102 Pye, Bird Notes fyom Dookie. [^^^ 



Emu 

 Oct 



about each year, mostly the Red-capped. The pretty Blue- 

 capped Wren still delights us, and passing flocks of Love-Birds 

 (Budgerigars) and Cockatoo-Parrots. The latter reminded me of 

 my youth when I stuffed birds. I was at Connewarre, shooting 

 birds to stuff, and I saw on the fence two birds that I had not 

 seen before. I shot both at one shot. I had not gone far when 

 the late Mr. Andrew White rode up at a gallop and called out to 

 me, vAth a rather convincing mien, " I have just let go two 

 Cockatoo-Parrots. If you shoot them, I'll use this stockwhip on 

 you until you'll wish you were in heaven." I felt my knees a bit 

 wobbly, and a silent prayer went up that he would not look in my 

 bag. He did not. I left Connewarre out of my shooting itinerary 

 for a whole year. I learned the name of the birds, though. Now, 

 every time I see one my thoughts flash back to the summertime of 

 youth. The poetry of bird-hfe will be lost to generations of youth 

 in the near future. Beautiful birds will only appeal as myths, or 

 disembodied spirits. The past will be measured by their present 

 bird-hfe, such as Starlings, Sparrows, and birds every man's hand 

 is against. What a vast amount of happy imagery will be lost ! 

 Materiahsm gloats over the sacrifice. " Man's Place in Nature " 

 should have in the appendix " Birds' Place in Nature." There 

 is no doubt the Education Department has saved the hves of 

 thousands of birds through the efforts of the bird-lovers among 

 the teachers. Still, it is decreed that until the wood-lot on the 

 farm is a fact instead of a fetich bird-life will almost be a memory. 

 The leaden interest by the community generally in reafforestation 

 is more than a pity — it's a calamity to any country, and a positive 

 millstone around the neck of the most willing Government. 

 Unless the people generally and individually act as guardians to 

 great national interests, the wealth expended on them is worse 

 than lost. 



Stray Feathers. 



Long-lived Corella. — IVIr. R. Eastway, of Sydney, has in his 

 possession a Corella that has been in the family for 35 years, and 

 has every year for that time laid three eggs. — -A. S. Le Souef. 

 Taronga Park, Sydney, N.S.W. 8/9/20. 



Acclimatized Birds in Tasmania.— There are many acclimatized 

 birds, such as Sparrows, Goldfinches, and Starlings, here. 

 Orchardists complain about the latter bird, but on the pastoral 

 areas the Starling has been the salvation of many properties, as 

 it has cleared out the small snail which acts as a host to the fluke. 

 European Skylarks have only reached here during the last six 

 years, and are increasing. — Chas. BrRBTRY. Hobart (Tas.) 



