152 Stray Feathers. Tisfoc"?" 



Observations at Pittwater. -While walking,' up a steej) ^rassy 

 >l()l>e. I Hushed a I'heasant-Coucal ( Ceiitropus phasla)n)ius), 

 which Hew along the grass for some distance, alighting in the 

 lower branches of a gum tree, and hopping by a series of jumps 

 to the top. I was struck with the, what I believe is unusual, 

 locality for such a bird. Though the grass was fairly long, there 

 was no sign of any swampy ground within a mile or so.. These 

 birds are, I believe, rather rare as far south as Sydney. 



I noticed a pair of Sacred Kingfishers (Halcyon sancfiis) 

 [)erching on a dead tree, and was sur|)rised to see one dart mto 

 the air, ca])ture a fly and return to its ])erch. I watched the 

 birds for some time, and found them quite adepts at catching 

 flies. I watched them for about twenty minutes, and only once 

 did one miss a fly. They always returned to their i)erch before- 

 eating their victims. 



There had been a fair amount of rain during the last few- 

 weeks, and the tank, belonging to one of the week-end cottages, 

 was overflowing. The large round hole in the top was uncovered. 

 A Magpie Lark (CraUlna cya)wleiica) perched on the to]) of the 

 tank, and, after having a drink, fluttered right into the water, 

 where it floated for an instant in the fashion of a Sea-gull. It 

 did this two or three times, finally sitting on the surface of the 

 water and fluttering its wings to splash itself. It did not, how- 

 ever, stay very long doing this, but came out of the water veiy 

 quickly. I have also noticed these birds picking up their food 

 and running along the sand or mud flats after the tide has 

 receded. — Geo. \'. ScAMNrELL. "Melrose," ^liddle Hd. Road, 

 Mosman, 21/^/22. 



* * * 



Buff = breasted Quail (Turnix oliyii). — In tlie latest coi)y of 

 The limn a long and interesting article with coloured ])lates of 

 this bird is reccjrded by A. J. Cam])bell, F..\.O.U., Melbourne. 

 This bird is quite common in this locality, and I often shoot them 

 when out Quail shooting. Usually found in pairs, and in some 

 cases as many as six may be flushed in one lot by the i)ointer 

 dogs. These birds frequent high ridgy country, and in sheltered 

 pockets along the creek banks at certain times of year. In size, 

 they are about ecpial to the ordinary Stubble Quail. — W. H. 

 Ein\ AKOs. I\..\.O.l".. "Coongoold," Colosseum, X.E. Line. Q. 



Blue BudgeriK'ahs. 'Ibc iilue-plumaged form of Melopsittacns: 

 uiuliilatiis, apparent!} is not rare in aviaries in England. Mr. 

 A. lUngess, writing in Xatureland (vol. i., Xo. 2), states: — 

 "1 find my Blue Budgerigahs \ery strong; in fact I sold two 

 hens last year to a gentleman who has already twelve birds by 

 the.se two hens only, and there are others now in the nest. I 

 have twenty adults and eighteen \(tung lilues of 1020, so next 

 vear mv runs will be full." 



