^"igoe ^"1 Campbell, Some Victorian Winter Notes. 65 



many districts. In open country particularly, large numbers are 

 seen, lending colour to this view. In the vicinity of Inverleigh, 

 near Geelong, last month, I saw no less than 79 birds feeding on 

 a grass paddock of about 10 acres. I never saw so many of the 

 White-backed species together before. But on inquiry, and 

 from observation, I find that very few of these birds nest. They 

 are practically all the year in flocks, which do not split up in 

 spring and disperse into timbered country to breed. Where, 

 then, is the increase ? It seems to me that the birds are just 

 congregating about the clearings out of the falling forest, and, 

 being hardy and long-lived, only appear to be increasing because 

 seen in larger parties. 



In conclusion, I would like to ask the readers of The Emu to 

 inquire into this matter of bird inhabitants, and systematically 

 to collect all such data as will tend to show the decrease or 

 increase of any given species, so that, in a few years, an estimate 

 or bird census might be made of the feathered inhabitants of 

 this fair land, having reference also to their usefulness or other- 

 wise, before the time arrives when their natural habits and 

 habitats will be so altered as to be lost. 



Stray Feathers, 



Pallid Cuckoos in New South Wales.— 15th July. — 

 Small boy who climbs for me and knows the bird stated that he 

 had seen it already at Flemington (Sydney); nth August, heard 

 the bird myself at Flemington in the distance ; 25th August, 

 saw and heard several birds at Blacktown ; 26th August, 

 saw and heard several birds at Sutherland, — L. HARRISON. 



Sydney. 



* * * 



Pallid Cuckoos in Victoria.— Heard last week in July, 

 at Hopetoun (M'Lennan) — vide Argus ; 4th August, seen and 

 heard at Dimboola ; 6th August, at Stawell, none to be 

 heard; i8th August, plentiful at Stawell; 28th August, first 

 heard at Burnley, Melbourne. — A. G. CAMPBELL. 



* * * 



Pallid Cuckoo, &c., in Tasmania. — Cuculus pallidus was 

 first noted in the Devonport district on the 14th September, in 

 the morning. At the same time I observed twelve individuals 

 of Graucahis parvirostris coming from the north-west, a seaward 

 direction, and proceeding rapidly, against the wind, towards the 

 south-east, as if their course was plainly marked out. The great 

 majority of these interesting birds leave our north-west coast in 

 April and arrive again in spring. If they do not cross to the 

 mainland, where do they winter } From the direction in which 



