248 Stray Feathers. I isf Jan." 



Breeding: Birds in the Perth Zoo.- We have had a good 

 breeding season in the Zoo here. A i»air of Euroi)ean v^heldrakes, 

 which have been 17 years in the collection, bred five ducklings 

 this year, the first time they have bred. We have also Canadian 

 Goslings, young Mallards, Indian Yellow-bill Ducklings, Emus, 

 and Ibises; numerous Guinea-fowl of three species, and Indian 

 Pochards. A pair of Indian Bar-head Geese bred and reared 

 four young, after being in the collection for 21 years without 

 breeding. About 50 Nankeen Night-Herons, which bred here, 

 have gone to a new rookery this year to breed, and only the 

 pinioned ones, about four, have stayed behind and nested. I 

 expect them all to come back with their young. I would have 

 had a much better season, but the "ubiciuitous boy" intervened, 

 and destroyed many nests. I have two nests of White vSwans, 

 and a boy stoned one nest, breaking the fertile eggs. — EknEST A. 

 Le bouEF, B.V.Sc, Vice-President K..\.O.U. 

 * * * 



American Golden Plover.— I thought it might interest your 

 readers to know that last month there were 6 American Golden 

 Plover in this district, and Mr. F. W. Price, of "Raroona," shot 

 one and brought it in to me. They were about 45 miles from 

 the coast, and were on a little ploughed ground close to a swamp. 

 We have tried to locate them since, but w ithout success. I have 

 never known them in this district before. I understand that the 

 only specimens they have in the Sydney ^luseum were taken 

 from Lord Howe Island. — J- E.alkixkk, R.A.O.U., ."Singleton. 



State Secretaries' Reports. 



N^ew Zealand. 

 Bird Protection in New Zealand.— During the 1921 ses- 

 sion. Parliament i)assed an efficient "Animals Protection and 

 Game Act," which came into force on the 1st of April 

 this year. Nearly all indigenous birds are protected, 

 those not on the list being birds considered hannful. These 

 include the Kea (Nestor >iotab}Iis), Black-backed (lull (Lams 

 domiyticanus), White-eye {Zostcrops lateralis), all species of 

 vShags (Phalaeroeorax) except the Chatham Island Shag (P. 

 featlierstoni), the Hawks (Circus </ouldi, Xesierax norcc- 

 zealandia and A', aiistralis), and the Mutton-Birds { Piiffnius. 

 (jriseits and P. tenuirostris). The last-named are not protected, 

 l)rol)ably on account of the Mutton-Bird industry of the Maoris. 

 Birds included in native game, to shoot which a license is now 

 necessary, are Black Teal (fuli(/ula novcc-zealandicc). Grey Duck 

 (.\uas superciliosa), Shoveller (Spatula rhyncotis), Eastern 

 Gulden Plover (Charadrius doniinicus), Godwit (Liniosa novff- 

 zealandicc), Knot (Tri)u/a canutus), Turnstone {}forinella in- 

 ter pres). and r.lack Swan (Chenopis atrata). .Ml other native 

 ducks than those mentioned above are absolutely protected. 



