"^"[i^^] STUART D()\'E, Tasmaniaii Xofcs. 307 



last night till daylight this morning ; in afternoon large number 

 of the birds api)eared. some low, others various heights up to a 

 great altitude, all apparently insect-catching; rain began while I 

 was watching; nice long shower, hardly perceptible \.W. breeze. 

 While on Ulverstone Show Ground, about 12 miles west of 

 Devonport, on 25th ]\Iarch. a number of the birds appeared, fly- 

 ing quite low; calm, sultry day. with a few light showers. Be- 

 tween 5 and 6 j).ni.. a large number appeared (also at Ulverstone) 

 at a great height overhead, circling in a mazy dance for a long 

 time at about the same spot. Some appeared to make ofif over 

 ihe sea (north) before dark, others seemed to move eastward; 

 there was another light shower, then clear. A friend told me 

 that a large number of Swifts were over Devonport the same 

 afternoon I observed those at Ulverstone, some very low; to- 

 wards evening they rose to a considerable altitude, and ap- 

 l)arently passed to eastward. The same night another Aurora 

 was seen, so there was evidently much electric tension in the 

 atmosphere, causing the peculiar movements of the birds. They 

 evidently migrated at this time, as none was seen later. Dur- 

 ing the summer of 1921, the birds began to appear just after 

 New Year ; on evening of 2nd January a considerable number 

 passed over Devonport towards south-east, about 7.30, at various 

 heights, some at a very considerable altitude. The j-jrevious 

 day had been extremely muggy, with electrical disturbance, and 

 rain from north at night. On evening of 4th March, a pair 

 passed over going south or inland ; next day, heavy wind from 

 .'-outh. with shower or two. A solitarv Swift seen on afternoon 

 of 17th March, passing towards S.W., in teeth of strong wind ; air 

 <lry. Morning of 21st was overcast, smart shower from N.\\\ 

 before noon; shortly afterwards a dozen or so of Spine-tails 

 passed towards S.W. at medium height; in later afternoon and 

 evening brisk cool S.W. wind. On 23rd March, a friend and 

 myself started from Devonport for Hobart on a beautifully sunny 

 morning; about dinner-time we passed large numbers of Swifts 

 on the liills just off the main road, between Ross and Tunbridge, 

 flying backwards and forwards over sparsely-timbered country, 

 evidently taking insect food ; thev continued for about ten miles, 

 so there must have been a great company altogether. Early 

 afternoon somewhat sultry, with light N.V\'. lireeze. afterwards 

 clouded over, heavy shower before 5 p.m., heavy wind and 

 showers next morning. This w^as by far the largest quantity 

 of Spine-tails encountered this summer; the last observed were 

 after tea on 9th April, at a medium heiglit. going directly to- 

 wards N.W., not feeding, evidently on migration; wind S.W., 

 strong, squally; there had been high wind and rain the previous 

 night, and rain also followed their departure. 



The first Spring Migrants to arrive were the Pipits (Anthns 

 australis), a small party of which were seen on the morning of 

 3rd August in a grass paddock close to Don Road. They looked 



