J 



6 Stray Feathers. [isf'jul 



a nest of A. chrysorrhoa and in it a young Cuckoo, and while 

 there the parent bird came to the nest and fed the young one ; 

 meanwhile the foster-parents were in a great state of excitement, 

 and repeatedly dashed at her until she left the vicinity. On the 

 second occasion I was at Ringwood (3rd October, 1904) in company 

 with Messrs. F. P. and R. Godfrey. While having breakfast about 

 sunrise near- a dam, we were surprised by the continuous noise 

 made by a pair of A. pusilla in a creek a few yards distant, and on 

 walking to the spot disturbed a large bird, the flight at once pro- 

 claiming it the Fan-tailed Cuckoo (C. fiabellifonnis). In a swamp 

 tea-tree, low down, was a nest, and in it a young Cuckoo with its 

 capacious mouth open, crying for food. It would be interesting to 

 know if they do tend their young, and thus remove some of the 

 hard thoughts we entertain of them, as I have repeatedly seen 

 them about a nest where their egg or young was. 



I took a clutch of the Black-and-White Fantail (RJtipidura 

 tricolor) and with them an egg of the Pallid Cuckoo, and on the 

 same day (31st October, 1904) Mr. F. R. Godfrey took a clutch of 

 the Rufous-breasted Thickhead [Pachvcephala rttfiventris) with 

 an egg of the same Cuckoo. — Frank E. Howe. Albert Park 

 (Vic), 23/3/05. 



KuRRAjONG (0.) Notes. — The little Tawny Grass-Bird {Mega- 

 luyus galadotes) is in hundreds here now. The last (3rd March) 

 nest I observed was that of a Sericornis, with two eggs, in a 

 bush about 8 feet high. Is it not unusually early for them ? 

 I have never noticed them earlier than May before. The 

 Cockatoo- Parrakects made their appearance yesterday, and to- 

 day I have seen a good many. Little Doves showed up a 

 few days ago, and are now in dozens. Another bird that has 

 drawn my attention is the Bee-eater [Merops). I saw three 

 or four a fortnight ago, and since then they have been in- 

 creasing. I wonder why they come here ? Certainly not to 

 breed — it is not suitable country, and besides it's too late. Perhaps 

 they were passing through en route for their winter quarters. 



We have a good crop of figs just ripening, and three fine old 

 Magi)ies {Gyiiinorhina tilictn) sampled them, and began a feast, so 

 we had to shoot them. I never saw them tackle fruit before. 

 These were handsome fellows and always used to " camp " 

 in the fig-tree in the heat of the day ; therefore I think they must 

 have got " tasting." Certainly no more have visited the figs, 

 and there arc jilcnty of the birds always near the house. 



Hawks arc very much in evidence this year. They are attacking 

 the fowls at all the stations round, and the jwor " chooks " are so 

 harassed and worried that they stay under shelter nearly oil day.* 



* Is it not possible that the presence of ticks or some ether form of insect life 011 

 what Mr. Barnard calls "chooks" would be sufficient to account for the fowls being 

 harassed as described ?- Ens. 



