^*^^'^^-l Mellor, The A.O.U. in Tasmania. t6i 



1907 J ' O-V^-l. 



Mt. Wellington, was the Swift Lorikeet (IVauodes discolor)^ its 

 beautiful green, red, and blue plumage being greatly admired. 

 On the lower levels, where the gum trees are more bushy and 

 low, the Small-billed Cuckoo-Shrike iyGraucahis parvirostris), 

 with its slaty-blue plumage, was seen flying from tree to tree in 

 search of the larger grubs and insects. Its nest, placed on the 

 horizontal limb of the tree, is composed of cobwebs and spider 

 cocoons woven over a {q^n shreds of bark from a neighbouring 

 stringybark tree, and so shallow that one would hardly think 

 that the eggs would be safe from being tipped over the side. 



Further excursions were made up the mountain from the 

 Mount Stuart side, when the ascent was encountered by way of 

 the Newtown track. This proved an arduous task, but revealed 

 fresh treasures in both bird and plant life, and notes and speci- 

 mens were gathered which will be valuable for future investiga- 

 tion in more leisure hours. Ferns were in great variety, from 

 the huge tree-fern, growing to a great height, down to the small 

 moss-like species growing parasitically on the decaying trunks 

 of trees and the logs that cover the ground in profusion. 

 Mosses and lichens were gathered in much variety of shape 

 and colouring. 



Launceston. 



Many interesting notes were taken while the members of the 

 Union were in Launceston, although the time was very short. 

 Numbers of birds were seen and identified in and around 

 the city, the locality being an ideal spot, as so much growth 

 abounds on every hand, where shelter and food can be obtained. 

 The Cataract Gorge Reserve, with its steep, rocky cliffs and 

 mountain crags, shelters many of our feathered friends, and here 

 a peculiar incident was noted in two different Cuckoos having 

 placed their eggs in the nest of the Brown-rumped Tit, 

 commonly called the Brown-tail. The Cuckoos were the Bronze 

 {CJialcococcyx plagosus) and the Fan-tailed {Cucuhts fiabelliformis). 

 The nest was not disturbed, and various ideas were expressed as 

 to the results whert the young birds hatched ; but, unfortunately, 

 a day or two after, some one of a destructive turn of mind 

 destroyed both nest and eggs. In the swamps near the city a 

 fair number of Swamp-Hawks {Circus gouldi) soared above the 

 flags and reeds in search of their prey, and in appearance they 

 seemed to differ but little from our mainland species. 



Mount Barrow. 

 One of the most interesting and enjoyable of the many 

 functions arranged by the Tasmanian members of the Union 

 for the visiting delegates from other States was the working 

 camp at Mount Barrow, held from 27th November to 5th 

 December. The locality is admirably situated, being the source 



