208 stray Feathers. [,sfTan. 



to do in preference to building a new one. Yesterday I noticed 

 a pair of Grey Jumpers busy building, but the Magpie-Larks 

 have not started yet ; these birds are usually the first to begin 

 nesting, and I have never seen them with young at the end of 

 May, but in June and July they all appear to have their young 

 ones. The dry season may account for the delay this year. A 

 pair built their nest last year a few feet under the nest of a Crow, 

 and apparently were not disturbed by this bird ; possibly the 

 Crows were a protection from other birds, but I do not know why 

 the young birds were not eaten by the Crows, as I saw one pick 

 a Magpie-Lark off a post one day and go off with it ; however, 

 this is unusual, and I think the bird must have been driven 

 by hunger. Also, one killed a pet Scaly-breasted Lorikeet 

 [PsiUeitteles chlorolepidotits) one day last week. The little bird 

 fell out of its nesting hollow in a tree in the garden. I was rearing 

 him until he could fly. He was fed two or three times a day by 

 his parents, and we gave him extra rations in the shape of a 

 spoonful of honey. He was getting on very well, and was placed 

 on the branch of a tree every morning, and I noticed that when 

 fed by the parents he sat up and vigorously flapped his wings. 

 The parents probably had to go to some scrub country about ten 

 miles away for their food, as no trees are flowering here. They 

 first fed their young at from 8.30 to 9 a.m., then again at mid- 

 day, and lastly towards evening — never more than three times 

 daily. 



During the mating season I have noticed that the males of the 

 Australian Bustard or Plain-Turkey {Eupodotis aiistralis) disport 

 themselves exactly as the tame species do by fanning their tails, 

 outstretching their wings, and lowering the skin of their breasts 

 almost to the ground. I noticed a pair fighting lately, and after 

 a vicious bout they would circle round one another with their 

 plumes extended, making a peculiar noise at the same time 



I found a Freckled Frogmouth {Podargus phalcenoides) nesting 

 lately. I think these birds account for many of the young birds 

 in the nests about here, but of that I am not certain. The 

 Magpies suffer very much, and I have known those that live about 

 the house to build two or three nests in the season without result ; 

 another time they might rear two clutches. Last year three of 

 our pet Magpies had two nests, and the male bird had charge of 

 both nests ; anyway, he fed the young of both, almost 100 yards 

 apart. The birds have had a royal time for months with the 

 mice, and will miss them when they disappear ; they are not so 

 plentiful now, and seem to be on the move. A strange and 

 fortunate circumstance connected with this plague is the absence 

 of any young. 



I am feeding some cattle from a couple of haystacks, and, of 

 course. Magpies are plentiful, with a pair of Crows {Corvus 

 coronoides) and a Whistling-Eagle (Haliastiir sphenurus) hard by. 

 It is amusing to watch the antics of the birds. Evidently the 

 Magpies do the hunting, but as soon as a Crow sees that his 



