204 -^^^^r Feathers. [=nd' April 



Southern Range of Warbling Grass-Parrakeets. — 

 Surely it a rare thing to sec the little Green Parrakeets, 

 commonly known as " Budgerigars," in the Western District of 

 Victoria ! I saw to-day a flock of about 30 on the Lismore polo 

 ground, flying into a plantation of blue gums. — ERNEST G. 

 Austin. Borriyalloak, 20/1/06. 



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Falcons. — On the 20th February I shot a Black Falcon {F. 

 subnigcr) as it was endeavouring to seize and carry away a 

 wounded Marsh Tringa {Hcteropygia acumiuatd) from the 

 ground on a three-chain road that runs through Wyuna estate 

 about 10 miles from here. Is this Falcon common in any part 

 of Victoria 1 It is the first of its kind I have seen. Driving 

 back we saw a Little Falcon {F. lunulatiis) dart at express 

 speed through some dead timber, to the usual accompaniment of 

 small birds' twittering ; and nearer home, at Taripta, a Black- 

 cheeked Falcon (/^ nielanogenys) flew out of a box tree alongside 

 the road. Its flight was slow for a Falcon, and yet the wings 

 seemed to beat quickly. This is not a great place for Hawks, 

 and to see three kinds of Falcon in one day is for me at least a 

 " local record." — C. F. B. Kyabram, 4/3/06. 



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A Queensland Bird Sanctuary. — It may interest you 

 to know that since my coming here (seven years ago) the island 

 has been an informal sanctuary for birds ; and that this year, on 

 my suggestion, the Government proclaimed it, with two 

 neighbouring groups of islands, a perpetual reserve, shooting 

 being entirely prohibited. I hold the honorary office of ranger. 

 Fifteen islands and islets are included in the reserve, and some 

 of them are favourite haunts of the Torres Strait or Nutmeg- 

 Pigeons, which breed in immense numbers. I believe the 

 islands under my control are the only unmolested breeding- 

 places for this bird on the east coast of Australia. So far I 

 have identified 114 birds native of or visitors to this island, the 

 area of which is only 3)2 square miles, and there are several 

 others I have been unable to name, my works of reference being 

 inadequate. — E. J. Banfield. Brammo Bay, Dunk Island, 



20/12/05. 



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Frolicsome Musk-Ducks. — The Musk-Ducks appear to 

 terrorize all the other Ducks on the lake. They are continually 

 chasing the clutches of young Black Duck and Teal, apparently 

 for sport, as I have never seen them kill one, but they scatter 

 the young flocks far and wide, and so leave them an easy prey 

 to the Brown Hawks before the old birds can collect them. 

 The Musk-Duck will dive about a chain away from the clutch 

 and come up in the middle of them. The old Ducks appear to 



