194 Stray Feathers. [.s.'^XpHl 



named. I can endorse this as regards the years 1885 and 1886, 

 when I first visited the colony. In the years 1887-8 a disease, 

 if such it can be called, attacked this species. When the birds 

 moulted they did not get their feathers again ; a number of 

 naked Parrakeets were running about the paddocks. I caught 

 a number of them, and they appeared to be quite healthy, except 

 being destitute of feathers. I conclude that the practical 

 extermination of this species, as far as the Adelaide Hills v/ere 

 concerned, was due to their falling any easy prey to predaceous 

 animals. So complete was the destruction that neither my 

 friends nor myself observed this species in the Mt. Barker 

 district for several years. Even now, 20 years afterwards, this 

 species is still comparatively scarce, although there are a few 

 scattered throughout the district, but no large mobs. It would 

 be interesting to learn how wide was the area affected, what 

 was the cause of the trouble, and to what extent it has been 

 observed in other birds. Although not uncommon in cage birds, 

 I have never noted it amongst wild birds except in the instance 

 cited. Perhaps Sparrows and Starlings might be infected, and 

 thus turn the epidemic to some practical use. — Edwin Ashby. 

 Blackwood, S.A., 4th March, 1907. 



* * * 



Bass Strait Notes. — The season dating from August 

 until now has been an exceptionally rainy one, and as the 

 islands are of a dry, sandy nature, the vegetation benefited 

 much. The smaller birds, such as Honey-eaters, Robins, &c., 

 are much more plentiful than during the dry seasons of former 

 years. The Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon appears to be increas- 

 ing very rapidly here, and I have found numbers of their 

 lightly-constructed nests. These birds are practically undis- 

 turbed, which apparently accounts for their increase. In nesting 

 they are not particular as to site, in many cases preferring the 

 ground to the trees. Their nests are very rudimentary, consist- 

 ing of a few sticks laid one on the other, and I have often seen 

 a parent roll an egg out of her flat nest when disturbed suddenly. 

 The Brown Hawk, which had almost deserted us a few years 

 back, has returned again, and I have noted many of their nests 

 with young. Their eggs are very handsome, being rich choco- 

 late, with occasional patches of grey. They frequently usurp an 

 old Raven's nest, in preference to building a new one. The 

 Brown Quail is to be seen everywhere, and the little fledglings 

 are now commencing to try their wings ; however, only a week 

 ago I found a nest with ten hard-set eggs. In a month or two, 

 when they are all fledged, we will have them in thousands. 

 They are fine, large birds here — larger, I think, than on the 

 other islands.* I was on Three Hummock Island some time 



* Probably Synceciis dietneneiisis. — Eds. 



