Vol. VI, 

 1907 



J Stray Feathers IQQ 



about 3 feet high. A local friend subsequently visited the 

 mound, which was conical-shaped on that occasion. It contained 

 a single egg, at a depth of about 18 inches, where the ther- 

 mometer registered 93°, the temperature of the sand on the top 

 of the mound being 121°. 



Psephotus Ji(EinatorrJioiis (Red-vented Parrakeet). — The true 

 "Blue Bonnet" is one of the most interesting of elegant 

 Parrakeets, and makes an endearing aviary pet. Mr. J. A. Hill 

 (Victoria), who was spending a holiday near Wellington, about 

 170 miles inland or westward of Newcastle, N.S.W., kindly 

 brought me a skin of the Red-vented species from that locality. 

 It distinctly differs from the Victorian and South Australian 

 bird — P. xanthorrhous — by having (i) the under tail-covert 

 crimson-red instead of primrose-yellow ; (2) point of the 

 shoulder verditer-green instead of blue ; and (3) the centre 

 of the greater wing-coverts reddish-chestnut instead of saffron- 

 yellow. For other details see Gould's " Handbook," vol. 

 ii., pp. 62-65. Wellington is about 160 miles south of the 

 Namoi, where Gould obtained his type of P. JiceniatorrJwus. It 

 would be interesting to know how much further south it extends, 

 or where it intergrades with P. xantJiorrJioiis. As there has been 

 some confusion about the two varieties, I do not think authentic 

 eggs of the former have yet been described, although, doubtless, 

 they are similar to those of the Yellow-vented Parrakeet. — A. J. 

 Campbell. 



From Magazines, &c. 



Close Season Ignored. — The close season for game 

 throughout the Northern district seems to be little better than a 

 farce. Game is almost openly shot, and wild-fowl is a common 

 article of diet in several quarters. Land-owners in the vicinity 

 state that shooting parties are numerous, though the most 

 common game is that named in the Act. — TJte Argus, 13th 

 December, 1906. 



* * * 



Hawk and Wild Duck. — A strange scene was witnessed 

 at Mooroopna on Monday evening, when a wild Wood-Duck 

 was chased about the township by a Hawk. The latter was 

 gaining rapidly on it, when the Duck darted under the verandah 

 of a store, and darted though a frosted window-pane. Inside it 

 caused great consternation, narrowly missing a table covered 

 with kerosene lamps. Eventually it was caught, and was found 

 to be cut on the head and feet. The Hawk flew into a tree 

 near the footpath, and waited for the Duck to reappear, — The 

 Argus, 2nd February, 1907. 



