254 ^^^""^ Feathers. [,st^Apr,i 



Stray Feathers. 



New Foster-Parent for Pallid Cuckoo.— On the nth November, 

 igii, in company with Mr. F. E. Wilson, R.A.O.U., I observed at 

 Beaconsfield (Victoria) a nest of the Bell-Miner (Manorhina 

 melanophrys) containing fresh eggs. Two of the eggs had been 

 laid by the Miner and the third egg by a Pallid Cuckoo {Cuculus 

 paUidus). — L. G. Chaxdler. Malvern, 20/11/11. 

 * * * 



Honey-Lovers. — On the 7th December last. I noticed several 

 Honey-eaters {Meliovnis novcc-hollandicB), making a great fuss in a 

 tecoma creeper {T. radicans) in full flower. I soon saw that while 

 gathering honey themselves out of the long tubular flowers, they 

 were protesting most emphatically at the presence of a pair of 

 Melithrcptus gidaris. The latter were using their sharp and short 

 beaks to pierce the tecoma flowers near their base, and thus 

 extracting the honey by a short cut. I examined the flowers, and 

 noticed that the birds had made quite a considerable perforation 

 in the corolla tube. Were the " New Hollands " objecting to the 

 damage done the flowers or to the " Black-throateds " sharing the 

 supply of honey ? -Edwin Ashby. Adelaide. 12/12/11. 



The Malurus. — A jmir of Blue Wrens {Malurus cyaneus) has for 

 several years built in the creepers on my house, "Wittunga," 

 Blackwood, South Australia. On the nth November last I 

 noticed two full-plumaged males on the guttering of the house, fuss- 

 ing about, evidently waiting to take some morsel to the young birds 

 in the nest, but a little fearful because of my presence. The female 

 bird then appeared on the guttering, and I moved a little further 

 away, and immediately one of the male birds flew down to the 

 nest to feed the young ones. Directly he had flown away the second 

 male flew down and supplied the cravings of the young birds, and 

 when he had returned the female bird did hkewise. My sight was 

 not good enough to see the insects in the birds' beaks, but there was 

 no doubt that each of the three adults was supplying the young 

 with food. — Edv^in Ashby. Adelaide, 11/12/11. 

 * * * 



Cuckoos as Nest Robbers. — Recently when Ashing along a creek 

 near Yea I flushed a Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcococcyx 

 basalis) from some grass tussocks. Thinking it was after the nest 

 of some Blue Wrens {Malurus cyaneus), which seemed excited. I 

 looked about and soon found a nest of the Wren containing one 

 fresh egg ; so, placing myself behind cover, I waited, and soon the 

 Cuckoo came hopping along the ground to the nest, but whether 

 it carried its egg in its bill I cannot say. After being at the nest 

 for about half" a minute the Cuckoo flew away with the Wren's 

 egg in its bill and left its own in the nest. The Wren subse- 

 quently laid two more eggs. I think this accounts for the finding 



