5l. VI. 



1907 



1 Sir ay Feathers, ^93 



cernible). The smaller bird repeatedly perched on the Eagle's 

 back, and seemed to be pecking at it, the Eagle emitting com- 

 plaining cries all the time." — E. M. Cornwall. 31/ 1/07. 



A Bird Tragedy. — A friend from Mt. Dandenong told 

 me recently of a little tragedy in bird life he witnessed last 

 December, which illustrates the predaceous nature of the Jackass. 

 A pair of Magpie-Larks had built their nest in a dead blackwood 

 tree by the roadside. A pair of Jackasses cast evil eyes upon it, 

 and one day, when the young ones were about a "week old, they 

 laid siege to the solitary mud home. For some hours the 

 Magpie-Larks, by their wailing cries and their pretence of 

 attack, managed to keep the Jackasses at bay, but at last the 

 poor birds succumbed to the strategy of their wily opponents. 

 While one Jack drew off the two tired Larks by feigning a 

 retreat, the other dashed in and secured the nestlings one by one. 

 — A. G. Campbell. Melbourne, 30th January, 1907. 



Notes near the Murray. — 23rd January. — Saw Bitterns 

 at two tanks on the run — single birds in each case — very tame, 

 just flying across the water and watching proceedings while my 

 horse had a drink. In size that of a small Heron, and plumage 

 variegated, giving the impression of green to the prevailing 

 mottled brown. Have only once before seen these birds in the 

 open. 



31st January. — About mid-day a large flight of Spine-tailed 

 Swifts passed over here, going north. As far as one could see, in 

 all directions, these graceful visitors were wheeling in the air. 

 Half an hour and this interesting exhibition was over, and not a 

 bird to be seen. 



1st February. — Ducks very plentiful, and large numbers killed 

 by the numerous shooting parties. Only saw one flapper. Last 

 year Pink-eyed species outnumbered all other Ducks — there were 

 few Black Duck ; this season the latter are numerous, while the 

 former is totally absent. Very few Shovellers. Saw White- 

 eyed Duck also. Two Painted Snipe shot by one of our party, 

 and a few Jack Snipe seen. — John G. Gray. Kentucky, near 

 Corowa, N.S.W., 6th February, 1907. 



Parrakeets Moulting. — In the neighbourhood of the 

 Adelaide Hills the Red-rumped Grass-Parrakeet {Psep/iotus 

 hcematonotiis)v^2,'s. up till the years 1887-8 one of the commonest 

 representatives of the family Psittacidce. One of the early settlers 

 in the Mt. Barker district, who settled there in 1839, says that 

 they were most numerous in that neighbourhood until the years 



