240 stray Feathers. [is^Aprii 



previously I photographed the same aerie (see " Nests and Eggs," 

 p. 42). The fine figure at the nest represents Mr. A. J. Bussell, 

 brother of the " Austrahan Grace Darling" — Miss Grace Bussell. 

 Eleven years subsequently Mr. C. P. Conigrave visited the nest 

 (see Emu, i., pi. ix.) It is satisfactory to learn that these noble 

 birds are still in possession of that ancient isolated rock, which 

 has been made a permanent reserve by the Lands Department. 

 It is probably the smallest reserve t»n record, and was made on 

 the representations of Mr. A. W. Milligan and the late Mr. 

 Woodward (see Emit, ii., p. 70). — A. J. Campbell, C.M.B.O.U. 

 Box Hill (Vic.) 



* * * 



Terns at Bunbury.— It was my privilege, during the Union's 

 W.A. trip, to visit the port of Bunbury, and among some of the 

 interesting bird-notes I made there was one on a company of 

 Crested Terns. A very cold and strong wind was blowing in 

 from the sea, and these birds had discovered that the old piles 

 of a one-time bath-house inside the breakwater afforded them 

 a veritable haven of rest. Protected from the wind by the higher 

 land on the sea side, and from human disturbers by the dilapidated ■ 

 state of the structure, these birds had collected in great numbers 

 to take it easy, and thus demonstrates how typically Australian 

 they were. I counted no less than 360 in the lot, and not one 

 was within pecking distance of its neighbour, and every one faced 

 the same direction, head to wind. A noticeable feature was the 

 diversity of marking of the different birds. The crests varied 

 from black to grey, and other dark markings were equally variable ; 

 the greys of the backs and wings also ran through many grades, 

 no doubt due to variable ages. — G. H. Barker, R.A.O.U. Brisbane. 



Cuckoos' Eggs. — Does the Cuckoo lay its egg in a nest only 

 before the foster-parents commence laying ? This question has 

 repeatedly occurred to me when I have noted that the Cuckoo 

 egg is further advanced in incubation than the eggs of the foster- 

 parents. In every instance I found that in combination clutches the 

 egg of the Cuckoo was first laid, or the incubation of the Cuckoo's 

 egg was of shorter duration than those of the foster-parents. 

 Even a clutch of one Fantail Cuckoo and one of Blue Wren, taken 

 on Kangaroo Island, bears this out, as, though the Blue Wren's 

 egg was quite fresh, the Cuckoo's was slightly incubated. Mr. 

 J. W. Mellor has records of Bronze-Cuckoo (Narrow-bill) hatching 

 out two days before Blue Wrens' eggs. Has a nest been found 

 containing young of foster-parents and egg of Cuckoo ? Two or 

 even more eggs of Cuckoos have been recorded in one nest, but, 

 I understand, only one Cuckoo's egg was with foster-parents' 

 eggs, the others being embedded in lining of nest. Has an 

 authentic record been made of a Cuckoo's egg being added to eggs 

 of foster-parents ? — J. Neil M'Gilp, R.A.O.U. " Origma," King's 

 Park, S.A. 



