1. XI\. 

 1919 



1 Kersev, Notes from Dolomite, Western Queensland. ^3 



roof of the school. The children were very interested to sec the little 

 birds fly down on the floor of the shed to pick up a straw or a feather 

 they had dropped. 



Another Finch, slightly larger than but resembling \-cry much the 

 coastal " Bullfinch,"- was often seen, but I was unable to classify 

 this pretty IMack-lhroated Finch. 



Corone australis. Australian Raven. — Four or five of these birds 

 were seen on one occasion. 



Cracticus nlgrogularis. Black-throated Butcher-Bird. — Seen daily. 



Gymnorhina tibicen. Black-backed Magpie. — Seen daily. 



In addition to those mentioned above, a Whistler, Honey- 

 eater, Mycatchor, and a Wren- Warbler 'were also seen, but I was 

 nnable to dett-rniine exactly to which species they belonged. 



Migration of Swifts. 



By H. Stuart Dove, F.Z.S., West Devoxport, Tasmania. 



The first Spine-tailed Swift {Chatura caudaaita) seen in North-West 

 Tasmania this summer was a solitary specimen travelling at a 

 great rate towards the sea, or in a northerly direction, on 12th 

 January. A couple were noticed on 19th February circling towards 

 the beach at noon ; wind fresh from N.W., weather fine. On 

 20th same month a large number was seen by Mr. L. A. Thurston 

 (a resident of Devonport, and one of our members, R.A.O.U.) pass- 

 ing over from S.E. towards X.W. ; wind was north-w'est, moderate, 

 weather fine after rain from S.E. on i8th. On 22nd February 

 the same observer noticed a small party coming from N.W. in 

 the afternoon ; wind was light from that quarter. On 4th March, 

 after a few hours' rain from eastward, a pair of Swifts was noticed 

 coming from the north-west ; wind E.S.E., light. Towards evening 

 a number appeared, at heights of 40 feet to 200 feet or so, circling 

 and feeding. The afternoon was muggy, with light showers. 



At about 10.30 a.m. on 5th March hundreds of Spinetails 

 appeared over Devonport until noon, circling before a violent 

 south-easter, and disappearing towards the north-west. The air 

 seemed thick with them at from 30 feet to a great altitude, 

 circhng and playing, but apparently not feeding. A loose cluster 

 of the birds, like a magnified Pleiades, could be seen circling and 

 preserving much the same formation until it disappeared away 

 over the coast-line to north-west. This is tlie first lar<^e company 

 of Spinetails observed for two years. 



6th March. — A large number again appeared in the morning, 

 between 10 and 11 o'clock, making towards south-east. They 

 were back again at sundown, when a very peculiar effect was 

 observed. A very large cloud covered most of the western sky, 

 turned a beautiful golden tint by the rays of the setting sun, and 

 as the birds flew straight towards this the white throat and fore- 

 head of each became tinged until it resembled old ivory. As the 



