Vol. VII. 



1 Stray Feathers. 1 87 



MUTTON-BlRDS. — On the 2nd November, 1907, in 45.30 

 deg. south lat. and 108.0 deg. east long. (Southern Ocean), Capt. 

 A. Simpson, of the s.s. Moravian, observed large flocks of 

 " Sooty Petrels " (possibly Ptiffinus sphetiurus or P. carneipes) 

 flying S.W. He expressed surprise at finding these birds so far 

 from land — about 720 miles S.W. of Cape Leeuwin. According 

 to Bartholomew's " Commercial Chart," in these latitudes there 

 extends upon the ocean for almost the breadth of Australia a 

 belt of drift sea-weed. Possibly the birds were foraging for 

 food — small crustaceans, molluscs, &c.— among these floating 

 meadows. — A.J.C. 



Melbourne Zoo Notes. — On the evening of 6th February 

 I saw hundreds of Starh'ngs catching insects on the wing. It 

 had been a warm day, and the air seemed full of insects. The 

 Starlings noticed it too, evidently, so were hawking in the air by 

 hundreds after their winged prey. When they caught one, they 

 flew to a neighbouring perch on a tree, and swallowed the insect 

 at leisure, and then started off again. The following evening a 

 fine specimen of a Grey Goshawk {Astnr cinereus) flew slowly 

 past me. It is some years now since we have seen a specimen 

 of this bird here. It only remained about two days in the 

 Gardens, and then left, much to the relief of the wild birds that 

 make these Gardens their home. — D. Le Souef. i 1/3/08. 



Owls and their Prey. — When walking along the edge of a 

 scrub some months ago, about mid-day, a Winking Owl {Ninox 

 connivens) flapped out of the branches of a scrub oak just over 

 my head and dropped a half-eaten Podargus almost at my feet. 

 I have frequently noticed this habit of the Owls, of keeping their 

 night-killed prey with them in their daytime roosting places. 

 Flying squirrels seem to be their favourite meal, but I have 

 flushed them, at various times in the day, carrying half-eaten 

 ring-tailed opossums, and once a flying fox ; the latter, by the 

 way, was the capture of a Powerful Owl {N. strenua). — CllAS. 

 A. Barnard. Coomooboolaroo, Duaringa (O.) 



[These field observations of Mr. Barnard are exceedingly 

 interesting. It is possible that the members of the genera 

 Ninox, being partially diurnal in habits, occasionally take their 

 prey during day. — Eds.] 



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Finches and Cuckoos. — It has been generally remarked 

 that never have Cuckoos been so plentiful near Melbourne as 

 during the present season. As a result of the unusual visitation 

 a large number of eggs and young have been observed in the 

 nests of the respective foster-parents. I have found as many as 



