Stray Feathers. 



Stray Feathers. 



239 



The Rufous Bristle-Bird {Spheniim bfoadbenli).— With regard 

 to this l)ii"(l ill the ( )i\va\ s, wliat is tlic extent of its range ? From 

 personal ohserwatious I Hnd this bird at Anglesea, extending round 

 the coast ])ast Airey's Inlet, from there on to Lorne, and as far 

 as the Jamieson River, 10 miles from Lorne. At the back of 

 Mount Defiance, near the Cumberland River, I have seen and 

 heard numbers of these birds. Again, along the Lorne coach road 

 these birds are plentiful, extending over the top of. the range to 

 within a few miles of Dean's Marsh. In nearly every gully along 

 the coast-line mentioned several pairs can be found, and I fancy 

 they are increasing in numbers. — Jf K. Russell. Barunah Plains, 

 Hesse. 



Habits of Cockatoos. — Lately, when staying at Tallarook, I 

 noticed that a flock of about 200 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and 

 Corellas that lived in the neighbourhood always seemed to have 

 their regular beat, which they go ov^er every day, and roost in the 

 same place at night. They also visit other places during the 

 day in search of food. My father, W. H. D. Le Souiif, noticed 

 the same thing with Crows in Queensland, and also that the same 

 individual bircl acted as leader every time ; as it had two or three 

 white feathers on one wing it was easily identified. It is probable 

 that the Cockatoos and other birds, when flying in companies, 

 ha^'e their recognized leader. I know it occurs in mobs of cattle, 

 sheep, &c., and the leader may be either a male or female. — 

 Cecil J. Le Souef. Melbourne. 



* * * 



Gang-Gang Cockatoos.— During a few weeks' stay at Lorne 

 I was surprised at the number of Gang-Gang Cockatoos [Callo- 

 cephalon gcdeatum) close to the township. Every morning numbers 

 of these birds could be heard, and also seen feeding, among the 

 gum-trees along the foreshore. I have been at Lorne for every 

 summer for many years past, but never remember these birds 

 being so plentiful. My brother also mentions seeing a flock along 

 the Barwon River, at Geelong. Another note I have from 

 Whoorel, near Birregurra, saying that the birds were very 

 numerous, feeding among the sugar-gum plantations. The birds 

 had never been in that locality before. While at Inverleigh some 

 days ago I noticed four birds flying over the cricket ground, and 

 I also saw a single bird here on the plains. Has the food supply 

 in the Otway Ranges anything to do with the birds appearing in 

 these unusiial places?—]. K. Russell, R.A.O.U. Hesse. 



* * * 



Osprey Aerie, Cape Mentelle, W.A.- 1 was interested in this 

 " historic nest " {vide Emit, ante, p. 126) and Mr. Hurst's picture 

 on the opposite page (pi. xv.), and, being further inland at the 

 time, I was not with the R.A.O.U. party. Thirty-one years 



