52 Notes and Notices. [,.fTuly 



Macdonald : "An Autumn Ramble," by Mr. A. J. Campbell ; 

 and " Autumn Notes," by Mr. A. G. Campbell ; while Mr. F. E. 

 Howe exhibited a male Red-capped Robin {Petnvca goodenovi) with 

 a partially scarlet throat, thus showing affinity to P. ramsayi. and 

 Mr. Le Souef exhibited and explained many fine series of his 

 oological specimens. 



Interesting returns of " birds striking the light " continue {o 

 come in from the lighthouse observers. Mr. D. Le Souef is 

 tabulating these returns, which so far chiefly relate to sea-birds. 

 But Mr. Geo. Johnson's last report from Cape Wickham, King 

 Id., mentions several small land-birds — Cuckoo. Fantails, Robins. 

 &c. He also has been the means of recording a new bird for the 

 Tasmanian " region " — namely, the White-browed Wood-Swallow 

 {Artamus sjiperctliosiis), which appeared in numbers for the first 

 time on the island about the 9th April last. In Mr. Johnson's 

 subsequent notes it will be interesting to learn how long these 

 migratory Wood-Swallows remained — not long, possibly. Probably 

 the birds had recently flocked on the adjacent mainland previous 

 to a northern move, and making a southern wheel, touched King 

 Island. One of the Wood-Swallows shot by Mr. Johnson accom- 

 panied his schedule. 



An Autumn Ramble. 



By A. J. C.VMPBELL, Col. M. B.O.U. 



Bird observations are usually made during the spring and summer 

 months, in this country at least, when bird-life is more plentiful and 

 interesting. 



In this short sketch I propose to mention 34 species of birds 

 identified in autumn (6th May, 1905) during one day's outing on 

 the Mornington Peninsula, which divides the waters of Port Phillip 

 from those of Western Port. 



The locality may be generally described as open forest country, 

 consisting of swamp or grey gums {Eucalyptus), fine-leafed pepper- 

 mint gums and manna gums, mixed with Casuarina, Exocarpus. 

 blackwood, &c., with a ground scrub of Lcptosperinuin, Melaleuca. 

 &c. 



My bedroom window being part]}' open, before dawn I can hear 

 the " Boobook " call of the little Brown Owl. The spring of day 

 is heralded by the laughter-like notes of a family of Great Brown 

 Kingfishers camped in a tree about 150 yards away. Then follow 

 the cheerful carols of Magpies. When it is broad daylight a 

 familiar Black-and-White Fantail calls at my window as if to say 

 " Good morning, sir." Afterwards I detect the voices of Wattle- 

 Birds, Spotted Paidalote, Magpie-Lark, (irey Thrush (harsh notes, 

 peculiar to winter months), and Noisy Miners. I can hear the 

 "quick-quick, quick-cjuick " notes of Rosella Parrakeets passing by 



