Vol. VII. 

 1907 



Stray Feathers. 87 



Stray Feathers. 



The Bee-eater {Merops ornatus). — In last issue of Emu 

 the writer of " Mallee Notes " says the last of these birds in 

 migrating left about 27th February. They are here all the year 

 round. Just now is midwinter, with cold mornings, almost 

 frost. They come at sunrise to the fence a few yards from my 

 bee-hives, sit there, and as the bees essay to take flight, catch 

 them on the wing, slap them on the rail, and swallow them 

 whole. — Will M'Ilwraith. Rockhampton, 1/7/07. 



Cuckoos and Crows. — The two young Channelbills 

 {Scythrops) and the young Crow left the nest together. The two 

 former are still following the Crows, a flock of them, and I 

 expect the young Crow is among them also, but, of course, I can- 

 not recognise it. I said the Scythrops are following the Crows, 

 but I think it is the other way about ; the Crows do not seem 

 to be able to take their eyes off the young " Storm-Birds," and 

 follow them very closely. They are still being fed by their 

 foster-parents, but whether more than one pair feed them I am 

 unable to say. — F. L, Berney. Richmond, N.O. 



Rufous Bristle-Bird. — Few members of the A.O.U. have 

 opportunities equal to those of Mr. George Graham, of Scott's 

 Creek, Vic, for observing the Rufous Bristle-Bird {Sphenura 

 broadbenti). Like others who have come in contact with it, Mr. 

 Graham has remarked the striking resemblance in its habits it 

 bears to the Coachwhip-Bird {Psophodes crepitans). The male 

 Bristle-Bird makes the first long call-note, and then is answered 

 immediately by the female, usually some distance away. 

 Although not furnished with a crest, its habit of erecting the 

 crown feathers when startled gives it, to one who gets but a 

 momentary glimpse of it, the appearance of a crested bird. — W. 

 J. Stephen. Hawthorn, 16/5/07. 



* * * 



Black Swans Nesting. — On 8th July, 1907, I observed 

 three Swans' {CJienopis atratd) nests on Monivae Swamp, about 

 four miles from Hamilton. One contained five eggs, which were 

 evidently addled ; the other nests contained fresh eggs. This is 

 the earliest date on which I have found Swans' eggs in this 

 locality. Late in October, about three years ago, I found several 

 nests with fresh eggs in a small swamp at tlie back of Mount 

 Sturgeon, one being about 10 yards from a lane through which 

 vehicles and horsemen not infrequently passed. It had been an 

 unusually wet spring, the swamps had been badly flooded in 

 September, and no doubt many of the nests built earlier had 



