72 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



On 12/7/98 Mr. Graham caged a wild bird. "No change was 

 observable in its condition until 13tli October, when a small speck 

 of blue appeared below the left cheek. On 25th October I noticed 

 new blue feathers under old greys. I took the bird in my hands 

 and found a few blacks and blues sprouting beneath greys. On 11 th 

 November new tail feathers pushed out. Two upper tail feathers 

 fell out on the 14th. On 25th new blues appeared budding on 

 head and around upper mandible ; bill growing darker in colour. 

 Black or sombre colour on cheeks have taken the place of rufous. 

 By 6th January the two upper tail feathers seemed to have 

 attained full length. On 20th January some wing feathers fell out; 

 nothing further of note until 28th February, when several tail 

 feathers fell out ; breast greys began to fall and moulting seemed 

 rapid. New browns are " bursting:" Two more tail feathers fell out 

 on 18th March. From 20th to 26th March several wing feathers 

 fell, and all trace of blues disappeared from above bill and around 

 head. Last two old tail feathers fell out on 28th March while 

 two new ones were coming in their place ; few body feathers still 

 falling. Few greys and blues still falling on 2nd April. At the 

 present time (3rd April) it has all the appearance of old males in 

 the bush, e.g., grey body, blue tail, and a bill gradually getting 

 blacker. Although it did not get properly through its most 

 important moult (spring), and attain a full livery, it came out 

 true to the autumn moult. Its failing to develope a full crop of 

 blues and blacks and to discard its winter plumage at the proper 

 time (November, or earlier) was due, perhaps, to want of proper 

 food, variety in diet, unfavourable conditions as to sunlight and 

 exercise, or something we do not know of. 



"As to food supplied — quantity, preference, etc., from July to 

 1st January, grubs,^ with a little finely chopped meat, bread- 

 crumbs, small beetles and caterpillars, formed the bulk of its 

 food. It generally managed to dispose of sixty grubs, about a 

 dozen small insects, and a small portion of bread and meat, 

 sufficient to equal the bulk of 100 grubs, as named above, per 

 day. From 1st January to 1st Api'il, grasshoppers have 

 formed the staple, varied with March-flies and cockroaches. 

 The quantity devoured amount to about the same as with the 



1 Mr. C. French, F.L.S., has kindly identified these for nie as the larvae of a species of 

 Anoplognathus. 



