V'^^'-^^'^'j S//ay Feathers. 39 



The male Blue Wren {MaUivus cytiiwus) is one ot the lirst birds 

 to niaive the change to a winter garb. Early in March he can be 

 found in the duh brown plumage which his little mates keep the 

 whole year round. At least this is the assumption to which one 

 is led by watching a little family of four in the garden. They are 

 headed one week by a male in blue, the next week by a bird with 

 a blue head and ear coverts, flecks only of blue and black being 

 visible on its otherwise brown mantle, and the third week the 

 leader differs only from the rest of the party in retaining the black 

 of the legs and bill and the blue of the tail. Some folk aver that 

 the plumage is not changed for winter, because birds in blue livery 

 can be procured every month of the year. That is true, but they 

 are the exceptions, not the rule. 



Hawks are always in evidence about Melbourne during the 

 months of February, March, and April. They make the autumn 

 their holiday period between one nesting season and the prepara- 

 tions for the next. Several other birds, however, do this. Rosellas 

 and White-eyes {Zosterops) come in to })rospect for late fruit ; Wrens 

 and Robins come about our homes. 



We must not forget those who have left us, preferring to spend 

 the winter in some northern part. Careful watch must be kept 

 for the day of departure, else they will slink away silent and un- 

 observed. Both the Reed-Warbler and the Sacred Kingfisher 

 disappeared the first week in April. A large flock of Magpie- Larks 

 (about 50) was seen about the same time flying over, but it is not 

 yet stated that they make a practice of migrating. 



About the ist of April one can generally look for the arrival of 

 the Flame-breasted Robin. This year the long, fine autumn kept 

 it back until the loth of the month, for it is noticed to a})j)ear with 

 or immediately after the cold drizzling weather that turns the 

 season. Where these birds come from is not quite settled. The 

 old idea that they all come from Tasmania is being gradually 

 exploded. Mr. A. R. Reed, of Hobart, in July, 1904, sent me birds 

 in the flesh, with word that they were just as })lentiful then as in 

 summer. The records of the species being in the nesting season 

 on the highlands of the Buffalo, Baw Baw,* and Dandenong Ranges 

 and in Cape Otwayf seem to complete the evidence for their summer 

 residence. A significant fact is that the earliest date in my note- 

 book of arrival was 20th March, 1899, at l^utherglcn, in the oi)en 

 country just north of Buffalo. 



Three times this autumn have I identified the female (or young 

 male) of the Pink-breasted Rol)in — at Geelong, Somerville, and 

 Toorak. The close likeness of the winter dress to that of Petra'ca 

 piKcnicea possibly leads to its being overlooked. The main differ- 

 ence lies in the wing-patch, which is rich brown instead of white. 



Honey-eaters are always plentiful when food is procurable. The 

 first gurgling note of the Si)iny-cheeked was heard on loth April. 

 Flowering euca]yi)ts along the river at Burnley attracted, besides 



* Emu, vol. iv., part 4, p. 165. 

 t Geelono Nuturalist, vol. i., No. 3, p. 50. 



