^"'goe^'-l Stray Feathers. 1 59 



Additional Notes on the Nesting of Phaps chalcoptera 

 AND OcYPHAPS LOPHOTES. — As the Pigeons had been at work 

 from' the end of August till the latter part of March, I concluded 

 they would recomnience about the same time this year, therefore 

 judge of my surprise when upon going into the Crested Bronze- 

 wings' aviary on the 29th of June I found two eggs in the nest, 

 and in the aviary of the Common Bronze-wing one egg, the 

 second being laid the following day. I can assign no reason for 

 the birds nesting (both varieties) fully two months earlier than 

 the preceding season, excepting that we had not had the usual 

 severe frosts, and the weather, though wet, had been fairly mild. 

 The Crested Bronze-wings failed to hatch their eggs. This variety, 

 being nervous and excitable, is much more easily driven from 

 the nest than the others. The Common Bronze-wing hatched both 

 eggs, and the young did well until about the eleventh day, when in 

 the night we had a sudden and heavy downpour, and although 

 protected from the rain I found both dead next morning. At 

 that age the mother is not able to cover them both well. 



On the 13th of August the Common Bronze-wing had laid 

 again two eggs in an open box, in which I had placed some 

 fine wood shavings and a few pine needles on top, the birds 

 adding to the latter later on. In the course of three or four 

 days I found the Crested variety also had built, this time a 

 tiny nest with pine needles in a tecoma, and was sitting upon 

 two eggs. The Common Bronze-wings hatched their young, and 

 when a fortnight old they were out of the nest ; owing to the 

 ground being damp and cold I replaced them, and they were 

 just beginning to fly when to my dismay I found one dead 

 yesterday morning (the 17th). On going to the nest last night I 

 noticed the survivor alone in nest, the parents roosting beside 

 it ; it looked so bright and well that I thought I would risk 

 leaving it there, but, unfortunately, this morning it also had 

 died in the nest. I wonder they survived so long, as we have 

 had a great deal of rain and two heavy falls of snow since they 

 were hatched. The Crested reared only one young out of second 

 lot, and the nest was so small at first as to make one wonder 

 how the young would I^e kept in it, but as soon as it was 

 necessary the parents enlarged it considerably. (I notice both 

 varieties replenish the nest after the young are hatched.) 



I may further remark that, although I have kept the Common 

 Bronze-wings for some years, I never observed till lately how 

 very fond they are of worms, snapping them up eagerly directly 

 they are thrown towards them. — (Mrs.) Mary G. Roberts. 

 Hobart, 18/9/05. 



The Gannet. — It is very interesting to watch the diving 

 operations of the Gannet [Siila siila), especially when conducted on 

 so large a scale as has been the case recently on this coast. A 



