^"gol^ 1 Ross, Some Bird-Life on the Murvay Frontage . ^•^ 



Another bird seen in great numbers was the Black-faced 

 Cuckoo-Shrike {Graucalus inelanops), locally known as the 

 Cherry- Hawk — a vernacular name probably new to most of us. 

 The photographer was able also to provide a picture of this bird, 

 with her shallow and well-hidden nest. 



Several attempts were made to get a snap-shot of a Boobook 

 Owl {Ninox boobook), which spent the daytime in some willows 

 close to the house, but for once the photographer was unsuccess- 

 ful — it could hardly have been otherwise when the trees were so 

 dense and the bird so shy. He was more successful with a pair 

 of young Magpie-Larks {Grallina picata), and good pictures 

 were obtained. 



One of the conclusions forced upon me as a result of this trip 

 is that those interested in the preservation of our native birds 

 would do well to impress upon our legislators not only the 

 necessity of keeping our game laws up to their present standard, 

 or making them more inclusive and more stringent, but of taking 

 such action as will, as far as possible, keep in check that wily 

 pest, the fox. Four Black Ducks had last season built their 

 nests in the home paddock, and all four birds were taken by 

 foxes. 



The White^eye (Zosterops coerulescens^ Lath.) 



By H. Stuart Dove, F.Z.S., W. Devonport, Tasmania. 



This familiar little bird has been very numerous this autumn 

 and winter ; perhaps the exceptionally rough, wet weather has 

 caused them to band together more than usual for warmth and 

 protection, but certain it is that their shrill calls have been heard 

 on all sides in our gardens or among the scrub. 



They have also been very numerous this winter at Table 

 Cape, 42 miles west of this, and Mr. H. C. Thompson tells me 

 that a large party of Zosterops have been attacking the berries 

 hanging upon a verandah-climber in Launceston, and were 

 attracting much attention from the passers-by from their 

 numbers and shrill cries, causing much speculation also as to 

 their identity ; they were variously christened " Honey-eaters," 

 "Cherry-pickers," and "Goldfinches"! Having devoured all the 

 berries upon that particular climber (which was bare of leaves, 

 but was probably Virginian creeper), of which they were very 

 fond, they next turned their attention to the honeysuckle, the 

 bitter fruit of which disappeared also under their vigorous attacks. 



Several vernacular names have been bestowed upon our 

 little friend. Besides " White-eye," the appellation usually in 

 vogue, there are " Silver-eye " and " Girdle-eye." These 

 have all arisen from the fact that a ring of very short white 

 feathers surrounds each orb, and forms a very conspicuous 



