, and at others frequenting the horse lines; and once I
saw a pair hopping about beneath the leading horses of a gun
team while I was inspecting the “battery.” In the Ross
district it nests in the gorse, building about one or two feet
from the ground, its nest sometimes being quite devoid of
concealment. On the coast the nest is usually placed in the
top of a dead tussock of “ cattle grass,” and is composed of dry
erass of the colour of that surrounding it. The structure is a
compactly though somewhat loosely made cup, lined firmly
with fine dry roots and a few fern hairs, a tuft of cattle hair
sometimes forming part of the bottom of the cup. In the
swamps on the Derwent I have found the nest in rushy grass
as low as six inches from the ground, and observed in it dried
swamp plants mixed with the grass and bents of the outer
structure. The dimensions of the cup are from 2% to 24%
inches in diameter by about 1% inches deep. On the Cullens-
wood estate, St. Mary’s—an upland plateau—where it has
appeared only since two years ago, my son, Mr. R. Legge, found
a nest in the top of a dead “sagg,” perfectly exposed to view ;
it was there also constructed of dry “cattle grass.” It builds
in August and September, fuil-grown young birds being seen
about with the parents in the middle of October. Three to four
eggs, but mostly the former, are the clutch in this country. They
vary in shape, some being stumpier than others, the longer
ones, too, being sometimes flat-sided (viewed in plan). The
clearly defined brick-red spots occasionally vary in character in
the same clutch, taking the form of a zone in some, and in
others distributed more evenly round the large end.

I think it probable that the inclusion of this species in the
Tasmanian list by Strzlecki was based on his examples pro-
cured in the Strait islands, which he explored during his
sojourn in Australia.

4. ACROCEPHALUS AUSTRALIS (Gould), Reed Warbler.

The Reed Warbler is a welcome harbinger of spring, and is,
one might say, the only connecting link between the songsters
of the old country and our far-off southern isle; and yet it is a
little-known bird in Tasmania, being very local in its habitat
and confined to those rivers and waters which are lined with
the lofty water reed. It arrives in the island towards the latter
end of September, and soon makes its presence known by its
loud and not unmelodious warblings, issued forth from the
dense shelter, out of which it is rarely seen, and which are
repeated through the night, after the habit of its congener in.

The Emu. 85

England, A. streperus. This Warbler was first noticed in the
midlands, not being enumerated in the earlier lists of Tasmanian
birds. It is plentiful in the great reed-beds in the North Esk
between Launceston and St. Leonards, but is seldom visible,
and its existence unknown to all who are unacquainted with its
notes. In the south it is rare. If the northerly range of the
species is correctly given by Wallace as Lombok, the inference
is that it must winter in North or North Central Australia, and
there frequent the great reed-beds which probably exist on
some of the northern rivers. Its existence there may easily
have been overlooked by collectors, as it often is in the south,
owing to its skulking habits.

Both the Australian Reed-Warblers, though among the
largest of the genus, are smaller than the two Asiatic species
and the African and European bird, A. turdozdes. The Indian
Reed-Warbler, A. stentorzus, judged by 12 specimens from India
and Ceylon examined by myself, measures in the wing 3.1 to
3.55 inches. The European bird, with a more pointed wing
than the aforementioned, measures 3.7 to 3.9 inches. The East
Asian species, A. orzentalzs, measures 3 to 3.5 inches. ‘The Aus-
tralian Warbler has the wing 2.7 to 3 inches in length (Cat. B.
Brit. Mus., vol. v.) It is worthy of remark, in connection with the
singular habits of this genus, that the existence of A. stentorzus
was overlooked in Ceylon until discovered by myself in no less
a public spot than the reeds in the old ditch of the Dutch Fort
at Jaffna. Once its note was familiar I found it easily in
various tanks and swatps in the northern and south-eastern
parts of the island, where it was breeding and a resident,
though only recorded as a visitor to the plains of India, from
which in the ordinary course it should have been a visitor to
Ceylon! As illustrative of the habits of this interesting bird, the
following extract is from my account of it (“ Birds of Ceylon,” p.
552) :—“ The tank which I have mentioned above as being one
grown with enormous rushes in the dry season, abounded with
these Warblers in the. month of June. Shortly afterwards it was
burnt by herdsmen for feed for their cattle, leaving nothing but
a few solitary clumps of reeds standing amidst the blackened
waste. When I visited it, no sign of a Warbler was anywhere
to be seen. Blue Coots and Water-hens were moping about at
the edge of the only remaining sheet of water, and a few of
the handsome Water Pheasants (Hydrophaszanus chirurgus)
“scudded’ along the Lotus leaves as I approached. None of
these I wanted, and was about to turn my back upon the wild
scene, when a flock of Weaver Birds (Ploceus) flew across the
open and settled on one of the reed clumps, when immediately
out sallied one of my looked-for Warblers, and chirped defiance
at the strangers, which was the signal for further notes almost
in every little oasis of vegetation. On my trying to dislodge
them from their strongholds, they retreated to the base of the

86 The Ema:

reeds, and no amount of shouting; or stone-throwing, and in
some cases of stamping even on the rushes, sufficed to flush
them. It was only by setting fire to the almost impenetrable
cover that I succeeded in getting a shot. At Toparé tank they
were constantly on the wing, and very noisy, and I had ample
opportunity of observing their animated movements, although I
could not get a shot at them. I found the food of the specimens
I procured at various times to consist of small flies and minute
insects.”

5. LOBIVANELLUS LOBATUS (Latham), Spur-winged Plover.

This species furnishes an illustration as regards Tasmania of
internal migration or “exodus” in the southern parts of Australia.
Though recorded as inhabiting the island many years ago, it
was a rare bird until the “ eighties.’ After the great drought on
the continent, 1888, it was observed here and there in the mid-
lands, the great Plover district of Tasmania. It gradually
increased about Ross and Tunbridge, where the flat lands, salt-
pans, marshes, and undulating open sheep-runs provided it with
a suitable home. It is now about as numerous as the Black-
breasted Plover, for it is seldom shot, owing to its wariness and
the poor quality of its flesh, and flocks: of fifty may be met
with after the breeding season when the young have “ packed.”

In 1892 a pair appeared on my estate at Cullenswood, on the
Break-o’-day Plateau, where the species had never been seen
before. It had evidently begun to migrate outwards from the
midlands. In 1895 it had thoroughly established itself, having
taken up its quarters about a large lagoon, where it bred every
year, and is now abundant in the district. The mysterious art
of “ protective resemblance” appears to be connected with the
economy of this species and the Black-breasted Plover, and is
illustrated in the remarkable variation in the colour of their eggs.
If nests are found situated on ground or about vegetation of
varied colour the eggs will be found in sundry instances to
correspond in a remarkable manner with the coloration of their
environment. Two or three seasons ago I visited, in company
with my son, Mr. R. W. Legge, who is a keen observer, several
nests of these species, situated in and about the lagoon above-
mentioned, which was then in a dry state. The ground colour
of the eggs varied in each, and exactly resembled the material
round the nests. It was most observable in the case of a
“ Spurwing’s” nest formed on some dry, yellowish rushes and
dead grass, and in which the eggs were of the exact murky
stone-colour of the dead vegetation. Two nests of the Black-
breasted Plover illustrated the same peculiarity in a very marked
manner. |

The egg shown in Campbell’s “ Nests and Eggs” is remark-
ably green, and was probably taken from a nest situated near
sreen herbage.

The Emu. 87

Notes on a Collection of Bird-Skins from the Fitzroy

River, North-Western Australia.
By ROBERT HALL,
With Field Notes by the Collector, J. P. ROGERs.
PART’ I;

My correspondent, Mr. Rogers, commenced collecting specimens
of birds in the Derby district in November, 1899. He is still
doing so. In that period 405 well-preserved skins have been
forwarded to me for identification and report. These now form
part of my collection. Among them are many choice species
new to the north-west of the continent, one entirely new to
Australia, two species new to science, a large number of young
birds not previously described, many new phases, and new nests
and eggs. |

My wish to always secure young birds and birds of changing
plumage has been agreeably responded to. And now it is my
pleasure to place on record the decided interest of this young
and new observer and collector in the field of natural science.
We may safely take it that he has done well and formed a
good beginning. One example of enthusiasm I gather from
his letter of 15th March, 1901 :—“To-day I reached Derby
after a rough and tiring time. My walk of 80 miles was
without the company of even a horse. To carry a gun,
collecting material, and my swag proper in a hot and steamy
atmosphere was not an easy task.”

The latest collection* made in the North-West was by the
Calvert expedition in 1897. The number of species brought
back was 59 and specimens 167. The most important collec-
tion made to the time of the present one was by Mr. T. H.
Bowyer-Bowert in 1886. It numbered 152 species, and was
gathered within a radius of 25 miles of Derby. It serves well
as an enumeration of species.

The collection under present review is being made between
Brooking Crossing on the Fitzroy River (some 200 miles from
Derby) and the township of Derby. The opportunity to make
sub-species out of this material is indeed tempting. However,
I justify myself with declaring them hitherto undescribed
phases until a medium such as that of natural selection makes
more pronounced the progress to warrant other rank.

While it is not necessary at this stage to refer to absentees
from the present list, it is pleasing to note some birds which, to
the best of my knowledge, have not been previously recorded as
found in North-Western Australia, viz. :—

Rhipidura phastana, De Vis; Pheasant Fan-tail.
* Roy. Soc. S. Aust., vol. xxii., part ii. (1898), p. 125.

+ Ramsay, P.L.S. N.S.W., vol. i., 2nd Series, p. 1,085 (1886); 7a@., op. c2t.,
vol. ii., 2nd Series, p. 165 (1887).

88 The oo

Pachycephala melanura, Gould, Black-tailed Thickhead.

Malurus asstmtlis, North, Purple-backed Wren

Eopsaltria pulverulenta, Bonaparte, White-tailed Shrike-Robin.

Pseudogerygone tenebrosa, Hall, Dusky Fly-eater.

Collyriocincla pallidirostris, Sharpe, Pale-headed Shrike- Thrush.

Mirafra secunda, Sharpe, Lesser Bush-Lark.

Eremzornis cartert, North, Carter Desert Bird.

Lophophaps plumifera, Gould (if a species), Plumed Bronze-
wing Pigeon.

Poephila nigrotecta, Hartert, Black-rumped Grass-Finch.

Munia castanetthorax, Gould, Chestnut-breasted Finch.

FLelodromas ochropus, Linn., Green Sandpiper.

Lt gotheles rufa, Hall, Rufous Nightjar.

In addition to the above 13 species, others forming this collec-
tion were recorded in the Vzctorzan Naturaltst, vol. xvii., No. 4,
p. 62 (1900), for the first time as found in North-Western
Australia. The dates appended to specimens refer to times
collected. The observations of Mr. Rogers are placed in square
brackets.

1. CHLAMYDERA NUCHALIS (Jardine and Selby), Great Bower
Bird.
Chiamydera nuchalis, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 9 (1848).

Chlamydodera nuchalis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. , vol. vi., p. 391
(1881).

To hand are two adult male skins without lilac napes, and
dated roth and 26th March, 1900. One of the specimens has a
single lilac feather beneath the dull grey plumage. The same
bird is moulting its old feathers upon the head and obtaining
new ones.

One adult male skin, in addition, received—no data.

One young female, 18/10/o1. Briefly it may be recognized by
its whole appearance being more grey, silvery almost, than in the
adult ; feathers of back, wings, and upper tail coverts more
largely tipped with a whiter grey than in adult; tail quills
broadly tipped with white ; whole under surface below (the chest
included) clearly barred; head and neck almost uniform grey;
bill (except at extreme point) uniform dark brown ; wing 6.5
inches.

[Irides bluish-grey ; bill dark brown, tip horn colour.]

[I am camped in a gorge at the foot of the Grant Range,
some 3 miles from Livuringa station. Ten yards from the tent
is a huge bower. Each morning a large number of this species
visit it at the same time. I counted ten birds. The birds are |
now leaving the river (28/2/00), and the bowers have assumed
quickly a ragged appearance. I am of opinion they are leaving
the river for breeding purposes. A few days later than making
this note I again visited the river to see if the birds were still
there. I found they had all left, and the bowers had fallen as

The Emu. 89

if they had been deserted for months. To-day (8/6/00) I saw
a male bird pulling a bower to pieces. He took each twig in
his beak and dragged it out. At the pulling away of the bower
he worked for nearly an hour.

On 27th December, 1899, I found a nest and egg. The nest
was placed about 12 feet from the ground in a bauhinia tree.
The bird was very shy, and, although I watched the tree, I only
saw the bird go on to the nest once ; but it was always on the
nest when I visited the tree. She used to slip off silently and
hop and fly away on the side that had the tree between us.
External dimensions of the nest, 10 x 10 x 5% inches;
internal dimensions, 6 x 5% x 2% inches. The egg could
be seen through the nest from the ground. The nest was
loosely constructed of coarse twigs, lined with fine bauhinia
twigs. The bower within a few yards of my present camp is
still frequented (31/12/99) by a large number of birds. They
come about 6.30 a.m. and stay some 30 minutes. In the
evening they return for one hour, just prior to sunset. They
have the bower built under a small “freshwater ” mangrove, the
leaves of which are falling at present each morning in great
numbers. The leaves that have fallen during the night are
picked up one by one and carried away in their beaks, going
all the time with a peculiar sidling dance motion. With the
heads turned on one side they look very knowing.

In a place known as Fourteen-Mile Gorge they are still very
plentiful (13/1/00), and may often be seen in the small caves
of the sandstone hills. Here I saw a black bird with a yellow
eye, and it reminded me of a Satin Bower Bird. ‘To-day I shot
a male bird hardly in moult (16/1/00).

On 9/3/00 I noted that some few birds were on the river
again, but the majority were still in the hills. On 8/4/00 I saw
a large number at a bower. One male in full plumage spread
out the pink ruff on his neck until the feathers resembled a
widely-extended fan, almost forming a circle.

What appears to be the male bird (judging by the plumage)
plays for hours with bones, &c., at one end of the bower, uttering
strange noises. One resembles a piece of silk while being
crumpled and shaken. The usual call is a harsh and scolding
one. The female is much quieter, preferring to hop quietly
about or sit in a bush. ]

2. MALURUS DORSALIS (Lewin), Red-backed Wren.
Malurus brownt, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iii., p. 27 (1848).
kgs heh isc Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 296
1870).
Fifteen skins have been received, of which eleven are males
and four females.
Of the males seven form a most interesting series, and show
the order in which the red appears, as illustrated in the skins
a to g.

go The. Emu.

The moulting of the quills is effected between May and
August, according to four skins (e¢, 7,4, and another). In July
Mr. Rogers observed several small troops without any red bird
amongst them. The young male, young female, and adult
female bear a likeness to each other.

a. Young male, 15/8/o0. No sign of red. Uniform brown
above, creamy white below; bill, legs, and feet pale nutty-
brown; irides ashy-grey. Length of tail, 2.5 inches.

6b, Young male, 1/8/oo. Similar to @; much smaller tail; a
few pale red feathers appear near the shoulders and on the
back.

c. Young male, 25/2/o0. Similar to 4 In addition to about
the same quantity of red upon the back as in J, there is a small
break of black upon the chest. Bill slightly darker than in 0.

ad. Young male, 28/3/00. This specimen is undergoing a
moult of all but the quills. The red of the back is nearly com-
plete, but the colour is bright crimson. The first of the black
upon the ventral surface takes the shape of a pectoral collar with
odd “blacks” on the throat sides ; crown and sides of face ©
show about half black and half brown feathers; bill deep
brown to blackish-brown. About midway between youth and
maturity. [Irides ashy-grey ; legs and feet fleshy-brown. |

e. Immature male, 18/8/oo. General appearance very woe- —
begone; the act of moult showing three strongly contrast-
ing colours, the bird having the dense black of the adult, the
grey of the young, and red. Every part of the body shows the
transition stage—as, for instance, the tail quills are partly long
and brown and partly short and black; also the wing coverts,
the head, and whole under surface. [Bill browny-black ; irides
greyish. |

fy. Immature male, 24/7/00. This is a stage in advance of e,
with a more orderly appearance in its plumage; bill blacker ;
red of back not yet so intensely crimson as in g, the adult.

g. Adult male, 24/7/00. The last trace of moult into perfect
stage is shown in the barrels of the smaller tail quills. Back
deep crimson ; bill jet black.

The specimens marked /% and 7 are females, showing the tail
quills to be moulting on 3/3/00 and 14/5/oo.

On 7/1/00 Mr. Rogers found this species to be a foster-parent
to the Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo (Chalcococcyx basalts, Hors-
field).

According to adult male skins received up to June, I find
a moult of the red is effected in this species of the Red-backed
section of Malurus.

[Prior to August I have seen many flocks without one bird
showing any red, except on one occasion when in the long grass
I saw an adult male with the “red” much faded and abraded
(15/6/00). On 23rd August, 1901, I saw the first coloured male
of the season. When feeding among fallen leaves of freshwater

The Emu. QI

mangroves the birds disappear from sight as they burrow among
the light leaves, which lie very loosely and curl up when they
fall.

To-day (26/12/00) I saw five adult males fighting for the pos-
session of two females. They took no notice of myself. The
red upon the backs was of two shades, light and dark.

On 3/3/00 I shot a female showing two pale red feathers
under the left wing. On 24/7/oc I secured a young male with
red anda few brown feathers. With regard to nesting, I have
found nests with each two eggs on 4th and oth January. Mr.
Douglas, who accompanies me, at times has found clutches
of four eggs. One nest I found in spinifex, two feet from the
ground of a rocky ridge. It was made of grass and small pieces
of wool externally.* As I approached it the female left. One
nest measured 5 x 4 x 4 inches, a second 3 x 4 x 3 inches. On
7/1/o1 I found a nest with a side entrance instead of the usual
top entrance. |

3. MALURUS CORONATUS (Gould), Purple-crowned Wren.
Malurus coronatus, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. suppl., pl. 20 ;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 295 (1879).
Three skins to hand—

a. Adult male, 22/8/oo.
6. Immature male, 22/8/oo0.
c. Adult female, 22/8/00.

[2. Irides brown ; bill brown; corner of mouth white ; legs
and feet leaden-grey.

I showed these skins to a black boy who resides up the river.
He says they are always found in the billabongs high up the
Margaret River, a tributary of the Fitzroy, and about 150 miles
from here. A black boy from the coast to the north of Derby
did not know the species. I got the specimens in dense long
grass, and found them very shy.

When feeding it searches amongst dead leaves upon the
ground, upon which I found it feeding. It rapidly hops and
occasionally flies a few paces when feeding. It also takes insects,
like Fly-catchers, upon the wing. On 7/11/00 I noticed two
males and one female. The female securing a large grub,
the duller of the males immediately followed her, and, watching
his opportunity, secured one end of it. After a tug for mastery
during 30 seconds he robbed her and flew away. A few seconds
later the finer-plumaged male was preening her feathers. |

3A. MALURUS ASSIMILIS (North), Purple-backed Wren.
Malurus assimilis, North, Vict. Nat., vol. xviii., No. 2, p. 29 (1901).

Adult male, 2/11/o1.

* Compare ‘‘ Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds,” Campbell, vol. ii., p. 179 (1900).

92 ‘Phe Emi.

4. PETRCECA PICATA, Gould (sub-sp. of P. dzcolor, Vig. & Hors.),
Pied Robin.
Melanodryas picaia, Gould, Birds Aust., Handbook Birds Aust., vol. 1.,
p. 285 (1865).
Petraeca picata, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 174 (1879).
a. Adult male, 28/12/00. Breakaway.
6 ande. Adult females, 31/8/oo and 28/12/00. Breakaway.

That which is said to distinguish this sub-species from the
species is a doubtful quantity.

Specimen a has not the usual dense black plumage. It is
blackish-brown and brown rather than black on the forehead.
The wing and tail quills are brown.

5. RHIPIDURA PHASIANA (De Vis), Pheasant Fan-tail.

ee phastana, De Vis, Roy. Soc. Queensland, vol. i., p. 158
1884).

aand 6. Adult males, 27/6/or.

c. Immature female, 18/3/oT.

d. Immature skin, 27/3/o1.

Young (skins c and @).—There is no lower throat black band,
merely a trace of it dividing the white from the orange-brown.
The white markings on wing coverts are larger than in adult
birds ; less white upon the tail; superciliary mark grey ; upper
surface of body grey, the tail being blackish-brown, nearly as in
adult.

6. SISURA NANA (Gould), Little Fly-catcher.
Sisura nana, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 408 (1879).
a. Adult male, 6/7/o1.
6. Immature male, 2/3/o1.
c. Adult female, 2/7/o1.

There is merely a faint trace of orange-brown upon the chest
of a, while in the immature bird, 4, there is a distinct. patch of
it. Inc the chest, a portion of the throat, and breast are richly
flushed with orange-brown.

Immature Male (6)—Lores brown ; quills of tail and wings
brown and black, the black quills being the new feathers ; thighs
ruddy-brown; black feathers of chin and throat scarcely de-
veloped. [Irides dark brown; base of upper and two-thirds of
lower mandible leaden-blue, balance of upper and lower black ;
legs bluish-black ; feet black. |

[A nest was placed in a eucalypt by the river, some twenty feet
from the ground (1/2/o1.)]

7. MYIAGRA LATIROSTRIS (Gould), Broad-billed Fly-catcher.

Myiagra latirostris, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., pl. 92 (1848) ;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 381 (1879).

One adult male (25/8/00) and one adult female were received.

The > Emi. 93

[When on the wing it takes an insect and returns at once to a
branch. When there it continuously and rapidly shakes its tail. |

8. MICRG:CA PALLIDUS (De Vis), Pale Fly-catcher.
Micreca pallida, De Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland, vol. 1., p. 159
(1884).

a. Fledgling male, 11/3/00.

6. Young female, 5/7/00.

c. Immature female, 4/7/00.

dto #. Adult males, collected in February, July, and August,
1900.

j. Adult female, 26/7/00.

Excepting the fledgling there is a uniformity of markings and
colour over all. Even the young birds moult quickly their nest
plumage, and go at once into a strong likeness to the adults,
male and female.

Description of Young Mate (specimen a).—Upper surface
bears a striped appearance of white upon ruddy brown. These
white marks, from the forehead to the upper tail coverts
included, are upon the middle portions of the terminal half of
the feathers; the nuchal collar is nearly white; central tail
quills uniform brown, lateral pair creamy white, except at base
of penultimate one, which is deep brown ; whole under surface
whitish, with brown spots, indefinitely placed ; under tail coverts
white ; loral spot white ; ear coverts brown with white barbs ;
wings brown, deep on quills and light on coverts, which are
edged creamy white, especially the inner secondaries; tips of
spurious wing fawn, under wing coverts fawn; length of wing,
3.15 inches. [Bill brown, lower mandible paler than upper ;
corners of mouth white; irides brown; legs and feet bluish-
grey ; soles of feet yellow].

The young female (6) is mainly distinguished by having a
frontal tawny mark instead of the white forehead of the adult,
while in c, a more advanced female, the ear-coverts, sides of
face, and forehead are tawny.

[This bird is generally found in lightly timbered country.
In the back yards of Derby township there is generally one pair
to be seen. ]

g. PACHYCEPHALA FALCATA (Gould), Northern Thickhead.
Pachycephala falcata, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., i1., pl. 68 (1848); Gadow,
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vili., p. 205 (1883).
Eleven skins are to hand, of which seven are males and four
females.
The plumage development of the species is quite different
from P. gutturalts.* Whereas it is difficult to recognize any one
of three stages of P. gutturalis as belonging to the same species,

* Proc. Roy. Soc, Vict., vol. xiii., New Series, part i., p. 19 (1900).

94 The Emu.

especially the fledgling and adult, these latter in P. falcata
are clearly held together by an intermediate link associating the
two extremes. Judging by two good illustrating specimens,
the pectoral collar at first appears to be a grey one, which alters
its pigment into brownish-black without a moult.- A moult
following makes the collar a dense black one.

The young male, the young and adult females bear a likeness
to each other. The breast-streaks of the young are retained in
the male until the pectoral collar appears as in c, or the black
streaks indicating youth are lost, by change of pigment, just as
the pectoral collar appears (e.¢., 0).

a. Young male, 21/8/00 (Cn. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. viii.,
p: 205).

a’. Young female, 24/8/oo. The brown bill indicates youth,
and, excepting the ear coverts and orbital region, which are
ruddier, it appears to differ very little from the young male a.
The throat of @ is whiter.

6. Immature male, 13/8/oo. A pale tawny wash is clearly
seen upon the mostly white throat, which is distinct upon this
specimen alone. The pectoral colour is superficially grey, with
a black ground. This is owing to much of the peripheral and
exposed portion of each black feather being grey. Lores and
ear coverts very little greyer than adjacent grey parts. Black

streaks of breast almost obsolete. [Irides reddish-brown ;
bill black ; legs and feet brown].
c. Immature male, 28/8/o0. The principal differences

between this and an adult male are that the immature bird
retains deep brown streaks upon its white throat and its rufous
breast. The edges of some of the pectoral band feathers are
still grey, and the ear coverts also are grey. [Irides reddish-
brown ; bill, legs, and feet black. |

d. Adult male, 27/2/00. The tendency of the male, when
compared with its close ally, P. rujiventris, is to restrict the
width of the black colour on the sides of the neck and to
brown the black ear coverts. In no other respect do the
males of the two species appear to differ.

e. Adult female, 24/8/00.

[This species is very animated. A male is singing to
his mate before me now (2/2/01), with tail and wings ex-
tended, feather on crown of head raised like a crest, and
body feathers ruffled outwards. The bird’s body seems to
tremble through the power of the whistling note it is uttering
—a note much more powerful than is usual. The male
bird’s head was within one or two inches of his mate’s all
the time. On 1/8/oo I found one of a pair building a nest.
Visiting this nest a few days later I noticed it was still
unfinished, and many feathers of the builder strewn about it.
A hawk had probably eaten it.]

The Emu. 95

10. PACHYCEPHALA MELANURA (Gould), Black-tailed Thick-
head.
Pachycephala melanura, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., pl. 66
(1848); Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vili., p. 185 (1883).
a. Adult male, 19/3/ol.
6. Young male, 19/6/or!.
c. Adult female, 22/3/o1.
d. Young female, 23/7/01.

@ specimen was moulting, at this date, its tail quills.

b. Description of Young Male—tThree phases of a young male
have been described in the Brit. Mus. Cat., vol. viii. This is
a fourth, resembling very much an adult female. Lores fawn;
rump grey, as on the back, no greenish-yellow hue on either
region, as in adult; outer secondaries broadly edged with
rufous ; abdomen more white than in adult ; under tail coverts
lemon-yellow; upper tail coverts greenish-yellow ; tail pale
greenish-yellow. [Bill brown; base of lower mandible and
cutting edges of both greyish-brown ; angle of mouth whitish ;
irides light reddish-grey ; legs and feet blue-grey].

Young Female (d@).—It has traces of its rufous stage. The
primaries are rufous, and their coverts particularly so; upper
and under tail coverts mostly rufous ; upper surface grey ; under
surface creamy, with throat and chest marked horizontally with
pale greyish-brown spots; irides reddish-brown ; bill brown,
base lower mandible grey, also cutting edge; legs and feet bluish-
orey.

[It has a note similar to, but less powerful than, the previous
species. It keeps very much to mangrove vegetation, searching
much among the débrzs left by the tides. It may search for
insects head downwards when among the branches, but the
position has not the grace of that of a Honey-eater.|

II. PACHYCEPHALA LANIOIDES (Gould), White-bellied Thick-
head.
Pachycephala lanioides, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., pl. 69
(1848) ; Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. viii., p. 224 (1883).
aand J. Adult males, 22/3/o1.
cand d@. Adult females, 21/3/01, 23/3/ol.

For description of skins cand d see Vzct. Nat., xviii., No. 2,
p. 30.
12. EOPSALTRIA PULVERULENTA (Gould), White-tailed Shrike-
Robin.

Eopsaltria leucura, Gould, Birds Aust., Suppl., fol., vol. v. (1865).
Pecilodryas pulverulenta, Salvad., Ornith. Papuas e Molucc., vol.
il., p. 88.
Eopsaltria pulverulenta, Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. viii.,
p. 180 (1883).
aand 6. Adult males, 19/3/o1 and 27/3/or.
c. Adult female, 19/3/o1.

96 The Emu.

All are moulting. a has its new tail quills, but the crown and
forehead feathers are old and very much decomposed. @ has its
new forehead and crown feathers, but the tail quills are only
about half grown. They are jet black, while the still remaining
quills are brown with age.

Mud is upon the bill of each, because of the habit the bird has
of foraging upon the muddy mangrove stems. [These birds I
have never seen unassociated with the mangrove flats. All birds
found among the mangroves appear to forage upon the mud,
and have dirty bills. ]

13. PGECILODRYAS CERVINIVENTRIS (Gould), Buff-sided Robin.
Petrotca cerviniventris, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., supp., pl. 15 (1869).
Pectlodryas cerviniventris, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv.,

p. 242 (1879).
a. Adult male, 2/12/00. Breakaway.
6, c, da. Adult females, 2/12/00. Breakaway.
e. Adult female, 1/8/oo. Breakaway.
Ff. Young male, 2/12/00. Breakaway.

The flanks of adult male and female (sexes alike) are strongly
marked with a very pronounced tawny-rust colour.

Description of Young Male.—\It has a striking appearance
when losing its rusty-coloured plumage for one similar to, if not
exactly like, that of an adult. The quills have the conspicuous
white bands, with a splash of tawny about the brown edges of
centre tail feathers and wing quills. Excepting the white marks
upon the sides of the throat, the whole of the head, neck, throat,
and breast show the previous stage to have been rusty-rufous ;
white feathers show through the lores and eyebrows ; blackish-
brown feathers appear in advance upon the rusty forehead,
crown, and hind neck; grey feathers are as much in evidence
upon the upper portion of the breast as rusty-coloured ones are ;
the tawny-rust flanks are paler than in adult ; wing, 3.15 inches.
[Bill brown, cutting edge horn colour ; corner of mouth white ;
eyelids dark flesh colour; feet and nails grey; legs darker grey
than feet. |

Mr. Rogers noted (2/12/00) that both knees were covered with
parasites of an orange-yellow colour.

[In the thick growth of a bank of the river I collected and
heard the calling of the birds (1/8/00). The notes were two
clear whistling calls repeated rapidly nine or ten times, during
which the motions of the bird resembled those of a Dove, bowing
its head and raising its tail. This latter was extended at every
call. The white of wing is conspicuous when the bird is sitting.

On the 8/12/00 I saw an adult feeding a young Cuckoo. It
appeared to be of the Black-eared species, a skin of which has
already gone forward. I did not secure the young Cuckoo. At
3 a.m. to-day, gth December, I heard the call of a Cuckoo. |

The Emu. 97

14. MYZOMELA PECTORALIS (Gould), Banded Honey-eater.

Myzomela pectoralzs, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 65 (1848) ;
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 1x., p. 138 (1884).
Eleven specimens have been received—nine males, two
females.

Six of the males show distinct phases in the plumage
development from the time of nest quittal to adult age. It is
remarkable that the youngest has rich saffron-yellow ear coverts,
which are quite lost in the adult, and that the uniform rufous
back of the youngest gradually gets to a dense black by change
of pigment. The rachis as in @ is rufous, in 6 it shows a
narrow black line, in ¢ a broader one, in @ a much broader
one, while in e the rufous has almost been displaced by dense
black. In the moult following black feathers appear without
rufous.

The young of Glycyphila fulvifrons also displays a prominent
patch of yellow (throat). In this respect they stand as
remarkable cases.

The principal points of interest in these six male birds are :—

a (24/5/00). Fully-fledged nestling. Ear coverts rich yellow;
dull cinnamon pectoral band; under surface creamy-white, with
flush of pale yellow on upper throat; head, neck, and back
cinnamon-coloured, paler on the head; lores black ; upper tail
coverts white; all quills edged with brown. [Bill and tail
blackish-brown ; iris brown ; corner of mouth yellow ; legs and
feet dull blackish-brown. |]

6 (19/6/00). Young recently from nest. Very much as in a.
The pectoral band is partly black and partly brown. It shows
the first indication of the black breast-band.

c (25/7/00). Immature. Midway between 4 and /; yellow
ear coverts; black pectoral band; head, neck, and back
cinnamon-coloured, with numerous rufous feathers with black
midribs. The brown quills are being moulted in favour of
dense blackness. |

@ (9/1/00). Immature. This specimen approaches the
appearance of the adult. A faint wash of yellow appears upon
the éar coverts, and some black feathers of the back edged with
rufous brown ; head and lores black, not contrasted rufous and
black as in previous stages; brown lateral edges to tail quills as
in a, b,c.

é (19/9/96). Immature. Ear coverts white as in adult, and
o'5 per cent. of the back feathers showing rufous edges ; lateral
edges to tail quills black as with other parts; tips of secondaries
creamy-white as in previous stages.

J Adult skin. Whole of upper surface varies, strongly
contrasted black and white, no cinnamon.

Two specimens of young females, appearing to be the age of
a, answer to the same description. Date, 25/7/co.

98 The Emu.

[There is here a eucalypt of low scrubby growth that is
honey-laden in the six weeks of its flowering season, It is
remarkable for the amount of sweets within the blooms. While
this species of bird is feasting continuously among the higher
branches the aborigines below are as continuously sucking the
flowers for the honey within. It sings well.]

15. MYZOMELA NIGRA (Gould), Black Honey-eater,

Myzomela nigra, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 66 (1848).
Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 138 (1884).

Adult male, 1/2/00; adult female, 25/3/00; and young,
19/1/00.

{It is strange no record (1900) has hitherto been made of the
finding of this species in the North-West, because it appears to
be very common. The Black Honey-eater perches on the top
of a blooming eucalypt, and judging by its motions one would
take it to be a fly-catcher fluttering after small native bees which
are being attracted by the honey-laden flowers. On opening the
stomachs of several I found them crammed with bees, while
.from each of others a spoonful of honey fell from the bird when
it was held downwards by the feet. |

16. PTILOTIS KEARTLANDI (North), Keartland Honey-eater.

Ptilotis keartlanai, North, Ibis (1895), p. 340; Report Horn Scient.
Exp. Cent. Aust., part 11.—Zoology, p. 93, pl. 6 (1896).
Seventeen specimens, showing six distinct stages in plumage
development, and in addition five prominent phases, are to
hand.

a. Nestling female, 23/5/00.

6. Nestling male, 24/6/00.

c. Nestling (no sex given), 28/7/00.
d. Well-developed nestling, 5/8/00.
e. Young male, 28/7/00.

jy. Young female, 2/2/00.

g. Young male, —/I1/o0o.

h. Young female, 1/2/00.

z. Young male, 11/4/00.

yj. Adult female, 17/2/00.

k. Adult male, 30/4/00.

In addition to the remarks supplied by Messrs. North and
Keartland in the Horn* and the Calvert} expedition reports, the
following may be added :—One adult (7) has a rich yellowish
throat, chest, and breast, with only an indistinct trace of lines
upon portions of them. They seem to have disappeared with
age; yet this specimen has the basal half of the lower mandible
pale yellow, with the distal portion nutty-brown, as on the

* Horn Exp. Cent. Aust., 1896, part 11.—Zoology, p. 93.
+ Trans. Roy. Soc. South Aust., vol. xxii., pl., part ii., p. 148.

The Emu. 99

upper mandible. Certain of the tail feathers are also much
decomposed, while others are quite new, which shows a moult
of a bird lately incubating. a@ to e (inclusive) are nestlings
with pale yellowish-brown bills and bright yellow gapes; / and
g have the basal half of the lower mandible pale yellowish-
brown ; remainder black.

The breast of the youngest bird (a) is deep lemon-yellow,
while the breasts of nine others (all except one), including an
adult, are very pale yellow in comparison. The whole under
surfaces of the youngest five birds are mealy in appearance.
The foreheads and crowns of all but 7 and & (adults) are
greenish-yellow, and the upper surfaces of all but 7 and & are
greyer in appearance.

a.—Wing, 2.25 inches. [Irides light blue-grey ; cutting edge
of bill and basal portion yellowish, distal portion brown; legs
and feet fleshy-grey. |

c—Wing, 2.6 inches. [Irides grey; basal part of bill
yellowish, distal part brown ; feet and legs fleshy-grey.]

e-—Wing, 3 inches. [Bill nutty-brown, yellowish at proximal
parts ; feet and legs leaden grey. |

The dates of skins show a wide range in the breeding season
of the species.

A clutch of two eggs collected on 4th June, 1900, were zoned
and spotted, one to a considerable extent, the broader end being
salmon-coloured while the smaller was flesh colour.

| This is one of the most plentiful of Honey-eaters here. They
are everywhere. A while ago (prior to 8/2/00) they were feeding
upon the mistletoe blossoms, which grow plentifully in a small
wattle, but they deserted as soon as the eucalypts came into
bloom. On 24/7/00 three nests were found in wattle trees, close
together, and all in similar positions—a slender, horizontal fork.
A clutch of two eggs I found on 4/6/00. On 29/11/99 I saw
a very large number of this species. A well was being cleaned,
but only this bird seemed to drink. It was very tame. While
standing quietly on the brace-head of the well one alighted
upon my hat, and another upon one of my boots. Soon after
this I saw as many as fifteen upon the rim of the bucket, and
several more hovering over their heads, impatiently waiting

their opportunity. I longed for a camera and the knowledge
to work it.]

17. PTILOTIS LEILAVALENSIS (North), Lesser White-plumed
Honey-eater.
Ptilotis cartert, Campbell, Vict. Nat., vol. xvi., p. 3 (1899).

Ptilotis letlavalensis, North, Rec. Aust. Mus., vol. iii., No. 5, p. 106
(1899).

Adult male and female, 27/1/ot1.
Immature male, 26/1/or.

The adult female and immature male are moulting. The

100 . The - “Ria

adult male has concluded its moult. With the female the two
centre tail quills are about two-thirds grown, while the others
appear full grown.

In the tail of the immature male there are two ages in quills
of the full length, one being dull nutty-brown, the other half
being yellowish. Both are very much mutilated. However, the
yellowish set is the new one, because there is a single half-
grown quill, fresh and yellowish. The bill of the immature
specimen is pale brown on the proximal half and deep brown
on the distal half. There is a tendency withal to have a
brown line at the base of the white patch near the ear coverts,
not separating the white from the auricular patch, but with an
inclination to do so.

18. PTILOTIS SONORA (Gould), Singing Honey-eater.
Ptilotts sonorus, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., p. 33 (1848).
Ptilotis sonora, Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 234 (1884).

a. Adult male, 3/3/00.
6, c. Adult females, 2/2/00 and 2/3/00.
d, e. Young males, 26/3/o1.

[Here this is a very shy bird, flying away rapidly when
approached, and being difficult to get near. It is generally seen
in low scrubby bushes. ]

19. PTILOTIS UNICOLOR (Gould), White-gaped Honey-eater.

Pittlotis unicolor, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1842), p. 136, zd@.; Birds
Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 46 (1848) ; Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus.,
vol. ix., p. 249 (1884).
a, 6. Adult males, 27/2/00 and 9/3/qQ0.
c. Young, unsexed, 10/12/99.

| My experience with this bird is to find it never away from
the thick scrub along the Fitzroy River. It is very quiet, so
much so that I have never heard its note. It is very fond of the
small fruit of the native fig (6/12/00). On 20th September I
saw the young of this species. It is very unusual to see the
young of Honey-eaters at this time of the year, as it is usual for
them to breed in the heavy tropical rains. Where I saw these
birds a heavy storm had recently occurred, and possibly that
accounts for the diversion. |

20. PTILOTIS FLAVESCENS (Gould), Yellow-tinted Honey-eater.

Ptilotis flavescens, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 41 (1848) ;
Gadow, Cat. Birds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 245 (1884).
Nine skins, including four males and five females, of which one
is a nestling and two are young.
The young are dated 2/2/00 and 20/5/00, and the nestling
1/6/o1. While the back of one of the young is in agreement with
Mr. North’s diagnosis—“ Young birds have the upper surface

The Emu. 101

paler than the adults ’’—I find the back of another is darker.
The basal half of the bill of this latter specimen is dirty yellow.

The adults are dated 14/4/00 and 15/5/o0.

Nestling Female.—This bears a general likeness to the adult,
excepting the black line separating the ear coverts from the
yellow patch beneath, which is brown. The head is quite as
bright a yellow as with many of the adults, but in no case is the
yellow patch beneath the ear-coverts so clear and strong. [Bill
rich brownish-yellow; operculum and tip brown; irides brownish ;
feet and legs fleshy-grey. |

New nest and eggs described Vzct. Nat. vol. xviii. No. 2
(1901).

[About food, the remarks applied to P. keartlandz, North, apply
also to this species. |

21. MELITHREPTUS ALBIGULARIS, Gould (sub.-sp. of JZ. lunu-
latus, Shaw), White-throated Honey-eater.
Melithrepius albigularis, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 74
(1848) ; Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 1x., p. 205 (1884).
a, 6. Adult males, 26/8/00.
c. Immature female, 27/8/00.

In a the tail quills are moulting ; forehead and crown black,
mixed with grey feathers. [Skin over eye whitish; irides
yellowish-red.]|_| Wing 2.5 inches.

In c the forehead and crown are black, irregularly marked with
grey. In other respects it agrees with the adults.

22. MELITHREPTUS LTIOR (Gould), Golden-backed Honey-
eater.
Melithreptus letior, Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 4th Series,
vol. xvi., pl. 287 (1875); za, Birds New Guinea, fol., vol. iii.,
pl. 40 (1875-88).
Four skins received—

a. Adult male, 25/3/00. Under-surface greyish to creamy
white. [Irides reddish-brown ; legs and feet brownish-
yellow ; bare patch over eye greenish-yellow. |

6. Adult male, 26/8/00. Similar to a, with the lemon-
yellow well developed, and under surface pale
brownish-grey, tending to creamy-white.

c. Adult female, 25/3/00. Lower portion of the under
surface almost pure white, contrasting with specimen 0.
Rich lemon-yellow and soft parts as with a.

d. Young male, 26/2/o0o. [Bill black; basal portion of
lower mandible yellow; legs and feet yellow, the soles
being bright orange-yellow.] Lower portion of under
surface almost white, as in the adult c. This indicates
the under surface may be whitish, or very similar to
M. gularis, Gould, if not the same.

[For the first time (4/3/00) I have seen this species in large

102 ‘The “Eimwe,

numbers—generally in pairs before. While visiting a gorge in
the Grant Range I found them in nearly every tree in bloom.
Being shy, and flying continuously from tree to tree, I had
difficulty in securing the skins for identification. In the trees
the yellow back is not so conspicuous as one is led to believe
by handling askin. The only note I heard was a short, rather
musical one, with a strange grating sound through it.|

23. GLYCYPHILA ALBIFRONS (Gould), White-fronted Honey-
eater.
Glycyphila albifrons, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 29 (1848) ;
Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 211 (1884
a, 6, Adult males, 11/2/00.
¢. Adultfemale, 11/Zjoe:

[The stomach of 4 was full of very small beetles (12/2/00).
When shot a considerable quantity of honey came out. |

This tends to show the species is an insect-eater as well as a
honey-eater, which is so with other members of the We/:phagide.

23A. GLYCYPHILA OCULARIS (Gould), Brown Honey-eater.
Glycyphila ocularis, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 31 (1848) ;
Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 213 (1884).

Eight skins to hand—four males and four females, only two
being fully adult. One is bleached and olive-brown. Dates of
collection—26/1/o1, 4/3/00, 14/5/00, 15/7/00.

[The notes are musical. One bird came to a bush near my
camp (4/2/00), and sang at intervals for a few minutes. |

24. ENTOMOPHILA LEUCOMELAS (Cuvier), Pied Honey-eater.
Melicophi/a picata, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 49 (1848).
Entomothila leucomelas, Gadow, Brit. Mus. Cat. Birds, vol. ix., p. 220

(1884).
Three adult males, 27/12/00, 17/2/00, 22/2/00.
One adult female, 17/2/00.

[When disturbed in a tree, a flock will rise to a great height
in the air, and then fall suddenly into another tree a few
hundred yards away. They are very shy. Just now (28/2/00),
there are large flocks of this bird flying at times in a circular
way high in the air.]

25. ENTOMOPHILA RUFIGULARIS (Gould), Red-throated Honey-
eater.
Entomophila rufigularis, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 52 (1848).
Entomophila rufigularts, Gadow, Cat. Birds’ Brit. Mus., vol. 1x.,
pl. 219 (1884).
a. Adult male, 23/10/o1.
a. Adult male, 31/1/01.
6. Adult female, 24/10/o1.
c. No sex marked, 11/10/O1.
d, Fledgling.
e. Immature female, 28/3/00.

‘

The Emu. 103

The red marking of the throat showing only ina. On the
female (0) there is slight indication of it. This is also onc. No
appearance of red on the throat of e.

Description of Fledgling.—It is about two days since it left
the nest. The throat and whole of the under surface are much
lighter (greyish-white) than in the adult, and without any sign
of the throat colour. Around the eye there is a narrow ring of
white feathers. The wing quills are strongly edged with wax-
yellow, as in adult; tail short ; wing 1.9 inches.

Mr. Rogers writes about seeing one bird with rufous on sides
of chest instead of on the throat.

[The present species is often seen feeding within the long
grasses. It chases flies and small beetles, occasionally darting
straight into the air and promptly across to its perch.] This is
a habit common amongst Southern Honey-eaters (Meliphagide).

Two eggs received are dated 2/3/o1.

27. MANORHINA LUTEA, Gould (sub-sp. of MW. flavigula,
Gould), Yellow Miner.
Myzantha lutea, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 78 (1848).
Manorhina lutea, Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 262
(1884).
Eight skins received as follows :—
a. Adult male, 4/1/00 ; wing, 4.7 inches.
6. Adult male, 17/11/o1 ; wing, 4.9 inches.
c. Adult male, 9/3/OI ; wing, 5.05 inches.
d. Adult male, 10/11/oI ; wing, 5.15 inches.
e. Adult male, 9/3/o1 ; wing, 5.4 inches.
f. Adult female (?), 10/11/o1 ; wing, 4.6 inches.
g. Adult female, 11/11/o1; wing, 4.85 inches.
h. Adult female, 11/11/O1 ; wing, 5.3 inches.

The length of wing shows these specimens to be J. flavigula
rather than the sub-species of it. The citron-yellow is, however,
indicative of JZ. lutea.

New nest and eggs were described in the V2zctorzan
Naturalzst, vol. xviii., No. 2, p. 32 (1901).

[On 30th August, 1900, a nest containing two hard-set eggs
was found. The nest was 20 feet from the ground, neatly
made, and bound to the horizontal fork with silky vegetable
material. |

28. PHILEMON CITREOGULARIS (Gould), Yellow-throated Friar

Bird.

Tropidorhynchus citreogularis, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 60
(1848).

Philemon citreogularis, Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 277
(1884).

The youngest bird shows only a faint trace of yellow upon the
neck, and that upon the throat. <A bird of the same sex and

104 The Emu.

age shows a conspicuous marking of yellow upon the throat and
the sides of the neck. One still older (c), and, in addition, a fully
adult specimen (d@), show no yellow. This makes the species
dichromatic.

a. Young male, recently out of nest, 1st February, 1900.
Similar in general appearance to the adult. Whole of body
plumage except quills, wing-coverts, and head soft and loose,
owing to absence of hooklets ; tail quills tipped with sandy-buff
and darker than the upper tail coverts, inner webs of secondaries
sandy-buff ; throat feathers silvery-white ; wing, 4.75 inches ;
culmen, 1 inch. [Irides dark brown; legs and feet dull bluish-
grey.]| Wing coverts edged with sandy-buff.

c. Young female, 31st January, 1900. The like plumage to a
has been moulted, and the plumage is now of true feathers. The
only trace of yellow is in a solitary feather on the right side of
the neck ; chest feathers have white tips, the white contracting
as it goes down the rachis; under tail coverts brownish along
the centres ; inner webs of secondaries pale fleshy-grey ; throat
feathers silvery-white ; wing coverts uniform with back ; tips of
tail quills creamy-white ; bill and bare patch round eye black;
cheek, below eye, blue-black. [Irides brown ; legs and feet
greyish-brown.] Wing, 4.9 inches ; culmen, 1.2 inches.

6. Immature male, 20th January, 1900. The conspicuous
difference between this and a is the prominent patch of yellow
on the throat and sides of neck, and broad white edging of many
of the mantle feathers and narrow border upon others as low as
the rump; the outer edges of the secondaries are dull yellowish-
green. Wing, 4.85 inches ; culmen, 1.1 inches.

d. Adult male, 31/1/oo. No trace of yellow in plumage; tips
of tail uniform with the brown of quills; ‘chest feathers much
frilled; throat feathers moulting; wing, 5.25 inches; culmen,
1.35 inches.

[In the early morning (July) a large number of this species
gather in a huge “boab” tree in front of the house I am staying |
at and hold a “ corroboree.” One seems to lead, and the rest
join in the chorus. After the song they fly to a second tree and
repeat the performance, keeping it going for about an hour.
After this they leave for their feeding grounds, at present in the
blossoming bauhinia trees.

On 31st January I found a nest with three eggs instead of
two, the usual clutch, as well as I know. ]

29. PSEUDOGERYGONE CULICIVORA (Gould), Western Fly-eater.

Gerygone culicivora, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., pl. 99 (1848) ;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 220 (1879).

a. Adult male, 29/8/o0.
6. Young (sex not marked), 29/8/00.

Description of Young.—The tail early serves as an index to
the species. It is a miniature. Around the eye is a tawny

The Emu. 105

tinge, and along the outer borders of the primaries, secondaries,
and coverts is the same, particularly well exhibited in the
secondaries ; head and neck grey ; back and rump ruddy brown,
as in adult; under surface white; wing, 1.5 inches. [Bill light
brown ; irides brown ; legs and feet bluish-grey. |

[The nesting appears to take place among the mangroves.
I have found three clutches of two and three eggs—a, 18/3/01 ;
4, 20/3/01 ; c, 21/3/01. @ was taken in the top of a mangrove
shrub two feet from the ground, 4 and ¢ three feet from the
ground. In 4 were two eggs of the Fly-eater and two of the
Bronze Cuckoo. In such a nest there would not have been any
room for two Cuckoos in a full-grown nestling stage. In a
fourth nest I found a dried-up dead bird sitting on a clutch of
three eggs. One was slightly cracked, and upon breaking this
I found, much to my surprise, a living young bird in it. This
shows one how the nests in this hot place are natural incubators
in many cases. The bird had been dead for some days. The
nest had been knocked about in a gale a few days ago, and the
rain had beaten it about. In this nest was a Bronze Cuckoo’s
egg. |
30. PSEUDOGERYGONE TENEBROSA (Hall), Dusky Fly-eater.

et tenebrosa, Hall, Vict. Nat., vol. xvil., No. 5, p. 78
I9O1).

a. Adult male, 19/6/00.

6. Adult male, 3/g9/o1.

c. Adult female, 3/9/or.

a. Adult skin (sex ?), 1/g/ol.

é., f. Adult males, —/g/o1.

¢ specimen has its head and throat faintly flushed with pale
tawny colour of the under surface, and even more noticeable. »

31. GERYGONE ALBIGULARIS (Gould), White-throated Fly-
eater,

Gerygone albogularis, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., p. 79 (1848).
Gerygone albiyularis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 212
(1879).
Two skins—one an adult male, the other unsexed—dated
13th and 26th August, 1900.

32. SMICRORNIS FLAVESCENS (Gould), Yellow-tinted Tree-Tit.

Smicrornis flavescens, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., pl. 104 (1848) ;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 210 (1879).

One adult male (23/2/00) and one young female (11/2/01).

The difference is slight, though the young may in this case be
identified by its paler yellow under surface. [lIrides and corner
of mouth white ; bill brown, having cutting edge of upper and
all lower mandible grey ; legs and feet dull pale brown.| Lores

creamy; primaries edged with white along the distal outer
webs, .

106 The Emu.

[This species is usually to be seen feeding amongst the leaves
of box saplings. On the Lower Livuringa station it is plentiful.]

33. PTEROPODOCYS PHASIANELLA (Gould), Ground Cuckoo-
Shrike.
Pterypodocys phastanella, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., p. 59 (1848) ;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 22 (1879).

Three specimens, two males and one female, all of which
appear to have taken part in incubation.

a. Adult male, 8/4/00. Primaries and coverts nutty-brown ;
secondaries slaty-blue, two being tipped with white; middle
quills of tail tipped white.

6. Adult male, 5/2/00. Primaries, their coverts, secondaries
and coverts slaty-blue ; no white tips to wings or tail.

c. Adult female 8/4/00. Wings as with a.

[Very shy. In July I saw several fly high from the timber of
the hills at Livuringa station a considerable distance over the
plain, and return direct to the place they left in the hills.]
Why?

34. GRAUCALUS MELANOPS (Latham), Black-faced Cuckoo-
Shrike.
Graucalus melanops, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., pl. 55 (1848) ;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., pp. 30, 469 (1879).

One male skin, dated 20/3/01, shows the throat in moult.
The grey feathers have nearly all fallen, while a few of the
blacks are still bursting.

[Eggs were collected on 26/11/99 and 31/12/00. ]

35. ORIOLUS AFFINIS (Gould), Northern Oriole.
Oriolus affinzs, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iii., p. 188 (1887).

Three skins, two adult males and one immature female.

a. Adult male, 23/10/o1. Upper surface yellowish-green ;
centre of feathers dark brown.

6. Adult male, 14/10/o1. Similar to a.

c. Immature female, 14/10/o1. The upper surface is grey
with brown markings, a flush only of green appearing on the
upper tail coverts, rump, and crown; wing coverts broadly
edged with pale rufous-brown; under wing coverts bright
rufous, but broader than in adult. [Irides reddish-brown ; bill,
culmen brown, balance fleshy-grey ; feet and legs leaden grey. |

36. COLLYRIOCINCLA PALLIDIROSTRIS (Sharpe), Pale-headed

Shrike-Thrush.
Collyriocincla palliatrostris, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ii1.,

p- 293 (1877).

Juvenile male, 9/4/00.
This specimen I mark as a young male. It shows a distinct
pale rufous eyebrow, and a fawn-white spot before the eye. The
circlet of feathers around the eye is pale rufous like the eye-

The Emu. 107

brow, which is white in the specimen described by Dr. Sharpe.
In general appearance it is quite at variance with an adult of C.
brunnea, Gould. The throat and chest are streaked; under tail
coverts creamy-white; culmen, 0.85 inch; wing, 4.75 inches.
[Bill pale grey, upper mandible slightly darker at tip ; legs and
feet bluish-grey ; claws pale grey. |

37. COLLYRIOCINCLA BRUNNEA (Gould), Brown Shrike-Thrush.
Colluriocincla brunnea, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., pl. 76 (1848) ;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iii., p. 291 (1877) ; Ramsay,
Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. W., vol. ii1., 2nd Series, p. 167 (1887).
aand 6. Adult males, 14/10/01.
c. Adult male, 18/8/ol1.

a and 0 have the forehead clear grey ; ¢ ruddy brown, and
extending to nape, only partially covering the grey. In these
male skins there is no indication of a white or rufous eyebrow.
The range of colour in all is from pale grey to brownish-grey,
seeming to brown with age.

38. ANTHUS AUSTRALIS (Vigors and Horsfield), Pipit.

Anthus australis, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. i1., pl. 73 (1848) ;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. x., p. 615 (1885).

Two specimens of the brown variety are to hand, one of which
shows no rufous, while the second is faintly marked with tawny
in certain points.

Specimen a. Adult male, 29/8/00. Lores, eyebrows, and
under tail coverts creamy-white ; lower back and upper tail
coverts uniform dull brown.

Specimen 4. Sex not marked. Immature bird, 29/8/oo.
Lores, eyebrow, and under tail coverts pale rufous; lower back
feathers and upper tail coverts brown, edged with tawny; wing
quills and coverts slightly rufous-marked.

In writing of these as the brown variety, I do so as a distinguish-
ing mark, because of the intensely rufous phase (of which I have
skins) in a more southern part of Western Australia. The
“brown” may reproduce a brown or a parti-coloured rufous
bird, as in Victoria. Judging by specimens collected in Western
Australia by the writer, the rufous bird may reproduce a much
paler and greyer brown bird than itself. Still, one meets many
rufous birds, parents and young, and many greyish-brown birds,
parents and young, and they may be broadly spoken of as the
“ Rufous ” and the “ Brown” varieties. Naturally the former is
more a desert form.

[Of the Pipit I see very little. I sawa pair at the Breakaway
and another near Derby, 1/12/00. ]

39. MIRAFRA SECUNDA (Sharpe), Lesser Bush-Lark.

Mirafra secunda, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 603
(1890).

108 . The-Bark

Eight skins, including five females and three males.

The Bush-Larks are difficult to determine, because they have
the same tendency to become more or less rufous* as with other
desert forms, ¢.g., Authus. In proportions they vary also. The
above skins answer more closely to Dr. Sharpe’s JV. secunda than
to any other, allowing an intensity of rufous to some and a pale
tawny shade to others. The eyebrow varies to the same extent.
That an allowance must be made for the varying intensity of the
rufous colouring of the species is quite evident to me, as young
and old of same dates bear a similar wash upon them. The
general tendency is to become more deeply rufescent with age.
This can be noted while comparing skins a, 4, c,d, and e. With
increasing age the blackish-brown centres on the chest feathers
disappear, leaving a uniformly rufous-marked or pale tawny-
white chest, as the bird may be of the rufous or pale-brown
variety. Specimen g, with a white throat, has a paler mesial
line above the eye than any others, which are clearly rufous.

The tarsi in the following specimens are 0.9 inches in each
case.

a. Immature female, 24/7/00. Concluding its moult of the
tail quills.

6. Immature female, 24/7/00. The forehead and crown are
blackish, with very narrow tawny edges to the feathers ; sides
of face faintly rufous. This specimen, which appears to be an
immature bird by comparison alone, answers to Dr. Sharpe’s
original description more than any other of my specimens.

c. Adult male, 24/7/00., Forehead and crown rufescent, with
blackish lines to the feathers; sides of face much more rufous
than in 6. The whole of the bird distinctly marked with rufous.

a. Adult female, 18/8/00. Slightly smaller than c.

e. Adult female, 26/2/00. Rufous is upon every portion of
this bird, the mandibles and outer tail quills included.

g. Adult male, 24/6/00.

In the above specimens the shoulder and wing coverts are
more strongly rufous-marked than any other portions of the
species.

Subsequent to writing the above I have had the opportunity
of examining the skins in the Australian Museum. Mr. North
showed me specimens which I make connecting links between
this species and J. woodward, Milligan—in parts deeply rufous.
M. horsfieldi has been collected on the Fitzroy River—Calvert
Exp. Rep., Roy. Soc. S. Aust., xxii. pt. i1, p. 141 (1898).

Desert forms, I find, have a wide range of variation in colour
from brown to deep uniform rufous,

It appears to me that the birds in North-Western Australia
are as a whole rufous, while the birds in the south-east of
Australia are as a whole brown to greyish-brown. Connecting

* «“TDarwinism.” A. R. Wallace, p. 192 (1889).

The Emu. 109

these two are many specimens broadly distributed, and with a
wide range of rufous, more or less.

[The males are now (20/1/O1) very animated. They are
mating, and the feathers on the crown are raised. To-day
(14/12/00) was dull and cloudy, with a cool breeze blowing,
consequently the birds sang all day. Usually they stop for an
hour or two in the hottest part of the day. One I noticed
(26/2/00) was singing in the air, and continued to do so for ten
minutes while I was timing it. The river flats seem to be their
home, and, unless by reason of a flood, I doubt if ever they leave
them. I have never seen one settle upon a tree.

During the evening of 7/12/00 a heavy gale was blowing. I
was returning from the day’s work. The natives in my charge
were walking to windward and flushing large numbers (scores)
of these birds. They were driven before the wind like acloud of
dry leaves, keeping close to the ground. Every now and again
a bird would face the wind, only to shoot 2 to 3 yards into the
air and be blown away further. In a few moments hundreds of
this species must have passed me. The song is better sustained
in the morning than in the evening. So far I have not heard
them sing at night. |

The nest and eggs, not yet described under the name
M. secunda, are practically the same as those described by the
writer last year in the Vzctorzan Naturalist under the name
M. woodward:. Both birds, answering to each species as de-
scribed, have been received from Derby. The specimens of
M. woodwardz, Mill., described are more rufous than those of
M. secunda described by Dr. R. B. Sharpe, but it appears to me
that YW. woodwardi and M. secunda are the desert forms of
M. horsfieldz, Gould—in other words, the “ rufous ” variety—while
the Eastern Australian bird is the “brown” variety. The
intermediate varieties hold an arbitrary position.

40. CINCLORHAMPHUS RUFESCENS (Vigors and Horsfield),
Rufous Song-Lark.
Cincloramphus rufescens, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. i11., pl. 76 (1848) ;
Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii, p. 500 (1883).
Ptenedus rufescens, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. i., 2nd
series, p. 1,090 (1886).

One adult female, 7/4/00.

[It appeals to me as being a very rare bird. The only one
seen rose from the ground and alighted a few yards away in some
spinifex. Then, when I turned it out, it flew a few yards further
into a small tree and hid among the leaves. ]

41. CINCLORHAMPHUS CRURALIs (Vigors and Horsfield), Brown
Song- Lark.

Cincloramphus canttllans, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. ii., pl. 75
(1848).

Cincloramphus cruralis, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iii., pl. 74
(1848) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii., p. 498 (1883).

LIO The Emu:

One male skin, 13/1/oT.

It appears to be an immature bird in moulting plumage,
without more than a trace of an abdominal patch. The fore-
head and crown are almost uniform rufous, while the nape is
rufous with some of the feathers faintly margined with a pale
brown. There is no white upon this specimen, rufous taking
its place. Here, again, is an example showing the extent in one
direction of the remarkable range from greyish-brown to rufous
that our ground birds, IZzrafra, Anthus, and Cinclorhamphus, take
upon themselves. This may be called the “rufous” phase of the
species.

Soft parts of the above skin: [Irides light brown ; culmen and
tip of bill brown, the cutting edge upper and all lower mandible
grey ; feet and legs greyish. |

[Common at Breakaway ; rare at Livuringa.]

42. EREMIORNIS CARTERI (North), Carter Desert Bird.
Evremiornts carteri, North, Vict. Nat., vol. xvii., No. 4, p. 78 (1900).
One adult male, 19/12/00.

[This is a rare species. I secured the specimen in the spinifex,
where it was hiding very close. When flying it carried the tail
widely spread. ]

43. CHALCOCOCCYX BASALIS (Horsfield), Narrow-billed Bronze
Cuckoo.

Chrysococcyx luctdus, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 89, part
upp. fig., ad. lower fig., juv. (1848).
Chalcococcyx basalts (Shelley), Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 294
(1891).
a. Adult male, 23/7/o1.
6. Adult male, 6/9/o1.
c. Young male, 22/3/o1.
d. Adult female, 22/2/o0.

There is a great difference between the adult males a and 0.
The young bird, c, shows a strongly marked rufous tail; there
are no marks or bars upon its under surface.

a. Whole under surface almost white, with narrow bars ;
forehead lead colour ; crown and nape bronzy ; subterminal dark
band on tail.

6. Whole under surface flushed with rufous, with broad bars,
and disappearing upon the throat; forehead, crown, and hind
neck uniform dull ruddy brown.

The latter specimen has its plumage abraded, and has been
longer subjected to weather influences than specimen a.

Mr. Rogers discovered an egg of this species in the nest of
Malurus dorsalis, a probable new foster parent, 7/1/00.

The Emu. III

44. CUCULUS PALLIDUS (Latham), Pallid Cuckoo.
Cuculus inornatus, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 85 (1848).
Cuculus pallidus, Shelley, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 261
(1891).
Two skins received—one an adult male dated 25/3/00, and the

second an immature female, showing many chestnut markings,
and dated 16/3/00.

45. CACOMANTIS VARIOLOSUS (Horsfield), Square-tailed Cuckoo.
Cuculus tymbonomus, Mill., Rams., P.L.S. N.S.W., vii., p. 21 (1881).
Cuculus dumetorum, Gould, Birds Aust., vol. iv., in text, pl. 87 (1848).
Cacomantis variolosus, Shelley, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 272

(1891).
a, 6. Immature males, 13/4/00.
c. Adult male, —/1/oo.

In a and 6 the white tooth markings are slightly rufescent,
and the under wing coverts, with much of the under surface,
especially the chest, is marked by pale violet transverse bars.
The bars of a are less distinct than those of 4. The forehead
feathers are moulting in both specimens and new ones are appear-
ing on the neck. c does not show rufous upon the tail nor bars
upon the under surface. The peculiar tawny colour of the
under surface of a and @ is absent on the throat of c, and feebly
represented on the lower parts. The wing coverts are also with-
out the bronzy rufous of those of @ and 6 The stripes on
feathers are white, while in a and @ they are flushed with tawny.
Under wing coverts almost uniform. With age the barring of
the young is lost.

[The habits of this species and the Black-eared are
similar. |

46. CACOMANTIS FLABELLIFORMIS (Latham), Fan-tailed
Cuckoo.
Cuculus cineraceus, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 86 (1848).
Cacomantis flabelliformis, Shelley, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix,,
p. 266 (1891).

One adult male, Jan., 1900.

Nearly all the colour has gone out of the plumage (much
abraded). Practically speaking, there is no blue, and the neck
and upper tail coverts are tending to grey. The tooth markings
of the centre tail feathers are worn away. The under surface
is very pale ferruginous. Length of wing, 5 inches.

47. MISOCALIUS PALLIOLATUS (Latham), Black-eared Cuckoo.
Chalcites osculans, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 88 (1848).

Misocalius palliolatus, Shelley, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 279
(1891).
Two adult males, 27/2/00 and 15/3/00.

I12 The Bmw

FUp to 27/2/00 I had seen only three specimens ; on 9/3/00
they were plentiful. |

48. CENTROPUS PHASIANUS (Latham), Spur-footed Cuckoo
(Coucal).
Centropus phastanus, Gould, Birds Aust., fol., vol. iv., pl. 92 (1848) ;
Shelley, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 340 (1891).
One skin, immature male, 16/10/oO1.

[I was told by my companion, Mr. Douglas, of a set of eggs
he found. He blew out the contents of all but one, which he
had hurriedly to leave and put aside in wadding. This he
forgot, and returning to the place in his tent some days hence
he found the heat had artificially hatched a young cuckoo, so
even and humid had been the atmosphere. It was dead.]

My Tame Wild Birds.
By (Mrs.) K. LANGLOH PARKER, WALGETT, N.S.W.

SURELY one of the most charming of holy men was the
sublimely simple Saint Francis. According to legend, he
preached to his “little sisters the birds,” who, recognizing him
as a brother, flew round him, remaining quiet until his sermon
was finished, nor would they depart “until he had given them
his blessing.” The sermon, they listened so attentively to, was
as follows :-—

“ My little sisters the birds, much bounden are ye unto God,:
your Creator, and always in every place ought ye to praise
Him, for that He hath given you liberty to fly about everywhere,
and hath also given you double and triple raiment ; moreover,
He preserved your seed in the Ark of Noah, that your race
might not perish out of the world; still more are ye beholden
to Him for the element of the air which he hath appointed for
you. Beyond all this, ye sow not, neither do you reap; and
God feedeth you, and giveth you the streams and fountains
for your drink; the mountains and the valleys for your refuge,
and the high trees whereon to make your nests ; and because
ye know not how to spin or sew, God clotheth you, you and
your children; wherefore your Creator loveth you much, seeing
that He hath bestowed on you somany benefits ; and, therefore,
my little sisters, beware of the sin of ingratitude, and study
always to give praises unto God.”

In “The Little Flowers of Saint Francis” it is further
recorded :—“ When, as Saint Francis spake these words to them,
those birds began, all of them, to open their beaks, and stretch
their necks, and spread their wings, and reverently bend their
heads down to the ground, and by their acts and by their songs
to show that the holy father gave them joy exceeding great.

The Emu. 113

And Saint Francis rejoiced with them, and was glad, and
marvelled much at so great a company of birds and their most
beautiful diversity, and their good heed and sweet friendliness,
for which cause he devoutly praised their Creator in them.”
There is natural history in the old legend as well as the human
lesson that love casts out fear. The birds to-day, as in the time of
the good Saint Francis, quickly recognize their friends.

I would that a modern Saint Francis would preach to his big
sisters the women, “charming” them to desist from the
encouragement of bird slaughter for decorative purposes. The
savage dies hard in us all, but surely we might for our
corroborees content ourselves with such feathers as are plucked
from the birds slain for food, and those that the Ostrich
industry provides.

It is not that we do not care when we realize our cruelties,
but that we are careless with regard to realization, like the
woman who reproved a little boy for robbing birds’ nests, while
trimming her own hat was a whole bird of the species which
had laid the eggs. But my brief is not for women, but for birds.
No need for caged birds in the bush, it seems to me. And,
looked at from the modern utilitarian standard, how much more
useful the insect-devouring birds are at large, saving our gardens
and our grass from many a plague, helping, too, to keep under
the weeds by eating their seeds.

My tame wild birds are uncaught, uncaged, though they own
me as their “ lady,’ in one of the old senses of the word—a
breaker of bread. Every morning after breakfast finds me on
the front verandah, facing a low, spreading tamarisk, which
waves its feathery branches, just now pink-tipped with budding
flowers, in defiance of the many droughts. There I stand crumb-
ling the bread I hold, as I whistle my bird call.

Sith, shish, shirr! there they.are. First the ‘“ Gidgeeais,”’ as
the darkies call them, but variously known as “ The Happy
Family,’ “The Twelve Apostles,” and “ Seven Sisters.” Such
a noisy, self-assertive crowd. Very homespun-looking birds,
dim grey, with light-brown touches on the wings, boot-button
eyes, and raucous voices which, as they are always in flocks, are
rather deafening. My particular flock numbers twelve usually,
though just now they are only coming intermittingly, a few at a
time, the rest guarding their mud tree-nests.

The tamarisk is a sort of green-room where the bird troupes
preen their plumage between the acts. First of all they fly on
to the stage—a gravelled pathway under the verandah porch,
where are flower-pot saucers of water. There they peck away at
the dry crumbs, or the soaking crusts, or, if grass-seed is scarce,
the oats I scatter. No patent sheller is in it for rapidity with
the ‘‘Gidgeeais” at husking the grain. Presently such a noise—
““Gidgee-oi-ee! gidgee-oi-ee!” and a frou-frou flight to the
green-room as a couple of cats steal up, hoping to surprise their

114 The Emu.

prey ; but the “ Gidgeeais” always have a scout on the look-out,
who gives the alarm.

Having proved that a woman can throw a stone with an
accuracy denied her, and so cleared the scene of cats, once more
sith, shish, shirring back come the “ Gidgeeais,” fearless as to me,
quite seeming to know how strong a bond of sympathy exists
between us by reason of our hatred of cats. Peck, peck again
at the crumbs, peck at the sop soup; a drink, and a tilt back of
the head, for physiological, not psychical, reasons. Then off they
zo to perch themselves on the green-room rustic seats, where
they nestle together, rearrange their own and each other’s
feathers, kiss one another “ bye-bye,’ and seemingly doze off.

In the meantime, with his head on one side, to the stage hops
“Curreequinquin,” the drab Butcher Bird. After an inquisitive
look round, he pecks a few crumbs, takes a piece of bread, and
flies to the ridge-pole of the porch, finishes his bread, lilts a
few notes of his sweet lay, then sights some insect on the flower
border. A sudden dart at it—if a worm it is swallowed holus
bolus ; if a grasshopper, first dissected in a professional butcher
fashion. Back to the ridge pole, where the interrupted song is
continued until “ Booboorboo,” the black and white (Black-
throated) Butcher Bird, comes to the café chantant. “ Curree-
quinquin” eyes him as a rival, and has his glance returned in
kind ; but, aggressive as such glances appear, they do not lead
to combat, though down flies “ Curreequinquin ’—not to fight,
but to feed again, and both peck away.

These feathered songsters have evidently not to consider
their diet before singing, for, almost directly after their mixed
meal of insects and crumbs is over, a sort of Orpheus versus
Marsyas contest begins. One flies on to a near bead tree, just
budding into leaf; the other on to the ridge-pole of the porch,
where the snail-flower used to twine, with the Gloire de Dijon,
before the drought fiend claimed them, with so much else, till

“ All forget that this waste was garden ;
But I, waste place, I do not forget ! ”

There the two start singing, a few notes at a time, first singly,
then a sort of canon, until in a rippling burst of melody Orpheus,
the drab bird, improvises beyond the ken of Marsyas, who,
feeling himself defeated, wings his way to the bush, to seek
comfort, perhaps, from his mate at home. Orpheus never heeds
his departure, but sings on with such a joze de vivre that it
communicates itself to all who hear that bubbling stream of
melody.

Miau! meow! miau! What, acat again? No, “ Weedah,”
the Spotted Bower Bird, whose voice anyone might well mis-
take for that of acat, it is at times so exactly like, though not,
I think, imitative, as I once fancied, but natural. “ Weedah”
jumps in a series of short jumps (all my birds have different

The Emu. 115

walks). He holds himself nearly as upright as a Penguin. He
looks warily round, then up he jumps to a water-dish and begins
his breakfast, but his eyes wandering everywhere, as much on
the alert as a blackfellow among strangers. ‘“ Weedah” is very
well dressed in dark brown feathers, spotted with light tan on
wings and back, a shaded grey breast, and a lovely pink-
heliotrope patch of colour at the back of his neck, a patch which
he can unfurl at times to look larger.

A little pecking and a few cat-calls then off he goes, but soon
returns with his mate, very like him but minus the heliotrope
patch. They do not stay long; she is shy; he takes her home
and returns himself, when he finds in possession three Magpies.
These are “ Moograbah,” the Black-backed Magpies. Such
impudent-looking birds, as they swagger along, heads on one
side or thrown back, with a cock-of-the-walk air, as, with rather
swinging long strides they come. into the foreground and try to -
clear the stage of all other birds. Sometimes they give no
warning of their coming, but swoop down like a hawk, establish-
ing a scare.

But the “ Gidgeeais ” (Apostle Birds) wake up, shriek on to
the scene, and refuse to be bluffed by the arrogant terrors of the
bush.

While they are engaged in sniping at each other the little
Crested Pigeons sith, sith, sith, as if they had silken wings,
down among the crumbs—first at the outside edge, then,
watching their chance, topknots erect like a_blackfellow’s
corroboree decoration, trot, trot, with quick short steps, some-
thing like a Chinaman’s when shouldering his baskets or
watering cans. Such trim little birds these—neat little heads,
pink-eyed, pink-toed, a pink flush on each side of their breasts,
toning exquisitely with their dove-grey plumage. As they
move, the sun catches the purple and green bronze tints on their
wings, giving them a metallic sheen. Very homespun and bull-
necked the “ Gidgeeais ” look beside them.

Most birds seem to peck quickly at their food, but the
“Goolahwilleel” or Crested Pigeon particularly so. At last a
sense of repletion comes over them, they start a soft cooing
“Ooh! ooh! ooh!” Their topknots lower from their fighting
altitudes, giving the birds quite a mild air for a few seconds,
when up they dart again, getting a forward incline while “ Ooh!
ooh! oohing!” The Pigeons spread out their white-tipped,
black-barred fan-tails, with the aplomb of a peacock, and play-
fully try to prod the objects of their attentions, as with a sort of
curtseying step they trot, trot after them, the pursued enjoying
the chase evidently, as they never attempt to fly away. When
tired of this coquetting they return to the crumbs, or perhaps to
drink, though at meal times the pigeons are not great drinkers,
drinking their fill regularly at early morn at the creek, flocking
to its edges sometimes in hundreds, and again when the sun

116 The Emu.

sinks in its golden haze to rest behind the grey coolabahs
(eucalypts).

Close to the tamarisk come the Rose-breasted Cockatoos
(Galahs), luckily too busy feeding to crack the air with their
harsh shrieks, which so discount their beauty. Then “Swit!
swit! geliebl! geliebl!” sounds as the spick and span little
“ Burrengeens”’ or Magpie Larks come along, late for break-
fast, as usual. All wild birds have a clean look, but black
and white ones especially so.

“ Moograbah” (a Magpie) sights the newcomers. Such a
chirping begins. From tree to tree the “Burrengeens” are
hunted, in spite of the protesting chorus. of the other birds, bar
the Pigeons, who take the opportunity to finish, unmolested, their
morning meal. There seems a regular vendetta between the
Magpies and Magpie Larks—perhaps the former resent the
latter imitating their dress so closely.

All of a sudden, as “a bolt from the blue,” comes “ Deereeree ”
(a Wagtail, or Black and White Fan-tail) to pounce at one Magpie,
while a yellow-billed Miner pursues another. A bird edition of
David and Goliath ; again the victory lies with David, and the
Magpie Larks are free to eat their crumbs and smoothe their
plumage, while their little defenders keep the pot-valiant Mag-
pies at bay. Even as his prototype David, so is “ Deereeree ”
(Fan-tail) a singer of sweet songs. All bushmen know his moon-
light serenade, “ Sweet pretty creature, sweet pretty creature!”
and all bushmen must often have seen these self-possessed little
birds wagging their little fan-tails as they hop from place to place
on the sheep’s backs, plucking scraps of wool to work into their
compact little nests—models of form and ingenuity. There
must be some element of truth in the darkie’s evolutionary
theory that many of the human race are descended from birds.
Having hunted ‘“Moograbah” (Magpie) off, “ Deereeree ”
comes for a drink, and “ Burrengeen” (Magpie Lark), regardless
of his obligations, pecks at him.

Listen ! a long-drawn-out “ Sw-e-e-t!” That is the note of the
“ Durrooee,” a little dark bird with a speckled head with a
peacock-blue shaded tuft on top. There she is on the bibbil
tree. In “ Durrooee,” the darkies say, is embodied some dead
woman’s spirit. Her cry is said to be the name of which-
ever woman her form embodies, but to me it seems always
just a plaintive “ Sw-e-e-t ! sw-e-e-t!”

What a chitter-chatter and a flitter-flutter as the “ Duddah-
loorahs” (Babblers) cluster on to the sweet-scented budtha
tree. They are somewhat larger than “Durrooee,’ dark
feathered but for whitish breasts, a white band across their
spread-out tails, and speckled heads, slightly crested ; always in
small flocks, like the Happy Family. Besides their usual chitter-
chatter they have a lovely drawn-out bar of music—‘ Whee-
poor-whee! whee-poor-whee !”

‘rhe - Emu. 117

Along the red-berried African box hedge, at first, but soon to
come closer, feed the Parrots ; just now some half-dozen “ Nun-
garas,’ or Mallee Parrots, are there—green, with a collarette
of whitish feathers, and a yellow bar across their breasts.

Such a noise again! The “Gidgeeais” (Apostles) are going,
beak and claw, for some interloper. No wonder the dowdy
things are jealous. The intruders are two “ Billai,” the most
gorgeous birds in our bush (Red-winged Lories)—such green !
such crimson! as vivid in contrast as the leaves of a Mexican
fire plant, which our little darkies always call the crimson-wing
plant.

When they are startled the Parrot cry is harsh, but in repose
their “Chickle, chuckle, click, click” mouth cries are rather
sweet.

There is the Bower Bird off again, I expect to his play-
eround. He has one in a clump of dheal trees not far from here.
It is made of two leaning walls of grass, tent topped and open at
each end for him to run backwards and forwards, playing with
his heaped-up pieces of glass, bones, and stones at each entrance.
The darkies say in the “ dark backward ” “ Weedah ” (Bower Bird)
was a great doctor, and these curios are his magic-working
charms.

All his skill seems to be expended on his playgrounds, his nest
being an insignificant affair, wherein he possibly shows his
wisdom, the insignificance of his nest probably helping to protect
his pretty mottled eggs from the observation of the egg-collecting
fiends.

There is always one or other of my birds twittering about.
The pretty little “ Whit Whits,’ with their dashes of red and
yellow on their drab plumage, build in the verandah creepers ; so
do the Whitethroats and Fan-tails. The yellow-billed Miners
come and go, all quiteat home. Looking through my window as
I write I see pecking away within a few yards of the front step
Galahs, Nungaras, Buln Bulns, Gidgeeais, Parrots, and Pigeons,
including Gooboothoo, the little Ground Doves, who, despite
their mild Quaker maid-like expression, are most quarrelsome.
I can hear the Butcher Birds whistling, and now for the greatest
treat of all—the Magpie is going to sing. His impudent air has
gone; he is just a troubadour of the bush with raisin-coloured
eyes, who, as his dulcet notes ring out, would sooth the weariest
prisoner to forget his woes.

Such songs must surely make for righteousness in a world
whose best soul tonic is joy.

That gush of joyous music calms us into a belief in halycon
days, and, as if to point the belief, on to a near trellis comes low-
flying Gougourgahgah, one of the Halcyonide.

Sweet the day may be, with its day’s eyes, as Chaucer called
them, winking at us from amongst the blue-flowered crowfoot
and scented herbage, but no longer calm. The quaint old

118 The Emu.

Laughing Jackass breaks suddenly forth from his solemnity
into a mad burst of merriment, with chortle after chortle of
“ Gou-gour-gah-gah ! gou-gour-gah-gah !”

Australian Birds at Sea.
By GEORGE CARRICK (s.s. Gulf of Genoa).

THE actual difficulties to be surmounted on ship-board during
the transit of birds from the Antipodes to Europe are many
and varied, and probably a rough sketch of the average trip
may be of interest to bird-lovers.

Having selected your stock and received the same on board,
all seems well while on the coast, with nice warm weather and
plenty of sunshine, but after leaving Adelaide and clearing
Kangaroo Island the land dips to the north-west, while the ship
keeps on her westerly course, and immediately plunges into the
Great Australian Bight, with its very changeable and boisterous
weather—the thermometer invariably dropping, often 15° to 20°
in one night. The sky becomes overcast, heavy weather sets
in, and the ship starts plunging and rolling heavily. The cages
and boxes are stacked away as snugly as possible, but always in
some corner where the only light they have is through a
10-inch or 12-inch porthole, which, with every other roll of the
ship, is under water. So little light penetrates the cage that
one is often glad when dusk sets in, and the electric light is
turned on to give the birds sufficient light to see their food.
Occasionally, too, to add to your difficulties and to the dis-
comfort of the birds, one of the boxes breaks adrift, and you
find it generally face down on the floor, with sand, seed, and
water in a pulp, sticking all over the cage, and sand tray at an
angle of 45° in the box. This state of affairs often lasts from
three to five days.

After rounding Cape Leeuwin you meet with more genial
weather, and have the stock removed to some sheltered spot, as
near the open as possible, as it is yet too cold to take them
right out on the deck, especially Gouldian Finches, which, when
freshly caged, I find the most sensitive to cold. They will
rarely stand a less temperature than 75°. At 70° they get
ruffled up, with their head tucked under the wing, and drop off
rapidly. After a few more days the weather gets quite warm,
and it is perfectly safe to have the stock transferred to the open,
and, needless to say, the birds thoroughly enjoy the warmth,
fresh air, and daylight. In a week’s time you begin tu con-
gratulate yourself on the condition of the stock, when you are
plunged into the stifling, moist atmosphere of the Indian Ocean,
from thence to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. During this
period Gouldians improve daily, but most other specimens feel
it very trying, gasping all day for breath, and resting on the

The Emu. 119

perches with outspread wings. Towards sundown they simply
go mad with joy, and eat their evening meal ravenously. They
are now always left on deck overnight. The boxes are all
double-fronted, one inch space between each wire front, for
protection amongst rats. During the Mediterranean passage
they pick up wonderfully, and by the time they reach Home—
should the weather from Gibraltar to the Channel be fairly
mild—are in grand condition. Sometimes boisterous weather
is met with from the Portuguese coast to the Thames, when a
repetition of the Australian Bight difficulties occurs, but on a
modified scale, as there is more space on the ship, consequently
more light and air, and, to the happy survivors, more cage space.
As to food and general treatment during the voyage, Gouldians,
Banded (Bicheno’s), Crimson, &c., Finches have canary seed
and Indian millet in separate boxes, spray millet (millet
in the ear) and cuttle-fish, with sea sand and finely ground
shell on cage bottom, fresh daily, and thoroughly cleaned out
every third or fourth day ; outside bath hung on cage daily.
With this treatment it is found they do exceptionally well, and
always arrive home clean and in good condition. Parrakeets
have the usual mixture of canary, hemp, millet (white), oats,
and crushed maize, according to variety ; Lorikeets, always
boiled bread and milk (Nestle’s condensed) first thing daily,
which generally lasts them two to three hours; canary seed
remainder of day. On this diet the Blue-bellied (Swainson’s)
and the Scaly-breasted do very well, but the Musky Lorikeet
and some others will never touch the seed, so they get fruit—
bananas or ripe pears—instead, when procurable. A pan of
stewed apples, well sweetened, or stewed figs is often relished as
a change. For insectivorous birds there is no hard and fast
rule—their treatment is so variable; but I shall have a few
words to say on their treatment at end of this article. One
takes a particular delight in getting birds into, and landing them
in, faultless condition when possible, and I have succeeded in
carrying most delicate and rare stock. Very few die soon after
importation. I may here mention a few of the insectivorous
birds carried successfully to the Old Country, viz. :—Oriole, Fig
Bird, Magpie Lark, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Brown Fly-
catcher, Blue Wren, Black and White Fan-tail, Satin Bird, Cat
Bird, Regent Bird, Spotted Ground Bird, Coachwhip Bird, Bell
Bird, Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin, Rufous-breasted Thick-
head, Brown Tree-creeper, Zosterops or White-eye ; of Honey-
eaters—the Striped, Warty-faced, Fuscous, Yellow-eared
(Lewin’s), Yellow-tufted, and Blue-faced (Eztomyza), Friar Bird,
Noisy Miner, or -Soldier Bird; of the Wood Swallows —
the Dusky, Masked, and White-eyebrowed ; Nightjar, Sacred
Kingfisher, Pallid Cuckoo, Painted Quail, Pectoral Rail, Stone
Plover, Brush Turkey, and last, but not least, the Lyre Bird
(single specimen, a hen).

120 The Emu.

I have always been surprised at so few insectivorous birds
being kept in captivity in Australia,* seeing the large field one
has to work upon to secure some magnificent birds, such as the
Robins and Wrens, but apparently the food supply is the great
drawback ; but why should this be, when the country is overrun —
with the natural food of such birds as the Wrens? I refer to
ants and their cocoons. A paper on the taking of the cocoons
I have handed to the Editors, who will, no doubt, make further

reference to it if necessary.t

As to food for “soft-bills,’ stock should consist of ants’
cocoons, yolk of egg (preserved), crushed Osborne biscuit, and
crissel (powdered dry meat prepared by Spratts), equal parts by
measure, and damped to a crumbly paste (must not be wet or
sloppy) by adding a little grated raw carrot or boiled potato.
Almost all soft-bills will eat this readily; but for the more
delicate Warblers and Fly-catchers leave out the carrot or
potato and scald the ants’ cocoons (dried), squeezing the water well
out and adding crushed sweet biscuit (Osborne’s preferred), and
yolk of egg, either fresh or preserved, to bring it up to a dry,
crumbly paste. With fresh-caught specimens sprinkle a few
meal-worms on top of food; other insects, such as spiders, flies,
and even the common black cockroach will do equally well, but

* In some States it is illegal to do so.—EDs.

+ The article, ‘‘ The Collecting of Ants’ Cocoons as Food for Insectivorous Birds,”
referred to by Mr. Carrick, is an interesting one, contributed to Hur and Feather
(1899) by Mr. H. J. Fulljames, a successful English aviculturist. As there is some
analogy between the habits and life-history of European and Australian ants, the
gist of Mr. Fulljames’s article here follows :—Ants’ cocoons, improperly termed
ants’ eggs, form an indispensable food for insectivorous birds. This is known
to such an extent in Britain and on the continent that from many firms the article
can be had all the year round, dried and tinned. But any energetic aviculturist
could with very little trouble procure the cocoons for himself and lay by his
own supply. During the spring and summer months ants, like bees, are busily
engaged in rearing immense numbers of young. These, after being hatched from the
egg, are in existence as cylindrical legless grubs, with an almost transparent body.
They are entirely in the care of the worker ants, which feed them and carry them
about from one gallery to another. Thenext stage, that of chrysalis or pupa, is entered
upon when larve or grubs are full grown. They proceed to envelop themselves in a
small silky cocoon. Only the ants of one genus, however, spin this cocoon ; the other
genera are without such a covering during their pupa stage, but the worker ants pay
just as much attention to cocoons and pupz as they do to larve, keeping them
snugly in special galleries, carrying them out at set periods for fresh air, &c., &. To
collect the cocoons it is necessary to uncover the ant-hill until these subterranean
nurseries are reached, having the hands well gloved to prevent the ants biting. The
cocoons, together with ants and all débrzs that may be among them, must be quickly
scooped into some convenient receptacle and carried elsewhere for cleaning. The
ant-hills can be robbed several times in a season if care be taken to cover in the top
again, for the rearing galleries are generally near the surface. Toclean the cocoons of
all rubbish the operator must cruelly make use of the instinct of those ants which were
so roughly removed together with their charges. The whole ‘‘take” is spread out
on a large sheet, with upturned edges. At several points on the outskirts, shelters of
bracken or brushwood, or even newspaper, are placed, and under these the nurse ants
quickly carry their charges, away from the light, leaving all refuse in the centre of the
sheet. The cocoons, and amongst them may often be great numbers of larvz, are
well dried, and will then keep a week or more. Of course it is advisable to give them
to the birds fresh when procurable, but the dried article when prepared with boiling
water is just as nutritious. —EDs.

ee Sora. 12I

they must be partly disabled to prevent their escaping from the
dish. Insects of some sort must be given daily in addition to
artificial food. This may be easily supplied in the common
house fly, catching same alive with traps. Place the traps with
the flies in an oven for a minute or so, and serve up dead. After
being caged a few days and used to being fed with live insects
they will readily take to the fresh-killed flies. For the benefit of
those aviculturists who cannot secure the fresh ants’ cocoons, the
dried cocoons and preserved yolk of egg, and even the crissel,
may be obtained from Mr. J. Cooper, of the Eastern Market,
Melbourne. In conclusion I may state that the above food is
only meant for delicate specimens; the hardier varieties may
easily be kept well on ordinary soft food as sold by Mr. Cooper,
with addition of live insects. Fruit, too, is relished by and must
be given to the Regents, Fig Birds, Zosterops, and such-like
birds.

European Birds in Tasmania.
By FRANK M. LITTLER, LAUNCESTON.

ALTHOUGH Zhe Emu has as its object the popularising of the
study and protection of native birds, it occurred to me that an
account, up to date, of the distribution of English birds through-
out this State would not be without some interest to many
ornithologists.

The attempts to introduce birds into this State have extended
over a number of years; unfortunately, in many instances,
success has not. crowned the efforts as was deserved. At the
southern end of the island more species have been introduced
and established than at the northern end. Not that one end of
the island is better suited for acclimatisation than the other, but
that more individual action has been taken by gentlemen
interested to import species.

The most widely ‘distributed and the best known of the
imported birds is the English House Sparrow (Passer
domesticus). It was introduced into Launceston from Adelaide
some thirty or forty years ago, and is thought to have been
brought here in mistake for the Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus).
As might be expected, there was a great cry of protestation
after it had thriven and multiplied. In many country districts
the Sparrows now do an enormous amount of damage to the
grain crops, and are heartily detested by farmers in consequence,
who do all they can to thin their ranks, but without any appreci-
able diminution in their numbers. In vegetable gardens Sparrows
do considerable damage, as they are very fond of pulling up
young peas and destroying the buds of trees, &c. It must be
added, however, that these birds, especially during the winter
months, eat enormous quantities of aphides and many other

122 The’ Bmu.

insects noxious to gardens. I was under the impression that
no district was free from the Sparrow pest, but a most trust-
worthy correspondent informs me that they have not yet reached
Tyenna, on Russell Falls River, a locality some miles to the
west of Hobart.

The next best known bird is the English Goldfinch (Carduelis
elegans), which has been here for close on twenty years. It
is numerous in Hobart and the surrounding country. Flocks
of 40 and 50 have been seen at atime. Round Launceston and
the north it is not so numerous as in the south, but extends
over a larger area of country. Taking the southern portion of
the island first: numerous in Hobart and suburbs, fairly so in
the Derwent Valley as far beyond the River Ouse as has been
settled, exceedingly numerous round New Norfolk, Glenora,
and Macquarie Plains. Sorell and the surrounding district have
a fairly large quota. It is now increasing rapidly round Laun-
ceston and the suburbs, breeding freely in suitable trees in
gardens where it is not molested. At Underwood, in the Upper
River Piper district, it has comparatively recently become very
numerous. It is reported as doing much good by feeding on
the scale and other insect pests with which the trees are infested.
Round Hadspen it is spreading somewhat. On the north-
west coast, notably at Latrobe and Devonport, the Goldfinch
is gradually becoming a familiar object. Sometimes young
birds are obtained by fixing a cage over the nest when it is
found in a garden; then the old birds will continue to feed
their young through the bars of the cage.

We will now pass on to the common Starling (Sturnus
vulgaris). About the year 1800 Dr. E. L. Crowther, of Hobart,
purchased a number of Starlings in New Zealand and brought
them to Hobart, where he liberated seventy-five. These birds
are the common English Starling, imported into New Zealand
and from there into Tasmania. They were promptly protected
by law, and multiplied rapidly. Starlings are now extremely
plentiful in Hobart and the surrounding districts, but south-
ward have not spread much beyond Lower Sandy Bay, some
four miles from Hobart. To the north of Hobart they are
found above Bridgewater, and inland about twenty miles, ex-
tending their range beyond Brighton, but have not yet reached
_ Campania, a distance of twenty-seven miles. They are also
very numerous far beyond the River Ouse, Native Tier, Mac-
quarie Plains, and all intervening parts between the places
mentioned.

On the east bank of the Derwent they have spread to
Bellerive and surrounding district. In 1899 they had — not
reached Sorell, but are now numerous there. They may be
seen in flocks of a hundred or more on grass paddocks, hunting
for grubs. These birds do much good by destroying countless
numbers of these pernicious larve. During the fruit season,

The Emu. 123

however, starlings become such a nuisance by their depredations
in the orchards that legal protection is practically abolished.
Indeed, they are caught and frequently used instead of pigeons
at shooting matches. For this purpose, I believe, they are
captured by blocking up the holes by which they get under
roofs and into barns, or such like places where many roost,
and taking them during the night.

It is only within the last few years that Starlings have
extended their range to the northern portion of the island. I
believe the first recorded specimens were shot at Evandale
and Longford. ‘The skins were sent in to the Launceston
Museum as those of new and unknown species. Down the
West Tamar, at George Town and Low Head, they are found
in increasing numbers. On the north-west coast, Sassafras
and Northdown are largely supplied with these birds; they are
not generally distributed, confining themselves mostly to the
grass lands on the coast-line, where they pay close attention to
worms and grubs.

The next bird that claims our attention is the English Sky-
lark (Alauda arvensis). At Risdon and Glenorchy, a few miles
from Hobart, Skylarks are to be found in fair numbers. Some
thirty or forty years ago a number of birds of this species,
imported from England, were liberated near Newtown, but did
not thrive. Within the last ten or fifteen years other imported
birds have been liberated, which multiplied, and their
descendants are now fairly numerous in the paddocks about
Newtown, Risdon, Glenorchy, and Brown’s River Road, but
have not extended much beyond these limits. At Sorell they
are fairly plentiful. A correspondent informs me that a short
while ago, when going round his paddocks at 4.30 a.m., although
it was quite dark, with the exception of the remains of the
moon, which had just risen, a Skylark was joyously singing
overhead. At the northern end of the island some imported
Skylarks were liberated some years ago at St. Leonards, about
five miles from Launceston. Around Cressy, twenty odd miles
from Launceston, Skylarks are rather plentiful, more so than at
St. Leonards. They seem to be on the increase at Cressy ;
recently, numbers were heard filling the air with song. During
1899 the Northern Tasmanian Acclimatisation Society imported
some three dozen birds of this species from New Zealand, and
liberated them in the surrounding districts. Some of the birds
have thriven well, but others have completely disappeared.
About the same time the late Mr. R. G. Talbot, of Malahide,
Fingal, imported a number from the same place, and liberated
them. These birds have greatly increased.

About twenty years since, some common Pheasants (P/astanus
colchtcus) were imported from England and liberated at Newtown,
but they soon fell a prey to “ pot-hunters.” Others were also
introduced at Entally, where for a time they throve remarkably

124 The Emu.

well, at one period as many as ninety young birds being reared.
They gradually disappeared, being either shot or destroyed by
vermin, notwithstanding they were under the care of an ex-
perienced English gamekeeper. A resident of Stanley, on the
north-west coast, has on more than one occasion imported these
birds. Sir Richard Dry, also, imported Pheasants and Partridges
(Perdix perdix). Young birds were reared on the Quamby
estate, near Hagley, but they were all shot or destroyed.

A little time since a resident of the Midlands made two
unsuccessful attempts to acclimatise Red Grouse (Lagopus
scotzcus) and Partridges. Recently another attempt was made.
Eggs have also been brought from England to ascertain if they
would remain fertile during the transit. One great drawback to
the successful rearing of game birds is the want of sufficient
suitable cover. ;

Some Field Notes.
By C. F. BELCHER, LL.B., GEELONG.
CACOMANTIS FLABELLIFORMIS, Fan-tailed Cuckoo.

On 29th September last I was rambling with a friend
along the “White Bank,” a tongue of tea-tree covered sand
that lies between the lower Barwon River and the sea.
Stooping beneath a leptospermum bush, and looking about
in the low foliage, I discovered an old nest of a Scrub-
Wren (Serzcornzs). Inside was an egg that broke as it was
touched, and proved to be a Fan-tailed Cuckoo’s, of possibly
last season. A further glance showed a new nest at my
shoulder, sheltered cunningly by a thick bough. I withdrew
two fresh eggs of the Scrub-Wren; and the third, which was
also fresh, was another Fan-tailed Cuckoo’s. A comparison
of this with the pieces of the old egg made it certain, to
my mind, that they were laid by the same bird. The nest
opening was fairly large. These are the first eggs of this
Cuckoo I have found in this district since 1892, on 25th July
of which year I got two from Scrub-Wrens’ nests in tea-tree
fringing Lake Connewarre. One nest contained only the egg
of the Cuckoo, the other an egg of the nest’s proper tenant as
well. Both Cuckoos’ eggs were very much alike in the latter
case also, and the nests were only about 100 yards apart.

GLOSSOPSITTACUS PORPHYROCEPHALUS, Purple-crowned Lori-
keet.

On 28th September, in the bushy country lying between
Marcus Hill and Ocean Grove, usually known as the Queens-
cliff-road bush, Masters P. and A. Young discovered the nest-
holiow of this charming little Lorikeet. It was in a green limb
of a white gum, and contained three young birds ready for their

The Emu. 125

first flight. The distinctive porphyry-coloured patch on the
crown of the head showed itself almost as clearly as in adult
specimens. The fledglings were kept alive for a day or so by
constant feeding in the mode presumably adopted by their
parents, but a cold night killed them. This is the first authenti-
cated taking of the nest in this district, and seems very early in
the season, as the other members of the order Pszttacz do not
usually breed here before late October.

PARDALOTUS (genus)—Pardalotes.

The Masters Young above mentioned, who are close ob-
servers of birds in the field, took, during the space of a few days
in September, three clutches of Pardalotes’ eggs, each of
which differed strikingly from the others in point of size. The
first set taken was one of three eggs of P. punctatus from a
tunnel into the side of a gutter on a country road. These eggs
are much smaller than those subsequently taken, and I have
always noted that the Spotted Pardalote’s eggs may at once be
distinguished from other local species in this way. Furthermore,
the Spotted Pardalote never, in this district at least, tunnels
into a perpendicular or steep bank, but always into a very
gentle declivity, as the rise alongside a road, or the mouth of a
rabbit-burrow. The second clutch was one of four from a hole
in a gum-tree at Batesford. In this case the bird was not
identified, except that the head was striped. The eggs were
peculiar by reason of their very large size. The last nest taken
was in a steep creek bank, also at Batesford. This contained
two eggs, of a size intermediate between the last-mentioned eggs
and those of P. punctatus, but exactly corresponding in all
respects with eggs previously taken by me in similar positions,
and with two sets found also in a steep creek bank at Narre
Warren later on in the season, a bird caught in one of the two
latter nests proving to be P. asszmz/zs. A closer noting of these
two species may probably prove that P. ovmatus is an invariable
tree-breeder, while its ally keeps to the ground. It is difficult
here to get at many of the nests in tree-hollows, as they must
always be chopped out, and take some finding in the first
instance.

GRAUCALUS MELANOPS, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike.

On r1th November, in a quiet gully near Narre Warren, I saw
a Graucalus (Cuckoo-Shrike) fly from an old nest of the Pied
Grallina. Percy Young, who was with me, climbed the tree and
found a single egg of the Graucalus. The nest was very slightly
injured since the builders had left it, and the Cuckoo-Shrike had
added merely a few cobwebs and a little lining. The egg was
hard-set. I stood under a tree the bird flew to, and examined it
carefully. Strange to say, there was no black about the face.
In an adjacent tree we found this season’s nest of the Grallina,
with four eggs.

126 The Bmu.

North-Western Notes.
By THOMAS CARTER, POINT CLOATES, W.A.

DURING the last four months of 1900, which was the wettest
and “ best” season (in a pastoral sense) ever known here, odd
birds or pairs of the Flock Pigeon (Azstrzophaps histrionica) were
frequently seen inland from here. The first week of this year
(1901) I started for a trip to the south-west of this State. Large
bush fires had been raging for some days to the east and south,
burning bare a patch of country about 80 miles square. On
7th January, when approaching the Lyndon River, 70 miles
south of here, the fire was burning fiercely on both sides of the
road. I camped at a pool that night, and saw several large
mobs of these pigeons about sunset, as usual flying at a great
speed, and out of gunshot. The next day I decided to spell
the horses, and walked to another larger pool. Enormous
flocks of the pigeons were feeding on the freshly burnt ground,
and about 8 a.m. they began to water at the pool in countless
thousands. The roar of their wings was like the noise of heavy
surf breaking on the beach. I sat and watched the birds for
some time. As noted by other observers, they seemed to be in
a frantic hurry all the time, and when a flock came to the pool
they not only covered the bank at the bare side of the pool
(where the ground sloped to the water, without any bush or
cover), but actually settled in and 6n the water in thousands.
After a few gulps the whole flock would rise and give place to
another. As I wished to secure a specimen or two, I succeeded,
after several attempts, in crawling within long gunshot of a
mob, closely packed and busily feeding on the bare, burnt plain,
evidently finding abundance of grass seeds in the cracks of the
clayey soil. On firing, the flock rose and circled closely above
my head for some time, being interested in two of the victims
which were fluttering on the ground. The noise and whirr of
their wings were extraordinary. My native boy was greatly
excited, and kept shouting to me to shoot some more before
they flew away; but one of the cartridge cases had jammed,
the extractor slipped over it, and I had to laboriously unscrew
and unship it with my pocket-knife, and by the time fresh
cartridges were inserted the birds were out of range. Referring
to Mr. North’s pamphlet on the decrease in numbers of this and
other birds, may it not be accounted for in some measure by
the birds following rains and feed to different parts of Australia,
some years, perhaps, elapsing before they occur again in any
particular locality? It is many years since these birds have
visited here. Of course, this will not apply to resident species.
At Carnarvon some days were spent waiting for steamer
going south. Green-backed White-eyes (Zosterops gouldt) and
Yellow-throated Miners (anorhina flavigula) were abundant
in the dense wattle and other scrub about the banks of the

The Emu. 127

Gascoyne River, especially in the vicinity of some gardens,
where I was told these birds committed havoc with the fruit,
and that until the gardens began to be productive the White-
eyes were hardly ever seen. They were probably there but not
noticed. On 2nd May, after my return here, Painted Finches
(Emblema picta) were noted in some numbers, and on I1ith
June on the high rocky range here they were quite common,
flying about in small mobs of seven or ten. The last I saw was
a pair at a sand-well on the beach, 13th September. When at
Cardabia Creek, 14th July, I found a nest of the Whistling
Eagle (Halastur sphenurus) with two eggs, and in the next
white gum, a few yards distant, a nest of the Black-faced
Cuckoo-Shrike with two eggs. The following day nests of the
White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater (Lalage tricolor), with young,
and Tricoloured Chat (Ephthianura tricolor), with four eggs ;
also of Tawny Frogmouth, with two eggs. A Darter (Plotus
nove-hollandi@) was shot at the large pool, which, as recorded
in Zhe Zoologist for July, now contains numerous small fish. In
September several Pelicans were seen there and a Pied Cor-
morant (Phalacrocorax hypoleucus). ‘Yhe Cormorant and Darter
were never noted there before. On 2Ist and 28th July I found
several nests of the Pied Honey-eater (Eutomophila leucomelas)
in scrub growing on the coast sandhills, near the shearing shed.
The full clutch appears to be three. The nests were somewhat
substantially built, and about 4 or 5 feet from the ground. One
nest was in a small sandalwood bush standing apart. It con-
tained young birds. The mother fluttered about, feigning lame-
ness, and uttering a melancholy piping note. ‘This bird is one
of the commonest winter visitors, arriving in numbers after the
first rains, usually in June. The male birds are much more in
evidence than the females, as they perch on the upper twigs of
bushes, and, rising to some height in the air, flutter to
another perch, uttering their somewhat mournful piping
song. They are usually shy and difficult to approach.
In the course of shearing, a Pectoral Rail ({ypotentdia
philippinensis) was seen running about and feeding in the
drafting yards and brush fences. 1st September——In some
hard sandy cliffs on the beach several Black and White
Swallows (Cherameca leucosternum) had their nests. It is
amazing through what hard material these apparently weak
birds can drill a hole. With much trouble and the aid of a
strong sheath-knife I enlarged two holes sufficiently to admit
my arm. Both contained young birds. The holes were 3 feet
long, the nest cavity being large and containing two or more
handfuls of flat leaves, about 4 inches in length, off a species of
mulga. 10th September.—I noted three nesting holes of these ©
birds excavated in the soft sand under a large bunch of
spinifex on the roadside. The wind had blown and cut away
one side of the hummock on which the spinifex was growing,

128 The Eira.

leaving a fall of about 3 feet. In this the holes were
made. A pair of Mangrove Kingfishers (Halcyon sordidus)
were at these cliffs, but I failed to finda nest. A pair of Reef
Herons had a nest containing four eggs on a shelf of the cliff.
Apparently a blue bird and white were mated, the blue bird
coming off the nest. Curlews arrived about 31st August, and
Oriental Dottrel (Ochthodromus veredus) toth September. On
3rd October I shot a Common Sandpiper (77zxgozdes hypoleucus),
on the beach, the first noted here. gth November.—A female of
the Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralts) was flushed and shot
close to the house, also a first record here; the Brown and Little
Quails have only been previously noted. 21st November.—
Saw an Emu with four young, in down, about as large as
domestic fowls. This must have been a very late brood, the
usual laying season being end of May, but I have noted in
other dry seasons, as this is, that Emus seem to delay their
breeding.

Protective Colouration of Australian Birds and

Their Nests.

PART: LE

By D. LE Souer, C.M.Z.S., &c.
(Read before the Aust. O. U., Adelaide Session, 2nd November, 1901.)

HONEY-EATERS vary much in colour, but the males and females
do not as a rule vary much in markings, but by far the larger
majority of hen birds have greenish or dull-coloured backs.
Their nests are mostly hanging, and built in varying situations,
according to the colour of the bird, and you can generally make
a good guess at the shade of the owner’s back by the place it
builds its nest in; if among green leaves at the end of a branch
the bird will probably be greenish, as for instance Pzlotzs
penicillata (White-plumed Honey-eater); if lower down among
the dead branches, grey or brown ; and if in very thick vegetation
low down, the markings will be fairly conspicuous, like in
Melornis nove-hollandie (White-bearded Honey-eater). Honey-
eaters are a large group, but if notice is taken it will soon be
seen how the various kinds are protected, mostly by the birds
building in places which assimilate with the colour of their backs,
as before stated.

The Ground-Lark (Azthus australis) is well known, but how
often its open nest is passed by without being detected, it being
made of dry grass and containing three dark grey eggs. The
bird itself is as inconspicuous as its nest and egg, and would
rarely be seen if it only had the courage to remain on its nest
when danger threatened. Nightjars (Caprimulgus, &c.) are
wonderfully protected by colouration, and would seldom be seen

The Emu 129

if they remained sitting still when one passed by, and they choose
either stony ground or under a few shrubs, where the broken
shade makes it still more difficult to distinguish them from their
surroundings. Then, again, their egg is either lightish brown or
very pale green, with a few black spots on, and they also are
very difficult to detect even at a short distance, and unless the
place is noted from where the parent bird rose there is a good
chance of not finding it, as it is laid on the bare ground. Both
the male and female take turns on the egg, there being
practically no difference in colour between them. The Podargz
(Frogmouths) are very similar to the preceding birds in so far as
both the male and female are wonderfully protected by their
markings, the male being occasionally a little redder in
shade, and he generally sits on the eggs most of the day.
In roosting during the day they choose either a dead branch
or one covered with rough grey bark, and they sit length-
ways on the bough, remaining perfectly still if danger is
near, and, stretching out their beaks, make their bodies appear
perfectly straight, and exactly like a broken dead stump, and
when sitting on their eggs look just like a piece of wood lying
across the nest. I remember on one occasion that, having found
a nest, my companion thought some boy had thrown a stick
across it, so perfect was the resemblance, and it was some time
before he could make out that it was the bird itself, although
only about fifteen feet away from us. During the day the pair
is never far apart, being either in the same tree or one of them
in an adjacent one.

Bee-eaters are bright-plumaged birds, but, nesting in a hole as
they do, the hen bird does not require any protective colouring.
The same applies to Kingfishers, Cockatoos, and Parrots, as in
most of them the females are a conspicuous colour, but as they
all nest in hollows they do not want much protection when
nesting. When the Alexandra Parrot (Polytelts alexandre), in
whose plumage there is much green, sits on a bough, it generally
does so lengthways. It is then difficult to detect as long as it
remains still; and the same may be said of the green Lorikeets
when they are feeding on the eucalyptus flowers among the
green leaves, and also the more sombre-coloured Grass-
Parrakeets as they are feeding on the ground among the coarse
grass and weeds.

Doves and Pigeons nest in different places, according to their
colour, and they need to, being favourite food for Hawks. They
build, as a rule, very fragile stick nests, and in some cases it is
difficult to realize how the bird can fly off and on without
upsetting its egg. The Geopelza are all of a grey colour, and
make their nests of a few small twigs, generally placed
either on a dead branch or among dead or grey brushwood,
within a few feet of the ground, and are most difficult to find,
despite their white eggs—a Hawk passing overhead would

130 The “Emig:

hardly discern them. The Lophophaps, or Plumed Pigeons
(L. ferruginea and L. leucogaster) are of a reddish hue, and
they are found in Central and North Australia, in bare and
generally barren country, which suits their colour. They mostly
construct their nests under the spinifex grass or on the bare
ground. The male takes his share in incubation, being very little
different in colour from his mate. The Bronze-wings (Phaps)
are of a dark grey colour, and they build their nests in the lower
branches of small trees or shrubs, either among the dead wood
or grey boughs, which harmonise with their colouring. The
beautiful Fruit-Pigeons (P¢zlopus), of Northern Queensland,
are, with two exceptions, green on the back, and the male is
very little brighter in colour than the female: Both take
their turn in sitting on the egg, the male doing the principal
share. Their breasts are beautifully coloured, but that is not
seen from above. They build their nests in a fork at the
end of a thin bough among the green leaves, and being in dense
scrub there is no wind to upset them. They are exceedingly
difficult to recognise from below, and from above probably more
so. What makes the nests so hard to see is that they are
composed of so few sticks that the light passes through them,
making the egg of a flesh-coloured tint. Some of the smaller
Fruit-Pigeons occasionally nest in bushes, but always near the
end of a branch. Even when these birds are feeding on the
fruit among the green leaves, and you hear the fruit-stones
dropping on the ground beneath, you generally have to look
carefully for a long time before you can discover them, so
perfectly are they protected by their. colour. One ofjihe
exceptions I mentioned is the Nutmeg Pigeon (AZyrestecevora
spilorrhoa), which is mostly white, but these birds build
substantial nests, and breed in colonies often of many thousand
birds, generally on islands off the mainland, which the others
do not. Then, again, the Little Green Pigeon (Chalcophaps
chrysochlora) is approximately the colour of its surroundings,
and it is almost invariably found in moist situations where the
grass is green and near scrub. It builds its nest in a fork of a
bush among the green leaves, generally within three or four feet
of the ground.

The brown inconspicuous colour of Quails is well known; as
is also how still these birds remain if a hawk is passing, and
how difficult it is for the bird of prey to catch sight of them as
they squat on the ground, very similar in colour to themselves.
Their nests are generally well hidden in tussocks of grass, and
the eggs, too, are mostly of a brownish colour. The Collared
Plain Wanderer (Pedzonomus torquatus) lays its clutch of three
or four eggs on the open grassy ground; but they are coloured
dark green, and so are protected by colour if not by vegetation.

In the dense scrub-covered gullies and ranges on the eastern
coast of Australia are found the Lyre Bird (JZenura), Brush

The ‘mx.

PLATE VIII.

Pied Oyster-catcher’s Nest.

FROM PHOTOS. BY D. LE SOUEF

The Emu. 131

Turkey (Catheturus), and the Megapode (Megapodius). The
colour of all three birds is dark brown, quite in keeping with their
surroundings, as the soil is dark and no grass grows in the thick
vegetation where these birds are found, and you do not get them
in the open country. The Mallee Fowl! is another striking
instance of protective colouring, as it lives in the Mallee scrub
covered country, and as the bird squats down when danger is
near, in such vegetation, with its broken light, it is almost
impossible to distinguish it, except at a very short distance.
Their eggs are of course hidden, being buried in their nesting-
mound.

Native Companions (Avzizgone australasiana) are large birds,
and well able to take care of themselves and their eggs, but the
latter are light brown and straw colour, and of a similar tint to
the dry grass of which the nest is composed ; and the Bustard
(Eupodotts australzs), which also lives on the plains, is dull grey
in colour, and on the bare ground lays a greenish egg, which is
very similar in colour to the surrounding grass. The Stone
Plover (Lurhinus grallarius) also lives on the ground, generally
among thetrees, where the ground is nearly bare, and its plumage
harmonises exactly with its surroundings. When disturbed the
bird often lies flat on the ground with its neck stretched out, and
is very difficult to recognise. Its eggs, too, are a greenish hue,
and are laid on the ground without any nest, and two I got from
Queensland, that were laid on reddish ironstone soil, were prac-
tically the same colour, and not green. Plovers (Lodbzvanellus)
are very similar, the colour of their greenish-brown backs being
hard to distinguish from above as the birds sit on their nests,
and the dark-coloured eggs also assimilate with the dark,
damp soil on which they are generally laid. The same applies
to Stilts, Avocets, Sandpipers, Dottrels, and other waders to a
greater or lesser degree, especially with regard to the colour of
their eggs, which assimilates with the particular places in which
they are laid. This is especially so with regard to the Dottrels,
that lay their eggs on the beach, just above high water mark,
among the pebbles and sand, and, as many can testify, the
protective colouring is almost perfect.

Grebes, which lay conspicuous white eggs, that, however,
soon get nest-stained, and build floating nests, construct their
homes of green water weeds among the weeds and rushes. The
eggs are always covered up during the day when they are not
sitting, and the various ducks also cover up their eggs with
down or grass if they have to leave them. The Straw-necked
and White Ibises lay white eggs, and are not hidden in any way,
but then they nest in vast rookeries, and to a certain extent
protect one another; but among sea birds Terns are fairly
conspicuous, but their eggs are often not so, being generally laid
on sand or pebbles near the sea, and are coloured accordingly ;
if on soil, among herbage, the markings are much darker. They

132 ad he / are.

mostly nest in colonies, and so to a certain extent protect each
other. Petrels are dark and easily seen, but they nest. in holes,
and the male takes his turn on the nest, but the same fact
applies to most sea birds. Gannets and Albatrosses nest in the
open, and are conspicuous, but they are powerful birds, and also
nest in colonies, and male and female both take their turn at
sitting. During the nesting season among the smaller Petrels
the bird which is not sitting remains at sea during the day, safe
from the attacks of Hawks, Crows, &c., and only returns to its
companion after dusk, leaving again in the morning by day-
light.

I have only treated this interesting subject very briefly, as the
protective colouring of eggs is a study in itself, as is that of the
birds and their nests; but enough, I think, has been said to
show how that practically all through our.birds the various kinds
nest in surroundings which more or less harmonise with them
in colour, that the outside of their nests also assimilates with
the branch or ground on which it is built, and that eggs which
are laid on the ground are of the same general hue as their
surroundings. Of course there are exceptions, but they are
very few. It is to be hoped that this article may be the
means of stimulating others to investigate the same subject,
and to illustrate by photography instances seen, and, if
possible, secure the nest and branch it is on for a local
museum when the young have flown, so that others may be
able to learn practically. In passing through the bush during
the nesting season, how many nests are passed by undetected !
It is usually by our sitting still and watching the birds that they
betray their homes, which otherwise we should have missed.
Sometimes the nests are found by observing the bird flying off.
Birds fly away from their homes when disturbed by human
beings, but not so when a bird of prey passes over—they remain
quietly where they are, apparently trusting to their colour to
save them. On several occasions when peering about on the
ground under a bush where I had seen a bird alight, such as a
Nightjar, I have caught sight of its bright eye before I could
make out the bird itself, and I have heard of other observers
doing the same thing.

FORMALIN AS A BIRD PRESERVATIVE.—I have on hand
several small birds injected with a 20 per cent. solution of
formalin five months ago. They do not show any signs of
decay, but are only dried up, leaving the bodies rigid. With
large birds success depends on their being dried quickly. These
mummies, in many cases—such as for identification, &c.—are
as useful as properly skinned specimens——A. MATTINGLEY.

Lhé “Emu. 133

Some Notes on the Birds of Lake Eyre District.

(GEOLOGICAL EXPEDITION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF
PROFESSOR GREGORY, F.R.S.)

By C. M. LYONS, MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY.

THE following is a short account of some of the birds seen by us
while accompanying Dr. Gregory on his expedition around Lake
Eyre, in the interior.

We left Hergott Springs on 18th December, 1901, and
commenced our march across the desert, but, with the ex-
ception of Crows, no birds were seen until the Clayton River
was reached. Here large flocks of Bare-eyed Cockatoos,
Rose-breasted Cockatoos (Galahs), and Crested Pigeons were
seen. Several small flocks of Teal were seen on the waterholes,
and around them numbers of the Black-tailed Native Hen were
playing. Hawks were also numerous and very bold, a couple
of them hovering about within 20 feet of the camp. Next
morning a pair of Wild Turkeys (Bustards) was seen, but we
were unable to shoot either of them. The above-mentioned birds
are typical of this area, and were met with along all the water-
holes which we subsequently came across.

From the Clayton to the Dulkaninna artesian bore no birds
were seen, again excepting the ubiquitous Crow, but on the small
swamps formed by the overflow from the bore were large flocks
of Teal, Black Ducks, and a few Mountain Ducks (Shieldrake).
Until the Cooper was reached we saw no more birds, but here
they were very abundant. As the bed was dry no waterfowl
were about, but Hawks, Crested Pigeons, and small birds were in
plenty. We were struck by the number and size of the Hawks’
nests. These were easily accessible, owing to the small size of the
trees ; no eggs were, however, obtained. At Lake Killalpaninna,
which is fed by the Cooper, we saw, in addition to the birds
above mentioned, a white or bluish-white fishing hawk—
probably the Sea Eagle. These were in a flock of about 20,
but were too far off to shoot or to accurately determine. Black
Swans and Pelicans were also observed here for the first time.
Two or three Magpies were also noted’ in the distance ; these
were the first and last seen on the journey. Native Companions
were seen by Dr. Gregory at Kopperamanna Bore. Going down
the Cooper some fine Wedge-tailed Eagles were seen, but none
were. obtained. Along the dry bed to Piranna waterhcle
bird-life was scanty; but in the early morning round
the latter I saw Wild Turkeys, Red-necked Avocets, Teal,
Widgeon, and Mountain Ducks, Grebes, Chestnut-eared Finches,
and immense flocks of Crested Pigeons. Previously I had only
seen the latter singly or in pairs, but being early morning they
had assembled to drink. After seeing a small dead tree abso-
lutely covered with them I felt less sceptical of the accounts of

134 The Emu.

early explorers, who speak of having killed 30 to 50 with one
discharge of a gun.

Further down the Cooper, at the large saltwater holes of
Malkuni and Kuttupirra, we saw Silver Gulls, Spur-wing Plover,
two or three Black and White Fan-tails,a Coot and a Little
Black Cormorant, several Noisy Miners, large numbers of Bee-
eaters, Yellow-vented Parrakeets, the latter generally in pairs,
and as usual Ducks, Cockatoos, &c. Here, and on the Diaman-
tina, I saw a reddish-brown wading bird about the size of a
Curlew, but I could not recognise it, nor was I near enough to
describe it definitely.

Emu tracks were plentiful, and a mob of five was seen by Mr.
Donaldson. Towards the entrance of the Cooper into Lake
Eyre birds became scarce. At Unda Wumpa numbers of
Pigeons congregated round the soakage which we dug; a
few Red-necked Avocets were seen, and an occasional solitary
Mountain Duck. On the shores of the lake animal life appeared
to be represented solely by lizards and a few marsupial rats.
On our return to Malkuni we saw several Delicate Owls; these
flew out of the cliffs on the riverside. Nests were abundant,
but the holes were too deep to enable us to reach the eggs. I
found one egg, however, at the entrance to a hole ; the contents
were semi-solid, and appeared as if baked by the sun.

In the sand-hill country between the Cooper and the Dia-
mantina birds, as usual, were scarce, but on reaching the latter
river we found them in great abundance. Owls were plentiful.
Two or three flocks of the Yellow-legged Spoonbills were seen.
Most of the birds previously mentioned were here in great
numbers. Several Straw-necked Ibises and a single White Ibis
were seen. A large mob of Black Cormorants was flying about
one of the holes. On our return from duck-shooting further up
the river they had vanished, nor did we subsequently meet with
them.

The holes were thronged with ducks—Teal, Blue-billed, Pink-
eared, Whistling, and Mountain Ducks. The Teal, however,
greatly predominated. We saw many young ducks not more
than a fortnight old ; others were half-grown and still “ flappers.”
Many of the older ducks (Teal), having lost their primaries, were
also in this condition, and we amused ourselves with catching
several by swimming after them until they were tired out with
diving. The Pink-eared and the Blue-billed Ducks also refused
to rise, and, to my great surprise, I caught one of the former.
Hawks were very plentiful, and fallen ducks had to be quickly
gathered before they were swooped off. Grebes (Black-throated)
were also numerous, and I think I also saw the Hoary-headed
species amongst them. The Black-tailed Native Hen was in
immense numbers. Little Turtle Doves were abundant, as was
also the Black and White Swallow. On the verandah of the
deserted station at Kalamurina were numerous nests of the

The Emu. 135

Fairy Martin, but I saw none of the birds about. Further down
the river we saw, one evening, a flock of Pelicans, which had
formed a complete bar across the shallow end of a waterhole,
here about 80 yards wide. A few Red-backed Kingfishers
were seen, but were not numerous. One notable absentee was
the Great Brown Kingfisher, or Laughing Jackass, for neither
did we see him in person nor enjoy his familiar and hilarious
cachinnation. ‘Towards the end of the journey the Chestnut-
eared Finch, familiar to readers of the Horn expedition report,
became more abundant, but we did not find them in such great
numbers as they did further to the north. Near Poonaranni
and Oanna the Warbling Grass-Parrakeet became more
abundant. Crossing the sand-hills to the Macumba few birds
were seen, but along the valley of the latter they were again
fairly plentiful. We saw numbers of Wild Turkeys and Wedge-
tailed Eagles. Water being scarce Pigeons were absent, as
they do not appear to travel far from water. Round the
deserted native ‘“soakages,” near the confluence with the
Nardubuckina, were numerous Chestnut-eared Finches, Wrens,
and a single Pipit. I also flushed a Quail, and saw a small
Wren-like bird with a pure white back, and searched carefully
among the bushes, but it had disappeared.

Going along the Macumba and Nardubuckina small birds
again became scarce, but Turkeys were abundant. On striking
across the “gibber” plains, birds, as usual, vanished, but on
reaching some small holes, which appeared to have been recently
filled with rain water, our old friends the Chestnut-eared Finches
and the Crows reappeared. From here to the Peake head
station I saw no more birds, excepting a small flock of Teal on
the Neale River.

I must mention my indebtedness to Mr. D. Le Souéf,
C.M.Z S., &c., for his kind advice and help in examining the
specimens brought back; and also to Dr. Gregory and the
other members of the party for assistance rendered during the

.

journey.

The following specimens were obtained :—

(1.) BLACK-TAILED NATIVE HEN (WMcrotribonyx ventralis)—Great mobs
of these frequented the banks, and at daylight and dark the edges of the
holes were black with them.

(2.) MOUNTAIN DUCK, OR SHIELDRAKE (Casarca tadernoides).—At
every waterhole a pair or more of these birds were seen, while single birds
were often met with.

(3.) SILVER GULLS (Larus nove-hollandia).—These were fairly plentiful
along all the rivers, but especially so at the saltwater holes at Malkuni, on
the Cooper. I was struck not so much with their distance inland~-300
miles from the head of Spencer Gulf—but with the fact that there is
absolutely no connection between these rivers and the sea, as Lake Eyre,
into which they flow, is itself 39 feet below sea level.

(4.) WHITE-FRONTED HERON (Wodophoyx nove-hollandia).—This speci-
men was shot at Kalamurina. Others were occasionally seen along the rivers.

136 The Emu.

(5.) WHITE EGRET (ferodias timoriensis)—One specimen _ shot.
Although it was midsummer, it had a bright yellow bill.

(6.) FRECKLED FROGMOUTH (Podargus phalenoides). — Shot near
Poonaranni. I saw another tame one at the Peake station.

(7.) BARE-EYED COCKATOO (Cacatua gymnopis).—Abundant at the
Clayton, Killalpaninna, Malkuni, and immense flocks at Kalamurina.

(8.) PINK-EARED DUCK (MJalacorhynchus membranaceus).—Occurred all
along Diamantina, but nowhere in large numbers.

(9.) CooT (Fulica australis)—Shot at Malkuni.’ Abundant on Lower
Diamantina. ‘

(10.) YELLOW-VENTED PARRAKEET (Psephotus xanthorrhous).—F airly
plentiful along all the rivers. Generally in pairs.

(11.) RED-KNEED DOTTREL (£7ythrogonys cinctus).—(Adult bird and
two young ones.) The old bird was shot by Mr. Dow, at Kalamurina, and
the young ones killed by Mr. Donaldson near the same place. I saw no
others.

[Among the birds secured during Prof. Gregory’s expedition to Lake Eyre
were two skins of young Red-kneed Dottrels, with their parent. They are
apparently about three weeks old, and not as large as the old bird. The
crown and back are brown, each feather being tipped with a lighter shade,
which give it a mottled appearance. All the under surface is white,
including the throat, and also a band just behind the crown extending to
the back of the eye, and adjoining this white band, but behind it, is a black
one extending to the lower part of the eye. The primaries are black,
slightly tipped with white. The secondaries are also black and tipped
boldly with white, and also white at the base, the amount varying on each
feather. The lesser and median wing coverts are mostly white, with a few
brown feathers just coming, and a small patch of white on the spurious
wing. Humeral feathers dark brown, tipped with a lighter shade. The tail
feathers are black, tipped with light brown ; under tail coverts white, with
a few brownish-black spots. Beak yellowish for about half its length, the
end being black. The nasal groove is more than half the length of the beak.
Feet yellowish and toes black.—D. LE SOUEF.]

(12.) AUSTRALIAN BEE-EATER (Werops ornatus).—Common in flocks of
about 50 on the Cooper and Diamantina.

(13.) LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax suicirostris).—Shot at
Malkuni. Saw a few others on Lower Diamantina.

(14.) BLACK AND WHITE SWALLOW (Cherameca leucosternum). —At
Kalamurina they used to appear towards evening, and sweep round in
pursuit of insects.

(15.) LITTLE TURTLE Dove (Geofelia cuneata).—These pretty little
Doves were plentiful on the Diamantina. They were frequently heard on
the journey, the blacks calling them by the imitative name “ Kurukuku.”

(16.) CHESTNUT-EARED FINCH (T7@nopygia castanotis).—Large numbers
of these Finches, locally called “ Diamond Sparrows,” were seen about all
the waterholes, their presence being, without exception, indicative of water.

(17.) RED-BACKED KINGFISHER (Halcyon pyrrhopygius).—Shot near the
rain-water hole at Oanna. Others were seen on the Diamantina and
Nardubuckina Rivers.

(18.) BELL BIRD (Oveotca cristata).—This specimen, shot near Poonaranni,
was the only one seen; their notes were frequently heard while travelling
down the river.

(19.) WHITE-EYED Duck (Nyroca australis)—Saw occasional ones at
Poonaranni and on Cooper, with other ducks.

ine.” Eos 137

(20.) BLUE-BILLED DUCK (£rismatura australis).— On most of the large
holes of the Diamantina one or two of these birds were seen, but owing to
their quickness in diving were hard to shoot.

(21.) DELICATE OWL (S¢rix delicatula).—These were plentiful on the
Cooper and Diamantina wherever there were soft loamy cliffs.

(22.) RED-NECKED AVOCET (Recurvirostra nove-hollandia). —Half a dozen
or so of these were seen on all the large holes of the two rivers.

(23.) SQUARE-TAILED KITE (Lophoictinia isura).—-Shot at Killalpaninna,
where it was fairly plentiful. Numbers were also seen at Kalamurina.

The skins of the undermentioned birds were unfortunately
lost when it was too late to replace them :—

(24.) CROW (Corvus coronotdes).—Abundant everywhere. The camel train
was often followed for miles by a small flock of them, and on camping they
nearly always reappeared. The popular idea is that the same flock follows
a caravan from start to finish, but we always lost sight of them in the long
desert stretches.

(25.) ROSE-BREASTED COCKATOO (GALAH) (Cacatua roseicapilla).—Very
plentiful about all rivers, their screech proving very irritating when stalking
ducks or other birds.

(26.) BLACK-FACED WOOD SWALLOW (Arvfamus melanops). — Fairly
numerous along all the rivers.

-(27.) CRESTED PIGEON (Ocyphaps lophotes).—Abundant wherever there
was water. Inno case did we find them at any distance from it.

(27A.) BLACK-THROATED GREBE (Podicipes nove-hollandie).—Numbers
of these were seen on all the sheets of water, whether salt or fresh, which we
passed on the route.

(28.) BLAacK Duck (Azas suferciliosa).—The only place where these
were abundant was at the Dulkininna bore.

(29.) GREY TEAL (WVe¢tion gibberifrons).—These ducks were the most
numerous, and were seen wherever there was water.

(30.) Noisy MINER (Manorhina garrula).—Two of these were shot at
Malkuni, others were seen at Kalamurina.

(31.) Pipit (Anthus australis).—Only one of these was seen, on the edge
of a native well on the Macumba.

(32.) WREN (Zaluris).

(33.) HONEY-EATER (Pézlotis keartlandi ?).—This resembled the Keartland
Honey-eater, but the markings were not quite so dark.

In addition were several other birds which I had _ not
determined.

The following birds were noted, but specimens were not
secured, viz. :—

(1.) BLack SWAN (Cygnus atrata).—Five Swans were seen at Lake
Kaillalpaninna, others were met with on the lower Diamantina.

(2.) PELICAN (Pelicanus conspicillatus).—These were also more numerous
on the Lower Diamantina.

(3.) WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE (Uroaétus audax).—A few were seen on the
Cooper and Diamantina,

(4.) CRANE (NATIVE COMPANION) (Aztigone australasiana).—The only
ones met with were those seen at Kopperamanna by Dr. Gregory.

138 The Emu.

(5.) EMU (Dromeus nove-hollandig).—Two mobs of these were seen by
other members of the party, but tracks were to be seen everywhere.

(6.) SOUTHERN STONE PLOVER (Burhinus grallarius).—These were
occasionally seen, and their notes frequently heard at night.

(7.) SPUR-WING PLOVER (Lodzvanellus lobatus).—Four of these Plovers
were seen at Malkuni—the only ones which we came across.

(8.) MUSK DUCK (Szziura lobata).—Only one was noticed (Poonaranni).
Several cartridges were wasted upon it in vain, owing to its diving abilities
and the width of the river at this place.

(9.) WHITE IBIs (/é¢s mo/ucca).—The only bird of this species was seen
near Kalamurina.

(10.) STRAW-NECKED IBIS (Carphibis spinicollis).—Several were seen near
Kalamurina.

(11.) MAGPIE LARK (Grallina picata).—A few Grallinas were seen at
Kalamurina.

(12.) WILD TURKEY, OR BUSTARD (Eupodotis australis).—These were
‘ seen along all the rivers. Several flocks of from a dozen to twenty were
seen on the Diamantina.

(13.) YELLOW-LEGGED SPOONBILL (Platibis flavifes)—Two or three
flocks were seen at Kalamurina.

(14.) MAGPIE (Gymmnorhina tibicen ?)— Three Magpies—possibly this
species—were seen at Killalpaninna.

(16.) BLACK-EARED CUCKOO (Wsocalius patliolatus).—-One or two noted
on the Diamantina.

(17.) CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo ?).—A flock of Cormorants,
resembling the common Black, were observed at Kalamurina.

(18.) PIED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax ?).—A Pied Cormorant was
only seen in the distance. Not sure of its identification.

(19.) WHITE-NECKED HERON (Wotophoyx pacifica).—Kalamurina. One
or two others were noted.

(20.) WARBLING GRASS-PARRAKEET (Melopsitiacus undulatus).—Fairly
abundant between Poonaranni and Oanna.

(21.) BLACK AND WHITE FAN-TAIL (RAzpidura tricolor).—Two or three
were seen at Kuttupirra, and a like number at Kalamurina.

(22.) WHITE-HEADED STILT (Aizmantopus Jleucocephalus).—A Stlt

answered the description of the above, but its barking cry resembled that of
the Banded Stilt.

| Mr. Lyons is to be complimented for the number of birds he
has collected, especially when the hardships of transport—
always on the move, &c.—are considered, also the time occupied
in skinning specimens (often under difficulties), not to mention
the prevailing exceedingly hot weather. As it was, some of
the specimens shot had to be abandoned, together with other
baggage. His field notes are interesting, and give a good idea
of the extent of bird-life in that dreary desert region. Mr.
Lyons saw many more birds than those he has enumerated, but
they could not be identified with certainty.—EDs. |

The E.mit 139

Captain Hutton on Migratory Birds of New Zealand.

CAPTAIN F. W. Hutton, F.R.S., Christchurch, New Zealand,
President of the Australasian Association for the Advancement
of Science, amongst other attainments has long been an ornith-
ologist of repute. Hence anything he may have to say about
birds is worth notice, and his paper on “ Our Migratory Birds,”
contained in the “ Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute ” for
last year, will be read with general interest. The wide problems
connected with bird migration and geographical distribution are
ably reviewed by the light of the latest knowledge, and a valuable
series of notes on those birds which in their yearly flight or other-
wise visit New Zealand are also embodied inthe paper. Though
these notes are, of course, local to those islands, they have a
bearing on the work of bird students in Australia, since some of
the species named touch our shores in their passage, and others
have passed hence.

In dealing with his subject the author has drawn the line
between “stragglers,” which may have been blown to sea and
forced to fly on; those wanderers who pass from one country to
another for what is often an inexplicable reason; and those
regular migrants who have fixed seasons for arrival and de-
parture. The list of the first-named class includes several cases
of birds which have managed to cross the Tasman Sea (by way
of Australia) and to reach New Zealand. Amongst these are
cited the Red-capped Dottrel (4-gzalztis ruficapil/a), Curlew
(Numentus cyanopus), Little Whimbrel (Mesoscolopax minutus),
Grey-rumped Sandpiper (ffeteractitzes brevipes), Greenshank
(Glottzs nebularts), Snipe (Gallinago australis), Grey Phalarope
(Crymophilus fulicartus), Plumed Whistling Duck (Dendrocycna
eytont), Darter (Plotus nove-hollandie), Kestrel (Cerchnezs cen-
chroides), Red-wattle Bird (Acanthochera carunculata), Tree
Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Roller (Lurystomus pacificus),
and White-rumped Swift (Wacropus pacificus). The captain
adds—“ Possibly there may be a few others, but their cases are
not fully proved.” However, the Whimbrel (Vusmenzus varze-
gatus) and the Black-billed Spoonbill (P/atalea regia) might have
been included with safety. None of the foregoing birds has
been known to breed in New Zealand, and they are often only
single examples. The distance across the Tasman Sea is about
1,0co miles, which Captain Hutton reckons could be accom-
plished by a bird in from 24 to 36 hours.

The mysterious migration of the White-eye (Zosterops
cerulescens) from Australia is ever fresh to students. The
author states :—

“The date of its first occurrence in Otago is doubtful, but in 1856 it
appeared on both sides of Cook Strait in considerable numbers. _ Before
then it was unknown both to the Europeans and the Maoris, the latter
calling it ‘Tauhau,’ which means ‘a stranger.’ In 1860-61 it had spread

I40 The Emu.

over the South Island and the southern parts of the North Island, but it did
not reach Auckland until 1865. It has also spread to the Chatham Islands,
Snares, Auckland Islands, and Campbell Island. Evidently it is a new
arrival, for the restless habits of the bird forbid us from thinking that it had
remained for many years in Otago without spreading northward. I should
call the White-eye a wanderer, and not a straggler, for, unlike the others, it
crossed the ocean in sufficiently large numbers to establish itself both in
New Zealand and afterwards in the outlying islands. Several other of our
birds—especially some of the Herons, Rails, and Ducks—are also found in
Australia, and these we assume were at one time wanderers like the White-
eye. They also, at different times crossed over the sea, and became
naturalised, but long before the settlement of the country by Europeans.”

The more reguiar migrants—those that breed in Siberia and
Kamtchatka, and travel to the South to winter—are next
considered. Of the feathered stream which passes every year
through the Malay Archipelago to Australia, a small branch—
three or four species—leaves New Guinea for New Zealand. Of
these the Barred-rumped Godwit (Lzmosa nove-zealandt@) is the
best known. Leaving their breeding grounds in Eastern
Siberia the end of June or in July, and passing China, some
winter in the Island of Formosa. Others arrive in August or
September in Australia,* Fiji, &c., departing again northward
early in autumn. In New Zealand many Godwits arrive during
October, November, and December, spreading as far south as
Stewart Island,f and leaving about the end of March or
beginning of April. Some also visit the Chatham Islands.

The Turnstone (Avenarza interpres), the Knot (Trnga
canutus), the Brown-eared Sandpiper, or Sharp-tailed Stint
(Heteropygia acuminata), and the Spotted (Lesser Golden)
Plover (Charadrius dominicus), are mentioned, with equally
interesting records and details. With regard to a pair of
Golden Plover having bred at Portland Island, as reported by
Mr. C. H. Robson, most students will agree with Captain
Hutton that the occurrence, if a fact—with the birds, too, being
in winter or non-breeding dress—is certainly very remarkable.
As has been pointed out, such introduced birds as European
Linnets, Starlings, Goldfinches, &c., change both dress and
breeding season together on coming to the Southern Hemi-
sphere.

The two Cuckoos—the Bronze (Chalcococcyx luctdus) and the
Long-tailed (Uvodynamzs taztenszs)—furnish material for some
exceedingly interesting paragraphs. The Bronze Cuckoo
appears regularly in the northern parts of New Zealand during
the latter half of September, and early in October it is found in
Wellington and in the South Island. After breeding, the old
birds commence to return in January. Some of the young leave
considerably later than their parents. In the adjacent Chatham

* In spring—September or October—numbers of these birds are often offered for
sale in the Melbourne market.—EDs.

+ Three Godwits were shot by Mr Borchgrevink on Campbell ay during the
cruise of the whaler Aztarcizc, 1894.—EDs.

The) oan 141

Islands the birds arrive and depart about the same dates as in
New Zealand. On the Chathams, on one occasion, a bird was
noticed to arrive so tired after its flight that it suffered itself to
be picked up and handled.*

The author is of opinion that the New Zealand Bronze Cuckoos
have their winter home in New Guinea, and, excepting touching
at Cape York, Northern Queensland, their course is direct to
New Zealand, save those that land and breed on Norfolk Island.
May some of the birds not travel down Eastern Australia, seeing
there is a specimen in the Australian Museum which was taken
in Tasmania ?

Touching the very interesting Double-banded Dottrel (Ochtho-
dromus btcenctus) the author states it has been “ suspected”
of migrating from New Zealand to Australia, but thinks “ it may
be safely affirmed that it does not pass regularly ” between these
localities. Judging by the numbers (a flock of 50 birds being
recorded in one instance) of these Dottrels which appear
regularly in autumn and disappear before spring, notably in
Victoria, as well as Tasmania, and by the fact that eggs have
never been found in any part of Australia, the assumption is that
these birds must return regularly to New Zealand, their only
breeding quarters.

It is doubtful whether the Pectoral Rail (Hypotenidia philip-
pinensis) is a migrant in the true sense in its more Australian
quarters, as stated by Captain Hutton. The fact that these
birds do not migrate in New Zealand, tends to prove that that
trait may be similar in the same species on this side of the
Tasman Sea.

Understanding that Captain Hutton is au fazt at sea birds, we
should have expected him to touch on the Mutton Bird (Pufinus
tenuzrostris), which happens to be attracting so much attention
at present, and which is as truly a migrant as any of the birds
he has enumerated and so pleasantly and instructively dilated
upon. It has rookeries on the New Zealand coast and neigh-
bouring islands. Possibly it has been regarded as a pelagic bird
which only visits land to breed, and its visitations have not been
looked upon as pertaining to migration from one part of the
world to another.

Prosecutions under the Victorian “Game Act.”

THE authorities are to be thanked for their vigilance in the
matter of prosecuting transgressors of the game laws. Notwith-
standing the law needs amending in some of its important
details, as it stands it affords a very good protection to native

* A Bronze Cuckoo in a similarly exhausted state was noted much further south, on
Macquarie Island.—‘‘ Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds” (Campbell), p. 580.—EDs.
+ ‘‘ Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds,” p. 791.—EDs.

142 The Emu.

game and insectivorous birds if its provisions are duly respected
by an intelligent public. If the law be deemed “a hass,” then
purely on the grounds of national or esthetic sentiment let not
our beautiful and interesting feathered friends be molested.

According to The Argus of 31st January, 1902, “ Constable
Neill, on the day previous to the opening of the duck-shooting
season, went down to Grasse’s Swamp disguised as a sportsman,
and found three Teal in the possession of a man named John
M‘Cauley, who had been out on the swamp ina boat. He at
first denied having shot them, but afterwards admitted having
done so. He was brought before the local Court to-day and
fined 5s.,and 5s. for each bird shot ; costs 21s. He was then
charged by Mr. G. T. Chirnside with trespassing on his land
with a gun in pursuit of game, this case arising out of the
previous one. For this he was fined 20s. and 23s. costs.” The
three Teal cost M‘Cauley 44 4s. Rather a small but dear
bag.

The Geelong Advertiser reports that “at Lake Modewarre
Constables Gleeson and Young paid a surprise visit to the lake
on Tuesday night, and seized two guns from a well-known
shooter there.* The barrels measured 4 ft. 6 in. in length, being
one foot over the regulation size. The guns are very weighty
weapons, and with them has been forwarded a padded support
to receive the recoil when fired from the bottom of a punt. The
seizure was made by Constable Gleeson. Constable Young,
who was in another portion of the lake, saw a second boat put
out with a similar gun init. He called upon the man to stop,
but this he refused to do, and the offender eventually made his
escape.”

The Shepparton Advertiser, 31st January, 1902, gives promin-
ence (nearly a column) to a Quail-shooting case. At the local
Court Michael Halpin and C. G. Hayes were summoned by
Sergeant Morris for killing a brace of Quail each during close
season. The Bench imposed a fine of 41 upon each offender
bes des 5s. per bird. W. M. Harper was charged with having in
his possession a Quail in the close season, but on technical
gsrounds this case was dismissed.

Bird Protection in America.

AS mentioned in the first issue of 7e Emu, the American Ornith-
ologists’ Union is very active in the matter of protecting bird
life and preventing its unnecessary destruction. In vol. xix. of
The Auk (No. I, January, 1902, pp. 31-54) accounts are given
by Mr. Witmer Stone and Mr. W. Dutcher of the proceedings of
the committee appointed for the purpose, recording the work

* Subsequently the offender, whose name is William Wood, was proceeded against
by Mr. C. W. Maclean, Chief Inspector of Fisheries. The guns, which cost £21 Ics.,
were forfeited, and in addition Wood was fined £1, with £1 Is. costs.

=e Emu 143

done and describing the success achieved. Upto Igo! only five
States had satisfactory laws for the protection of non-game birds,
but during that year eleven more Legislatures were induced
either to amend their old laws in the desired direction or pass
new ones on the lines of a bill which had been drafted for the
Union by Dr. T. 8. Palmer, who (acting for the Biological
Survey of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) has so vigor-
ously and efficiently enforced what is known as the Lacey Act
that a great deal has been done towards suppressing the trade
in birds for millinery purposes. This Act is said to have “spread
consternation amongst illicit game dealers throughout the
country.’ In the district of Columbia retail dealers who had
been served with printed extracts from it refused to keep or
sell plumes, and returned them to the New York wholesale
houses. In that city, dealers who had protected birds in their
possession were prosecuted, and “paid the fines rather than
defend the suit.”

Along the Atlantic coast wardens visit the various breeding
erounds of Gulls, Terns, &c., and keep so keen an eye on
illegal shooters and egg-collectors that those birds have
greatly increased in number, and in one district the leading
supplier said ‘‘he guessed shooting birds for hats was over.”
The work has not been confined to the eastern coast. In
Chicago the trade in American cage-birds has been prac-
tically suppressed, and from California it is reported that, as
far as known, no birds are now collected there for the millinery
trade. Over a large area of the States considerable activity in
the matter is shown, more particularly when the ladies have been
enlisted in the cause. In Atlanta one lady had, “unaided,
secured the pledges of over 3,000 of the best women of her State
that they would not in the future use the plumage of wild birds
as millinery ornaments . . . . and throughher efforts over
2,500 school children of Atlanta were subscribers to a pledge
not to harm or annoy wild birds.” Much of the success achieved
is due to Mr. Abbot H. Thayer, who alone collected what is
known as the “ Thayer Fund,’ used principally for the expenses
of wardens and the posting of warning notices in conspicuous
places, and still more perhaps to the aid of the various Audubon
societies, who seem very earnest in the cause.

That the movement in favour of bird protection is spreading
from the new to the old world is evident by the fact that a
cablegram has appeared in the newspapers announcing that
His Majesty King Edward and Queen Alexandra have strongly
deprecated the killing of birds in order to secure their feathers
for trimmings for ladies’ hats. Their Majesties were prompted
to take this action on being informed that a milliner had entered
into a contract for 10,000 Seagulls’ wings for London and Paris
orders. Australasia should lose no time in falling into line in
this matter.

144 The “Remus

Stray Feathers.

DOES THE FEMALE EMU EVER INCUBATE? At Anlaby, the
beautiful estate and home of Mr. Henry Dutton, a small paddock,
adjoining the gardens, is set apart as a home for deer, kangaroo,
and Emu. This season (1901) the female Emu made a nest in
a secluded corner amongst the gum trees, and deposited there
five eggs, upon which she sat contentedly for nine weeks.
During this time she was fed daily by one of the gardeners, and
in due season marched off with three young birds. They all
kept by themselves, aloof from the other birds. The two eggs
that proved to be infertile have had small punctures made in them,
and will be taken by Mr. Dutton to England as a curiosity from
his Australian home.

Of course, I have always heard that the male Emu helped in
sitting on the eggs, &c., but not entirely. On my old wild run
in Port Lincoln they were very plentiful at certain seasons ; but
a few times that I actually saw the bird run off the nest it was.
a female. In this case, the gardener says that the female bird
kept to the nest all through the sitting, and walked off with the
young ones, and they kept entirely together for some weeks,
until the other big birds, male and female, gradually joined them;
and one day he pointed out to me the Emu with her brood, and
it was a female bird. Many a time, when mustering sheep on
wild heathy hills, we have seen a mob of Emu 5 to 17 in
number. On slipping off our horses, and whistling plaintively,
the birds would come around us, full of curiosity, within a few
feet. They are such noble, majestic birds, so harmless, and
reminding one of the Arabian Desert, not forgetting the wonder-
ful and rather sad expression of their eye, that it always seemed
to me a wicked and cursed thing to kill them.—HENRY HOL-

ROVD.. , Darlee: srk.
* * *

A ROOKERY OF NUTMEG PIGEONS (Carpophaga spilorrhoa,)
—Being informed that pigeons were plentiful along the Seymour
River, a few miles north of the Herbert, and also that they were
supposed to breed in the mangroves at the mouth of the river
and in Hinchinbrook Channel, I availed myself of the first
opportunity which presented itself of paying them a visit. On
28th December last I went down the Seymour by boat,
arriving near the mouth late in the afternoon. Pigeons were
just beginning to arrive in small flocks from their feeding
grounds up the river, but later on, as sunset approached, they
appeared literally in hundreds, all making for the islands in the
mouth of the river. We accordingly headed for the largest
island, and moored our boat close in shore for the night, intend-
ing to investigate the birds early in the morning. By this time
the clamour of the roosting Pigeons was tremendous, and was
added to by the notes of countless small birds, continuing for

‘AAVYDSINOD ‘d *O AS “OLOHd VY WOYS

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IX

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The Emu.

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The Emu. 145

some time after dark. With the first flush of daylight we were
ashore, and speedily shot what Pigeons we wanted for the pot.
On pushing across to the east end of the island, where the
greater number of birds seemed to have congregated, we came
upon their nests. The first one I found contained an incubated
egg, which I could see plainly through the nest, which was of
the scantiest description, perfectly flat, and hardly large enough
to contain the single egg. It was placed on a horizontal fork
ina “red mangrove,” about 15 feet from the ground. I after-
wards found upwards of thirty nests, nearly all containing young
or incubated eggs, but no nest with more than one egg or
young bird. They were all of the same frail build, some consist-
ing only of about 20 twigs roughly interwoven. On _ one
occasion we found two nests in the same tree. We explored
the remainder of the island, walking knee-deep in slimy black
mud all the time, but there were no more nests. We then
visited two of the smaller islets, but only on one did we find
nests—two altogether, both containing young. It was now
about 7 a.m., and the Pigeons were leaving in great numbers,
and as we could find no more breeding places, we soon after-
wards took our departure. A young bird which we took from
the nest is now quite tame, and will take food from the hand.
The eggs are pure white, smooth, and slightly glossy—in form
oval as a rule, but some are more lengthened than others, and
the measurements show considerable difference. One egg I
took is visibly much larger than any of the others in both
measurements. I give the measurements of four specimens :—
Pies oe x t-24 inch = (G0) 1.8% x 1-2 inch ; (c) 1.75 x 1.17 inch;
(Z) 1.7 x 1.23 inch— EDGAR H. WEBB. 15/1/02. “ Macknade,”
Herbert River, N.Q.

* * *

A FLIGHT OF MUTTON BIRDS.—Captain Waller, of the
s.s. Westvalza, when passing near Eddystone Point, on the east
coast of Tasmania, on his way from New Zealand to Melbourne,
on 26th January, 1902, passed, early in the morning, an immense
flight of Mutton Birds (Puffinus tenuzrostrzs) from seven to nine
miles long, going due south, probably on their way to some
favourite feeding area. They had evidently left the extensive
rookeries on the Furneaux Group of islands in Bass Strait at
daylight, after having spent a night on shore, as the nesting was
then in full swing. When we think of the vast host of birds
seen, that probably each one had left a mate behind sitting on an
egg at the bottom of their burrow, and remember that both birds
are sometimes in the burrow together (so that even half the birds
belonging to this particular colony would not be included in the
flight seen), a little idea of their incalculable number can be
formed. It can also be understood how 600,000 young birds .
can (as asserted) be taken from the rookeries, and yet plenty be

146 The Emu.

left to make up for losses that must occur during the year. As
these birds only lay one egg, it is evident that they cannot have
many enemies except man, and when one bears in mind the
fact that both eggs and young birds have been taken from the
rookeries to the number of many hundreds of thousands every
year for the past forty or more years, and that during that time
the number of young birds taken alone would number probably
considerably over 24,000,000, the length of time it must have
taken to bring these birds up to their present immense numbers
is apparent. The eggs taken also would not fall far short of the
number mentioned. There are large rookeries besides those in
Bass Strait—for instance, those on the islands to the south of
South Australia, near Kangaroo Island, and also many others off
the coast of New Zealand.—D. LE SOUEF.

i * *

NOTE.—NANKEEN. HERONS.—When in company with Mr.
A. J. Campbell one evening in the middle of January, in the
Melbourne Zoological Gardens, we heard a European Starling
crying out as if in great distress, and evidently caught by
another bird. On approaching a thick willow tree by a lagoon
to find the cause, we heard the cries repeated some distance off
in another tree, showing that the bird in distress was carried
further away by its captor. Again following the noise, I
caused a large bird to fly close to where Mr. Campbell was
standing, who then saw it was a Nankeen Night Heron
(Nycticorax caledonicus) that had the Starling in its beak.
When the Heron saw Mr. Campbell it dropped its prey, which
fell dead, and flew off. This is the first time we have noticed
these Herons performing the part of a bird of prey when wild,
although we have known them to devour Quail and Dottrel
that were confined with them in the same enclosure-—D.

LE SOUEF.
* * *

EFFECTS OF DROUGHT.—Last year took the record for
minimum rainfall, and the absence of rain may somewhat
explain the lateness in the hatching of birds. For instance,
to-day I have two nests of Black and White Fan-tails, or
Shepherd’s Companions, with young just come to light. I
never knew them to be so late as this. All the swamps have
been dry during last 18 months, so no large birds are about.—
C. W. BRUSH. Boondara, Booligal, N.S.W., 2/1/02. —

* * *

DROUGHT IN QUEENSLAND.— There is nothing much to
mention about the birds now, consequent upon the doleful
drought. We have a drought-stricken family of 10 little Water

The Emu. 147

Crakes here. They are brown, with a little white spot on the
wing. We also have 8 common (Brown) Quail about the
garden, which are so tame that they will hardly get out of one’s
road. A Black and White Fan-tail fights its own reflection in
the window glass. It has been at it steadily from the beginning
of November, and seems quite gay, though a trifle ragged. He
shapes at it first thing in the morn, and is sometimes there till
dark.—ERNEST D. BARNARD. Coomooboolaroo, 22/1/02.

* * *

WHITE Ipis.—Under date of Ist February, 1902, Mr. M.
Gubbins Roche writes :—“ Whilst driving through the forest
last week between Heywood and Dartmoor (Vic.) I came across,
in a secluded swamp,a flock of 200 White Ibis. Their only
companions were two Yellow-legged Spoonbills, some Crested
Grebes, and a wisp of large Snipe. I have never seen the White
Ibis before in such numbers, usually only a few birds in flocks
of Straw-necked or Glossy Ibis.”

* * *

Do: Musk Ducks FLy?—Mr. Chas. G. Hamilton, Perth,
W.A., states :—“ It is mentioned in Mr. A. J. Campbell’s book,
‘Nests and Eggs, that there is considerable doubt about the
Musk Duck flying, and letters are given from people, some
affirming, others denying, that it does so. Till recently I did
not think the bird could fly more than very short distances along
the surface of the water. However, we had a shooting trip
lately, and I was with a friend when he shot one in mistake for
a Black Duck. The bird was flying high over us, and was
going very fast. It must have come from another swamp,
which is about a mile distant. This occurred just at dusk.”

* * *

CAIRNS NOTES.—Shining Starling (Calornis)—24th No-
vember, 1901.—I examined a series of 14 nests, which all
contained young birds ; three of these had four birds each, and
one four birds and one addled egg; the balance held twos and
threes.

Long-tailed Kingfisher —22nd December, 1901. a Pe birds ;
several nests ready for eggs. 29th December.—Birds plentiful,
also many nests, but only one egg. 5th January, 1902.—Birds
plentiful, also nests ; eggs taken; clutches, 3, 3, 3, 2. One nest
contained young birds, one nest just vacated, and two ready for
eggs. 11th January.—Birds very plentiful; eggs taken; clutches,
3, 3, one slightly incubated. Several nests just ready for eggs.
Same day, 3 eggs Scrub Turkey.

Black-backed Quail—igth January. beTook clutch 4 eggs.—
E, M. CORNWALL.

148 The Emu.

A Lusus NATUR#.—I saw an extraordinary Magpie the other
day while cycling from Yinnar to Morwell, Gippsland. It had
light chocolate-brown markings instead of black, and at a dis-
tance, when flying, it appeared almost white. The bird was
evidently young, with other Magpies, and was in a wattle tree
close to another bird when I examined the markings from a
distance of about 50 feet. I took a %-plate photo of the freak,
but it will be too small for any practical purpose.—J. P. CAMP-
BELL. Murrumbeena, 7/2/02.

* * *

AUSTRALIAN BIRDS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE—At the
exhibition of the London and Provincial Ornithological Society,
held at the Crystal Palace, November last, the best bird in the
Parrakeet class was a female of the Golden-shouldered Parrakeet
(Psephotus chrysopterygius). In the class for Waxbills, &c., a
pair of Red-faced Grass Finches (Sathzlda ruficauda) received
first award ; a pair of White-breasted Grass Finches (J/unza
pectoralts) being second. In the mixed class for seed-eaters
the first prize was won by a pair of Long-tailed Grass Finches
(Poephila acuticauda), the second bya pair of White-eared Grass
Finches (P. /eucotzs). The class for insectivorous birds included
Wood-Swallows (Artamus personatus and A. superciliosus) and a
Sacred Kingfisher (flalcyon sanctus).

* * *

AWARDS FOR AVICULTURE. — The Avicultural Society
awards a bronze medal to any of its members who succeed in
breeding, in the United Kingdom, any species of bird that has
not been known to have previously bred in captivity in Great
Britain or Ireland. The following Australian birds have
brought success to their owners, viz.:—Long-tailed Grass Finch
(Poephila acutizcauda),in 1897, owner Mr. R. A. Todd; Green-
Leek (Polytelts barrabandz), in 1900, owner Rev. C. D. Farrar ;
Masked Grass-Finch (Poephzla personata), in 1900, owner Mr. L.
N. Hawkins; Pink Cockatoo (Cacatua leadbeatert), in 1901,
owner Mrs. Johnstone; Red-faced Grass-Finch (Sathilda ruji-
cauda), in 1901, owner Mr. A. E. Nicholson.

* * *

EmMuUsS IN NORTH AUSTRALIA.—From casual observation
I think the full-grown Emu in North Australia attains a larger
size than in the southern parts of the continent, and is usually
darker in colour, and the striping in the young lasts to a greater
age than in the New South Wales Emu. Probably this is due
to climatic and local causes, and not to any variation of ‘species.
Since I explored and settled my present holding on the Victoria
River, North-West Australia, Emus have increased in numbers,

The” Emu, ~ 149

owing to the poisoning off of the dingoes and the supplying
of regular work and food to the natives.—JOE BRADSHAW.
St. Kilda, Victoria.

* * %

SNIPE ON MIGRATION.—I observed two flights of Snipe (Ga/-
linago australis) passing over Sorrento, going north, on the 25th
January. They had evidently crossed Bass Strait from the islands
there or from Tasmania. They flew very low for snipe. They
seemed to be heading towards Mud Island. I saw them at
about 5 a.m., whilst I was making for a distant spot to fish off
the rocks facing Bass Strait. There were in the first flight
about 20 birds, and in the second lot about 10 or 12, which
passed about seven or eight minutes after—A. MATTINGLEY.

* * *

MIGRATION OF SWIFTS.—A flight of many hundreds of
Spine-tailed Swifts (Chetura caudacuta) passed over Bass Strait
on 7th February, apparently from Tasmania, making their way
due north. They were flying low and catching insects as they
went, and were evidently migrating to the Northern Hemi-
sphere, where they breed. I should be glad to know if any
member of the Aust. O.U. has ever seen one of these birds
resting either on a tree or on the ground.—D. LE SOUEF.

A severe whirlwind passed through Richmond and Burnley,
suburbs of Melbourne, on the afternoon of 24th February, 1902.
As it advanced, a party of Swifts was observed circling high
up among the aébvzs that was drawn up, finding there probably
a number of insects caught up in the aérial whirlpool.—A. G.
CAMPBELL, Armadale.

From Magazines.

IN the first (January) number of the Agricultural Journal of
Victorza Mr. Charles French, F.L.S., Government Entomologist,
contributes a chatty and useful article on “ Economic Ento-
mology and Ornithology,” dealing chiefly with the former
science, upon which he is so well able to write. He mentions
that “the fruit-growers of Victoria and elsewhere are partially
indebted for the large increase of insect pests, all and sundry,”
to so-called sportsmen—“ pot-hunters,” &c.—who have shot and
“still continue to shoot down our valuable insectivorous birds.”
This is true, but may not the inevitable reclaiming of forested
and bush lands for cultivation by orchardists and farmers
themselves—thus destroying the natural domains of these birds
—have also contributed in some measure to the decrease of
valuable insect-eating birds ?

150 The Emu.

The article is followed by another—a very important one
by Mr. French, on “ The Necessity for the Preservation ; of sour
Insect-destroying Birds,” to which is subjoined a list of) the
principal insectivorous birds of Victoria. It will be noticed that
the list contains a few unsuitable and obsolete names, which
for educational purposes might now be allowed to drop into
oblivion in favour of up-to-date nomenclature. By some
inadvertence, too, the Blue Petrel—an ocean flyer; chiefly
between the 40° and 60° south latitudes—-has been allowed to
slip into the list. of “insectivorous birds,’ while it perhaps
would be better to let the Whistling (Tree) Duck and the fine
Topknot Pigeon (Lopholemus antarcticus) remain on the “Native
Game Schedule.”

The intention to give a coloured figure of one or other of
the most useful insectivorous birds in each number of the
Agricultural Journal is a good one.

* * *

In the November number of the Avzcultural Magazine the
Rev. H. D. Astley, M.A., F.Z.S., records the interesting fact of
a pair of our “ Native Companions” having nested in his
grounds in England. Although many of these birds are kept in
captivity in Europe, this is the first time any of them have
made a serious attempt to breed. In May last the pair began
to build on the margin of a small lake, but afterwards chose
another site a few yards away. ‘Towards the end of May the
female laid two eggs, but one of these was stolen and the second
removed to be incubated by a farmyard hen, who failed to hatch
it. “In eight days’ time the Crane laid the first of a second
batch of eggs in the same nest as before, omitting, as she had
previously done, one day between the production of the first and
second:eggs. On this second clutch she sat steadily for ten
days,” when for the second time the eggs were stolen, probably
by other birds. “Some ten days after the female bird once
more took up her position on the same nest, which she added
to slightly and re-arranged In a fortnight the first egg of a
third clutch was laid, which was again followed by another
egg two days afterwards. But, alas! after the Crane had sat
only a few days the eggs were once more taken. . . . Surely
that was the end of all things for the first year of the 20th
century. But in August, about a fortnight after this last
calamity, the female Australian Crane was once more to be
seen re-arranging her nest and sitting on it. And once more
‘this pertinacious and prolific bird laid, for the fourth time of
asking, two eggs—dquite as fine and large, moreover, as any of
their predecessors. These eggs also unfortunately disappeared.”
As a forcible instance of “reserve fecundity” the foregoing
is noteworthy, and when this and the many recorded

The Emu. 151

instances of Australian birds laying again, sometimes
twice, after their eggs have been taken or some accident has
befallen the nest, are borne in mind, the arguments of those who
object to a few eggs being taken for museum purposes lose
much of their weight.

* *& *

How five pairs of Warbling Grass-Parrakeets (“ Betcherry-
gahs”’) and five pairs of their progeny reared 104 young birds be-
tween one February and the next, in an aviary in Essex, is noted
by Miss Brampton in the Avzcultural Magazine for December.
She had many failures before getting the birds to breed, and
eventually got some “‘aviary-bred birds of good breeding strain,”
and in about two months was puzzled to find a stranger in the
aviary, and in the course of a week or two twelve grand young
birds had madé their appearance. “ After this,’ she says, “ the
youngsters came so thick and fast that they overflowed into my
other aviaries until they were overcrowded, and still they came.”
When the young birds were disposed of the two old pairs
retained gave up nesting seriously. As another instance of the
fecundity of some Australian birds the above is worth noting.
Allowing an average of seven eggs to each clutch, which is pro-
bably beyond the mark, and that every egg was fertile, there
must have been 15 clutches of eggs laid by these few birds
during the year, and as the young birds would not be likely to
breed for some months after hatching, the old ones must have
done the bulk of the work. Whilst in Adelaide last November
visiting members of the Union were shown these pretty Parra-
keets breeding in the aviaries of Mr. Mellor, at Fulham.

* * *

THE N.Z. AGRICULTURAL REPORT (1900) states that a
number of Magpie Larks (Grad/zna) was obtained from Aus-
tralia and liberated at Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington.
These birds have since been seen in localities widely separated
and at considerable distances from the places at which they were
liberated. This seems to indicate that they are establishing
themselves in their new land. The importation will be continued.
The birds feed exclusively on insects and small snails. Unfor-
tunately, several have been shot by settlers, who possibly did not
know the value of these birds as insect-destroyers.

* * *

“NOTES FROM THE LEYDEN (HOLLAND) MUSEUM,” VOLS. .
XXII. and X XIII.—Dr. Otto Finsch has kindly forwarded four-
teen of his papers (excerpts from this journal) relating to
Australasian sub-regions. The papers will be useful as lists of
reference for any member working beyond the Australian

152 The Emu.

region, and it is very thoughtful of Dr. Finsch to send them to
the newly-formed Aust. O.U. The doctor, in his notes on a
collection of birds from the north-west coast of New Guinea
(Sekru), vol. xxii, p. 62, includes with Syma torotoro (Less.)
our S. flavirostris (Gould). Mr. Hartert, in “ Novi Zool.,” vi,

Pp. 427 (1899), disagrees with this. Any member with available
specie should note the opinions. Attention is also drawn to
Climacterts scandens and C. leucophea, vol. xxiii., p. 60, and the
names given of four or five species of Clzmacterzs which are
among the des:derata of the Museum. In vol. xxii., p. 276, the
old name of Artamus leucorhynchus (Linn.) is used, and our A.
leucogaster is included. Mr. Hartert places our bird as a sub-
species, Artamus leucorhynchus parvirostris. Inthe same volume,
p. 278, Pztta clegans is shown to extend its distribution to Kisser.
Again, in the same vol., p. 282, our Northern Cuculus intermedius
(Vahl.) is noted. According to Dr. Sharpe priority in name is
given to Hodgson’s saturatus, so that our C. zztermedzus (Vahl.)
is now C. saturatus, Hodg. (Handbook B. M., ii, p. 158, 1900).
The Sekru (north-west coast of New Guinea) collection made
by Mr. Karl Schadler contains 76 species, of which 20 are

Australian.
: * * *

A PAMPHLET forwarded by Mr. Reginald C. Robbins, 373
Washington-street, Boston, and bearing the title, “ Bird-killing
as a Method in Ornithology,” is devoted to a laboured argument
to prove that killing birds for scientific study is something more
than unnecessary. The author claims therein to “have shown
that the dead bird differs from the live bird as an object of
science by being a chronicle which is the more pitiably in-
sufficient the more precise is its reference to the bird killed,”
and urges that far more than enough specimens have already
been procured for teaching, were the collections merged and
made generally available. There is no doubt a great deal of
bird life sacrificed in the name of science (some perchance
unnecessarily, hence much to be regretted), but Mr. Robbins
has hardly chosen the best method of effecting a reform. He
takes pedantry for precision in argument, and certainly will not
be readily “understanded of the people.” A simpler statement
of the case would have proved more effective.

* % *

Mr. A. J. NORTH, in the January issue of the “ Records of the
Australian Museum” (iv., No. 5, pp. 209, 210), publishes a “ Note
on Malurus leucopterus, Quoy and Gaimard,” which he says
“was sent last July to Melbourne for publication in the Vzctorzan
Naturalest, but was temporarily (?) withdrawn, pending an
application to the Western Australian Museum, Perth, for the
loan of the type.” In this note he mentions that, after referring

re. Ecryiu. 153

to the original drawing and description in the “Zoology and
Atlas of the Voyage de l’Uranie,” he finds “that Gould had
good grounds for doubting if the bird figured and described by
him under this name in his ‘Birds of Australia’ was not
distinct from the species to which it had been originally applied
by Quoy and Gaimard,’ and after quoting the description given
by the last-named naturalists, says :—“ The above diagnosis and
description clearly do not apply to the cobalt-blue bird from
New South Wales figured and described by Gould, and which
in future will have to be distinguished under the name of
Malurus cyanotus.” Since writing the foregoing Mr. North
had received a photograph of three specimens (as set up) of the
bird collected by Mr. J. T. Tunney on Barrow Island, N.W.
Australia, for the Western Australian Museum, and which has
been named J/7. edouardz. Concerning these, he says :—
“ Judging by the description and photograph, these birds are, in
my opinion, the true MWalurus leucopterus of Quoy and Gaimard
described 77 years ago.” It will be remembered that these
three specimens from Barrow Island were exhibited on 11th
March, 1901, at a meeting of the Field Naturalists’ Club of
Victoria by Mr. A. J. Campbell, who described them* and
suggested the new name, and that a photo. from Arago’s
original drawing of JZ. leucopterus accompanied one of J.
edouardi on p. 66 of The Emu. It had been previously stated
(p. 26) that should the black and white Wrens of Barrow and
Dirk Hartog Islands eventually prove the same _ species,
Gould’s long-standing provisional name of WW. cyanotus would
become the proper one for the blue and white bird. Reference
to the photographs will show that there are marked points of
distinction between Quoy and Gaimard’s MM. Jleucopterus and
M. edouardz, and that it requires some imagination to regard
them as identical, the more particularly as the measurements
given in the “ Voyage de l|’Uranie” for MW. leucopterus are 3
inches 4 lines (not “ about 4% inches,” as the paper under notice
might lead one to believe), whilst the total lengths of the
specimens of JW. edouardz exhibited in Melbourne were 4.5, 4.5,
and 4.75 inches respectively. Is it not, therefore, extremely
probable that Mr. North has been somehow led astray ? Possibly
not having the birds themselves to examine has been a cause of
error, and when specimens of both are before him he will
possibly reconsider his present decision. In any case, perhaps,
itis unfortunate that Mr. North did not give his opinion that
Gould’s blue and white bird could not refer to Quoy and
Gaimard’s ancient figure, and that the name J. cyanotus must
be adopted for the former, before the last-found black and
white Wren came on the f/afzs. To be wise after events is
like the story of “ Columbus and the Egg.”

* Vict. Nat., xvii., p. 203.

154 The’: Emu.

The IlIlustrations.

PLATE vii., “ Gannets Nesting.” This fine subject was taken by
Mr. D. Le Souéf on Cat Island during a recent trip to Bass
Strait, mentioned on page 79 of the previous part (2). During
the visit of a party from the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria
in 1893 it was estimated there were about 2,500 Gannets on
that island. It is pleasing to be able to report that in the
opinion of Mr. Le Souéf the number of birds is greater now.

Plate viii. “ Red-capped Dottrel’s Nest” and “ Pied Oyster-
catcher’s Nest.” These pictures were taken by Mr. Le Souéf
during the same excursion, and make admirable illustrations of
his paper, “ Protective Colouration,” &c.

Plate ix. The photograph of the nest of the White-headed
Osprey, which is situated on an isolated rock near the mouth of
the Margaret River, Western Australia, has been kindly for-
warded for reproduction by Mr. Bernard Woodward, Director of
the Perth Museum, and was taken by his assistant, Mr. C. P.
Conigrave. A petition has been presented to the Commissioner
of Crown Lands (W.A.) for the permanent reservation of the
site. Readers of “Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds” will
remember the description given therein of the difficulties which
beset those who wish to reach this spot. It would be interesting
to know whether or not the same pair of Ospreys own this
aérie as when Mr. Campbell photographed it eleven seasons ago.

Last, but by no means least, plate x. represents “ Taking
Topknot Pigeons’ Nests” in the Big Scrub. During his visit to
the scrubs of the Richmond River district of north-eastern New
South Wales, in 1899, Mr. S. W. Jackson succeeded in finding
many rare nests and eggs. Among his finds were two nests
with an egg each of the Topknot Pigeon (Lopholemus antarctecus).
Both nests were found on 26th October, 1899, and were built in
a very tall fig tree at an altitude of over 100 feet from the
ground, and were obviously very difficult to obtain—in fact,
they could not have been procured without the aid of a climbing
ladder. After taking the nests Mr. Jackson photographed
the tree, as the find was an important one. The crosses near
the top of the tree show the situations of the two nests. The
young man standing in the fork has lowered the ladder and just
finished the operations. The interesting finding of these
Pigeons’ nests is chronicled in “ Nests and Eggs” (Campbell),
page 672. -

To raise the Jackson climbing ladder a fine line weighted
with an ounce of lead is shot from a catapult over a limb at
the required height. On recovery of the weighted end it is

Taking Topknot Pigeons’ Nests.

FROM A PHOTO. BY S. W. JACKSON.

The Emu. 155

attached to a stronger line, and then toa one-inch rope which is
hauled over the limband downtothe ground. The ladder is now
attached and drawn up into position, the end of the guy line
being made secure to a heavy log or tree-trunk. The ladder is
120 feet in length and is made of the best Manila rope with
rungs of sound cedar. For the sake of convenience it is made
in two lengths, and may be rolled up and fitted into a bag.

All the photo. blocks were-engraved by Messrs. Patterson,
Shugg and Co., 256 Elizabeth-street, Melbourne.

About Members.

HERRN Adolph Nehrkorn, Braunschweig, Germany, is the first
foreign member to join the Australasian Ornithologists’ Union.
Herrn Nehrkorn possesses one of the largest scientifically--
classed egg collections in the world—nearly 4,000 species.
Although he has bequeathed his great collection to the Berlin
Museum, he retains possession of it during his lifetime, for, not-
withstanding his three score years, he is still an active collector.

Very general regret will be felt at the announcement that,
owing to continued ill-health, Dr. William Snowball has retired
—for the present, at all events—from his practice, to reside at
his country residence at Longwarry, Gippsland. On account
of his great skill, his enforced retirement, even for a short period,
will be a public loss as far as suffering humanity (especially
children) is concerned, while his metropolitan oological friends
will miss much his pleasant chats about their mutual hobbies.

Mr. Edward Degen, formerly of the National Museum, Mel-
bourne, and whose name has been mentioned in the “Beginnings ”
of the Australasian Ornithologists’ Union, has been engaged as
zoological collector to an expedition organized by Colonel
Harrington, the British Consul-General at the Court of King
Menelik, Abyssinia. A start is to be made by caravan from
Zaila, on the Somali Coast. “From Zaila,’ Mr. Degen writes
in a letter to one of the editors, from London, “ this journey will
be 500 miles overland to the capital, Ades Abbeta, which
for some time we shall make our headquarters. From here
excursions into the different districts will be made in all direc-
tions, while Lake Tsana or Dembea will be made the object of
thorough investigation from a piscine standpoint. -Of course big
game will also receive due attention, likewise the avifauna its due
share. The return journey will be made down the Blue Nile,
through the Dar Berta country and contiguous mountains, to
reach the Sobat River, called Addena at its head-waters. On
reaching the White Nile, south of Fashoda, we shall follow this
mighty artery to Khartoum, and in due course hope to reach
Cairo.” Mr. Degen expects the trip will occupy about nine
months’ time.

156 The Emu.

Since Mr. A. W. Milligan’s arrival in Perth from Victoria he
has presented no less than one hundred-and twenty-five birds
and twelve mammals to the local museum, in addition to other
help he has given, and so, to mark their appreciation, the Com-
mittee, at the suggestion of the Director, Mr. Bernard Woodward,
have offered to Mr. Milligan the position of Honorary Consult-
ing Ornithologist, which all concerned are glad he has accepted.
Mr. Milligan’s enthusiasm in the field may be judged by the
fact that his new Bristle Bird (Sphenura litoralis) was shot by
himself in the South-West after a fourdays’ chase. This inter-
esting bird lives in the dense coastal scrub, and runs through
cover instead of taking wing over it. In fact, Mr. Milligan only
obtained his type specimen by firing into the bush whence the
bird’s notes came, and so frightened it into flight, when with a
shot at a long range from his second barrel he secured the prize.

Correspondence, &c.

THE American Ornithologists’ Union has 44 active, 16 honorary,
62 corresponding, and 616 associate members. Grand total, 738.

A member in New Zealand writes :—“I received the second
instalment of Ze Emu not many days ago. It is a very good
number, and the editors are to be congratulated on the general
‘get up’ and the sustained interest of the magazine. Should
suitable contributions become scarce after a time, which is hardly
likely, I shali be pleased to contribute a paper now and again.”

Mr. Edwin Ashby, Adelaide, sends a leaflet from the Trans.
Roy. Soc. of S.A. (1901), containing “ A List of Birds ” collected
by himself in Western Australia during the end of August last.
Forty-two species are enumerated (with brief notes), shot mostly
at Speakmans, a locality situated about 85 miles north of Cool-
gardie. Mr. Ashby must have worked very assiduously, because
he only spent five days there, collecting mostly at early morn.
He claims the Chestnut-rumped (Acanthiza uropygtalzs) as “ the
first record of south-western Australia.” The Black-throated
Butcher Bird (Cvracticus nigrigularis) may be claimed on the same
grounds. Unfortunately, owing to a typographical error, Mr.
Ashby’s name was made to read Ashley on page 47 of the
previous issue.

IMPORTANT.— Lhis part (No. 3, enlarged) concludes Vol. I. of
“The Emu.’ Loose parts are liable to get mislatd or damaged,
and as the journal ts lthkely to become a valuable reference, members
are urged to have thewr copies bound tn accordance with the
advertisement.on the wrapper.

hve) Elms. 157

List of Original Members and Founders of the
Australasian Ornithologists’ Union.

The notification of any correction or clianye in address of members will be esteemed
a favour by the Honorary Secretary.

ALCOCK, A., c/o Messrs. M‘Lean Bros. and Rigg Limited, Melbourne.
ANDREWS, JOSEPH, c/o Messrs. Webb and Co., Collins-st., Melbourne, Vict.
ASHBY, EDWIN, Melbourne-street, North Adelaide, S.A.

BACKHOUSE, G., Gembrook, Victoria.

BARNARD, C. A., Coomooboolaroo, Duaringa, Queensland.
BARNARD, E. D., Coomooboolaroo, Duaringa, Queensland.
BARNARD, H. G., Coomooboolaroo, Duaringa, Queensland.
BARNARD, W. B., Cooroorah, Blackwater, Queensland.
BARRETT, E. L., Dendy-street, Middle Brighton, Victoria.
BELCHER, C. F., LLB., Yarra-street, Geelong, Victoria.
BOUCAUT, JUSTICE, Judges’ Chambers, Adelaide, S.A
BRITTLEBANK, T., Bonsall, Myrniong, Victoria.

BROAD, D., Port Hedland, W.A.

Brown, G. A., Zhe Austra/asian Office, Melbourne.
BRUMBY, MIss, William-street, West Devonport, Tasmania.
BURNEY, F. L., Richmond Post-Office, North Queensland.

CAMPBELL, A. G., 1o Elm-grove, Armadale, Victoria.
CAMPBELL, A. J., 10 Elm-grove, Armadale, Victoria.
CAMPBELL, J. P., Neerim-road, Murrumbeena, Victoria.
CARTER, T., Point Cloates, vz@ Onslow, W.A.
CHENERY, Dr. A., Port Augusta, S.A.

CLARK, M. SYMONDS, 15 Australasian Chambers, King William-street,
Adelaide, S.A.

COLES, A., Elizabeth-street, Melbourne, Victoria.

CoMPTON, A., c/o Messrs. Elder, Smith and Co., Port Adelaide, S.A.
COOPER, J., Eastern Market, Melbourne, Victoria.

CORNWALL, E. M., Red Arcade, Cairns, Queensland.

CULLEN, T., Gortleckleck, Wahgunyah, Victoria.

DALGLEISH, J. J.. M.B.O.U., Brankston Grange, Stirling, Scotland.
DAVIES, WM., Warrnambool, Victoria.

DE LITTLE, G. R., Caramut, Victoria.

D’OMBRAIN, DR. E., Casterton, Victoria.

D’OMBRAIN, ED., Victoria-road, Auburn, Victoria.

DE Vis, C. W., M.A., Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland.
Down, C. E., 1 Ferguson-street, Williamstown, Victoria.

DRAYTON, S., Hazelmere, New-street, Brighton, Victoria.

DRESSER, HENRY E., 28 Queensborough Terrace, Bayswater, London.

158 The Emu.

EVANS, LIEUT.-COL., 28 Murray-street, Hobart, Tasmania.

FENNER, J. P., Swan’s Road, Taringa, Queensland.
FLETCHER, Miss J. A., State School, Wilmot, Tasmania
ForD, T. B. CAMPBELL, Clermont, Queensland.
FOWLER, ALEX., Bylands State School, 1,105, Victoria.

GABRIEL, J., 293 Victoria-street, Abbotsford, Victoria.
GEDGE, A., Marathoi, Ingham, Queensland.

GILES, H. M., Zoological Gardens, South Perth, W.A,
GODFREY, F. R., Graylings, Alma-road, St. Kilda, Victoria.
GRAHAM, G., Scott’s Creek, Cobden, Victoria:

GRAY, J. G., Kentucky, vz@ Corowa, N.S.W.

HALL, J., 15 Queen-street, Melbourne, Victoria.

HALL, R., Elgar-road, Box Hill, Victoria.

HARDY, T., Bankside, Adelaide, S.A.

HEDDING, J., 22 St. John’s-parade, Kew, Victoria.

HILL, H. E., 18 Little Myers-street, Geelong, Victoria.

HILL, J. A., Kewell, Victoria.

Hoop, R. A. D., Merrang, Hexham, Victoria.

Hunt, H. W., 317 Collins-street, Melbourne, Victoria.

HURST, DR. G., Keppel-street, Bathurst, N.S.W.

HUTCHINSON, MRs. J. S., The Quarry Farm, Drouin, Gippsland, Victoria.

JARDINE, B., Somerset, Queensland.

JUSTEN, FRED, F.L.S., c/o Messrs. Dulau and Co., 37 Soho-square,
London, W.

KEARTLAND, G. A., 515 Nicholson-street, North Carlton, Victoria.
KENDALL, H., 14 Rathmines-grove, Auburn, Victoria.

KENNY, DR. HAMILTON, The Hospital, Gympie, Queensland.
KERSHAW, J. A., F.E.S., National Museum, Melbourne, Victoria.

LapwIG, C. F., Cromwell Buildings, Melbourne, Victoria.

LANE, E. H., Llanello, Orange, N.S. W.

LEAKE, B. W., Mooranoppin, Kellerberrin, W.A.

LEGGE, COL., R.A., F.Z.S., &c., St. Mary’s, Tasmania,

Le SOUEF, D., C.M.Z.S., &c., Zoological Society, Melbourne, Victoria.
LE SOUEF, E. A., Director Zoological Gardens, South Perth, W.A.
LE SOUEF, L., Zoological Gardens, South Perth, W.A.

LE SouEF, S. A., Zoological Society, Melbourne, Victoria. -
LIDGETT, W. H., Myrniong, Victoria.

LINTON, A. F., Brenda, Maffra, Victoria.

LITTLER, F. M., St. John’s-street, Launceston, Tasmania.

MACDONALD, DR. W. C. C., Blythswood, Ingham, Queensland.
MACGILLIVRAY, DR. W., Broken Hill, N.S. W.
MAaAcLEAN, C. W., Bronte, Strand, Williamstown, Victoria.

The Emu. 159 -

M‘ALPINE, D., F.C.S., Ardeen House, Armadale, Victoria.
M‘CLYMoNT, J. R., Derwent Lodge, vé@ Kingston, Tasmania.
M‘CULLAGH, F., Victoria Plantation, Herbert River, Queensland.
M‘EACHARN, SIR MALCOLM, 67 Studley Park-road, Kew, Victoria.
M‘GILP, J. N., Bungaree, Clare, S.A.

M‘Harrieg, Miss A. F., 44 Arthur-street, South Yarra, Victoria.
M‘ILWRAITH, WM., East Rockhampton, Queensland.

M‘KIE, E. N., Picton, N.S.W.

M‘LEAN, J. C., M.B.O.U., Waikohu, Te Karaka, Gisborne, N.Z.
MANIFOLD, W. T., Purrumbete, Weerite, Victoria.

MANN, S. F., Minhamite, Warrnambool, Victoria.

MARSHALL, A. S., Melrose, S.A.

MATTINGLEY, A., H.M. Customs, Melbourne, Victoria.

MAY, W. L., Forest Hill, Sandford, Tasmania.

MELLOR, J. W., Holmfirth, Fulham, S.A.

MILLIGAN, A. W., c/o Messrs. Parker and Parker, Perth, W.A.
MINCHIN, A. C., Zoological Gardens, Adelaide, S.A.

MortTon, R. T., 30 Oxley-road, Glenferrie, Victoria.

NEHRKORN, A., Braunschweig, Germany.
NEWTON, PROF. ALFRED, F.R.S., Magdalene College, Cambridge, England.

O’SHANNASSY, P. L. C., San Remo, Victoria.

PARKIN, THOMAS, M.A., Fairseat, High Wickham, Hastings, England.
PIKE, Miss A., 77 Princess-street, Kew, Victoria (Lz/e Wemder)

QUINEY, H., Mortlake, Victoria.

RITCHIE, R. B., Blackwood, Penshurst, Victoria.
ROBERTSON, F. G., Mortat, v7é Goroke, Victoria.
ROBINSON, SEP., Piper-street, Bathurst, N.S. W.
ROGERS, J. P., Derby, West Kimberley, W.A.
RYAN, DR. C., 37 Collins-street, Melbourne, Victoria.
RYAN, DR. T., Nhill, Victoria.

SAVIDGE, GEO., Copmanhurst, Clarence River, N.S.W.
SEALY, E. P., Southerndown, Timaru, N.Z.

SHEPHERD, G. E., Malurus, Somerville, Victoria.
SIMPSON, A. J., Cornalla, v#é@ Deniliquin, N.S.W.
SIMSON, MRs. J., Trawalla, Toorak, Victoria.

SMART, H. C., Athelstane-road, Camberwell, Victoria.
SMITH, A. FORSYTH, Victoria Mill, Ingham, Queensland.
SMITH, A. J., Port Albert, Victoria.

SMITH, J. V., Bundoora Park, Preston, Victoria.
SNOWBALL, DR. W., Newlands, Longwarry, Victoria.
SNOWBALL, J. C., Newlands, Longwarry, Victoria.
STUART, F., Messrs. Lincoln, Stuart and Co., Flinders-st., Melbourne, Vict.
SUTHERLAND, ALEX., M.A., University, Melbourne.

160 The Emu.

TINDALE, T., Langi-Kal-Kal, Trawalla, Victoria.

TOWNSEND, S. P., Garrydoyne, Mornington, Victoria.

TRASK, J. A., Tocumwal, N.S.W.

VROLAND, A. W. R., State School, Strathbogie East, Victoria.

WARING, E. H., Macknade Mill, Ingham, Queensland.

Way, SIR SAMUEL, BART., Chief Justice, Adelaide., S.A.

WEBB, E. W., Macknade Plantation, Herbert River, Queensland.

WHITE, H. L., Belltrees Station, Scone, N.S.W.

WHITE, LIEUT. S. A., Wetunga, Fulham, S.A.

WHITMAN, PROF. C. O., 5,238 Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IIl., U.S.A.
WINNECKE, C., F.R.G.S., 33 Eagle Chambers, Pirie-street, Adelaide, S.A.
WOODWARD, BERNARD, The Museum, Perth, W.A.

YOUNG, P. H. B., Fairymead, Bundaberg, Queensland.

FARYZ a, CMS. , Serene Museum, Adelaide, S.A.
ZIETZ, R., The Museum, Adelaide, S.A.

Honorary Members.

NEWTON, A., PROF., F.R.S., Magdalene College, Cambridge, England.
SCLATER, DR. P. L., F.R.S., Zoological Society, London.
SHARPE, DR. R. BOWDLER, F.Z.S., &c., British Museum, South Kensington.

DISTRIBUTION OF MEMBERS.

VICTORIA Ae Ss: he as pie 66
NEW SOUTH WALES ... a = ae Io
QUEENSLAND is nWe a = 19
SOUTH AUSTRALIA ... a oe tis 15
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 9
TASMANIA ~ ... a es eke 7
NEW ZEALAND 2
BRITISH AND FOREIGN 7

Total, 135

Waiker, May and Co., Printers, Mackillop-street, Melbourne.

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