66 Slray Feathers. [ j^, 



Emu 

 Oct. 



they come, King Island seems the only reasonable alternative. 

 On 23rcl September in a previous year I noticed five Graucali, 

 apparently just arrived, flying high and proceeding in exactly 

 the same direction — from north-west to south-east — as those 

 seen yesterday ; in this case, however, they had the wind in their 

 favour, it being from the north-west at the time. An individual 

 of the Fan -tailed Cuckoo {Cuculus flabelliformis) was observed 

 yesterday to alight in a small peppermint gum. Immediately 

 all the AcantJiizcE in the neighbourhood began to hurl violent 

 abuse at the larger bird, as though intuitively aware of her 

 intentions, and very soon a pair of these tiny Tits vigorously 

 attacked the Cuckoo, and put her to flight.— H. STUART DoVE. 

 W. Devonport, Tasmania, 15/9/06. 



A Cuckoo's Egg at Midwinter. — There is in my 

 collection a clutch of three eggs of Acanthi.'^a cJirysorrJioa 

 (Yellow-rumped Tit) with an &^^ of Chalcococcyx plagosus 

 (Bronze-Cuckoo), taken at Flemington, near Sydney, on the 

 14th of July this year. Mr. L. Harrison, of Sydney, who for- 

 warded me the set, points out that the date when the eggs were 

 obtained shows that the Bronze-Cuckoo was in the vicinity of 

 Sydney at that time of the year. He further adds that those 

 who assert that C. plagosus is strictly migratory will need to 

 reflect. — A. Mattingley. Melbourne, 27/8/06. 



Notes from Melbourne Zoological Gardens. — A pair 

 of Cape Barren Geese hatched out four young ones early in 

 June. In July five eggs were laid again in the same nest, the 

 former young being six weeks old. The bird which did not 

 happen to be sitting looked after the young, but they clustered 

 round the sitting bird at night, so were removed and given to an 

 unattached male to be looked after. The second brood were 

 duly hatched in July, and are now doing well. These birds 

 evidently lay two clutches a year. Two Emus are also sitting, 

 the male bird doing most of the work of incubating. The Brush- 

 Turkeys {Tale<^alhis) have made a very large nesting mound 

 early this year, or rather the male bird has, as the hen only looks 

 on. If she comes near he drives her away. — D, Le SouEF, 

 Zoological Gardens, Melbourne. 



Some Western District Notes. — One night in July a little 

 common Fantail {Rhipiditra alhiscapci) found its way into the 

 dining-room. It at first seemed bewildered, but on getting used 

 to the light and surroundings became more at its ease. It 

 commenced flitting about, once on the lap of a lady by the fire. 



