320 Camera Craft. ist^Apdr 



faction, was a most attenti\e ])arent, and gave ii^ood opportunities 

 for [)hotojiraijhy. F^urinj^ the last season three si>ecies of Wood 

 v^wallfAvs were nesting in close proximity to each other in this 

 district. It was noticed with most of the nests found that small 

 clutches were the general rule. The nests of the W'hite-brovved 

 and Masked species contained in most cases one egg only. This 

 unusual occurrence was attributed to a scarcity of food. 



The birds were feeding the yomig on a large .species of beetle 

 which were greatly affecting the green trees in the locality, in 

 many cases nearly stripping them of their foliage. — S. A. 

 L.xwKKxcE. Caulfield. \-ic.. 16/3/23. 



A Southern Stone - Plover {Burhmus macinirostris), lived 

 at Wahroonga, on the Xorth vShore Line at the home of Mr. 

 Doyle. The bird has the run of a large grass paddock, and nests 

 among the grass and stones. Two eggs were laid, but as there 

 is no male bird, the eggs were, of course, addled. Tn one photo 

 the bird is cautiously sneaking uj) to the nest, and in the other, is 

 using its protective powers. Atiioi. V. D'0^rHR.•\I^•. R.A.O.U. 



Stray Feathers 



Notes from Stanthorpe (S.Q.)"The Turquoise or Red- 

 shouldered Grass I'arrakeet, Xcophcma pulchella, has lately 

 been the subject of certain discussions in the Emu. And in view 

 of the fact that it was for long thought to be extinct, and that 

 it has been recorded on one or two occasions only of recent years, 

 it is interesting to note that a stray male paid us a visit in the 

 winter. It was not a resident bird, so far as I can gather, in the 

 l)ast. Due west of our Granite Belt, and at a distance of about 

 fifty miles lies Texas, at the foot hill of our range and on the 

 threshold of the great Western Plateau ; from here lately T ha\ e 

 had a specimen of the Swift Parrot, Lathaniiis discolor. Mr. 

 Morse, of Moree, at a similar distance west, again, listed the 

 birds of his district in the Emu of July, 1922. He did not include 

 this bird, but on incpiiry of him he informed me that it was noted 

 bv him for the first time about the date my specimen was obtained, 

 but too late for inclusion in his list. It seems likely, therefore, 

 tliat it was making a northerly move in search of its food. In 

 this connection it is interesting to confirm Batey's note (Emu, 

 vol. 7, i)age 13, 1907) : "Seems to diet extensively on the white 

 waxy scales that abound on tlie leaves of the yellow box. These 

 scales have a sugary taste : a small soft insect is concealed under 

 them." Mr. H. Jarvis. Government entomologist, has kindly 

 examined the stomach contents, and rei)orts: "Insects. Group 

 I-|fimoptera : Kam. I'syllidae: numerous scales of the "sugar-Ieri»" 

 i'svllid ( St(^inlyllaspis, sp. ) ; J'c;/. .Matter: Large tpiantity of the 



