88 Stray Feathers. [.nd o"ct. 



specimen, here to-day — and shot or (if fortunate) fiown away to- 

 morrow. 



i8/f^ June. — The much-talked-of Stading (European) has begun 

 to colonise Devonport ; three pairs were seen on the summit of a 

 dry tree this afternoon on the east bank of the Mersey. Their 

 whistling call, with a peculiarly plaintive finish, first attracted our 

 attention. At first we took the note to be a rather unusual call 

 of the Dusky Robin (P. vittata) or " Sad-Bird," but eventually 

 located the true whistlers. 



I'^th June. — Two pairs of Flame-breasted Rollins {P. phcvnicea), 

 the males in bright plumage, were noticed in a grass paddock near 

 the sea, showing that some, at any rate, of these lovely birds remain 

 with us during winter. 



2(ith June. — A male Flame-breasted Robin, in fine plumage, 

 sitting on electric light wire, uttered his plaintive little song of 

 six or seven notes. The Brown-tails {Acanthiza diemenensis) were 

 also heard uttering their sweet little mating-call, as if about to pair. 

 Of all our small birds this seems to me to have the most wild sweet- 

 ness in its call. 



^oth June. — A " Summer-Bird " {G. parviroslris) was seen in 

 the pine trees of Dr. Payne's garden. 



2nd July. — Another warm-weather bird was noticed to-day — 

 that is, in midwinter. This was a Fan-tailed Cuckoo (C flabelli- 

 forniis) sitting near the Bluff Lighthouse, and facing a strong 

 westerly breeze as if rather enjoying it. 



'^rd July. — A male Long-tailed Blue Wren {Malurus gouldi), in 

 full plumage, accompanied by three sober-coloured friends, seen 

 to-day on east bank of the Mersey ; also a Grey-tailed Thickhead 

 {Pachycephala i^laucwa), without colour, picking insects from the 

 bushes. 



4th July. — Flame-breasted Robin in full plumage noted in Fenton- 

 street. 



i^th July. — A Little Penguin {Eudyplula minor) was disturbed 

 among the rocks on the beach ; it made for the sea, running awk- 

 wardly in a horizontal position, and much resembling a bandicoot 

 at a short distance. It used its flippers alternately on the rocks 

 to prevent itself stumbling forward on its face. When exhausted 

 it crouched down between two diorite rocks with rounded tops, and 

 with its own dark blue rounded back was almost impossible to 

 distinguish. 



18th July. — Another Flame-breasted Robin in full plumage noted 

 to-day ; also a Fan-tailed Cuckoo flying near the beach and a 

 " Summer-Bird " calling among the pines. — H. Stuart Dove. 

 West Devonj)ort. 



New Egg-Blower. — The Condor for July describes a new kind 

 of egg-blower and cleaner invented by Mr. W. L. Colvin, of 

 Osawatomie, Kansas, by which it is said eggs may ]:>e blown six 

 times faster than with the mouth. The principle is that of the 

 syringe. 



