322 



S/rur J-rat/ii'is 



I The Emu 

 L 1st April 



Some Birds of the Kosciusko District — A 4,neat wealth of 

 bird life is to be seen on the fcjothiils of the mountains that 

 surround Kosciusko. The valley of the Thredbo, and the 

 beautiful terrain leading back into the ranges ui) the valley of 

 the v^nowy River is alive with bird life. 



The actual forest that so thickly clothes the stee|) mountains 

 that rise on all sides, contains compavalively few birds, but an 

 interesting exception is the Satin Flycatcher (Myiagra cyanohuca), 

 which inhabits the (|uiet \alleys at an elevation of about 5000 



Young Dusky Wood-Swallous {Artiimus cyatiuptcrus) in nest 

 Photo, by A. S Le Souef. C.M.Z.S. 



feet. Se\eral i)airs were noted, which were very local, their 

 varied and distinctive call notes making beautiful music through 

 the silent glades. The peculiar habii of shaking the tail later- 

 ally is very characteristic of this species. 



In the open forest, apparently feeding on grass seeds, were 

 noted se\eral I>lue-winged (irass Parrots iXcophcma clirysos- 

 toma). These little birds are very (juiet, and when disturbed 

 flew up into the low bushes, where, sitting qiute still, with their 

 backs toward one, they were exceedingly difficult to pick out 

 from the foliage. .V i)air that were disturbed on the river bank 

 rose (|uickly to a fair height before making off to the feeding 

 ground. I saw no indication of their nesting, and they had 

 probably finished for the season. Their note was the sharp little 

 ■"tink" that is characteristic of this genus. On the mountain 



