3o8 Edwards, Colour-Sense in Satin Boiver-Birds. [|^'' 



As regards the clioice of nesting material of a certain tint, I 

 was interested last season in watching a Black-chinned Honey- 

 eater fly down again and again from a tall gum-tree in which it 

 was building and tweak a beakful of hair from the back of a 

 creamy pony. Bay and black horses, also feeding about, the 

 bird passed by, nor have I previously seen a Honey-eater — as this 

 one did — calmly alight on a horse's back, though the Black-and- 

 White Fantail, of course, often does so. 



Bird Notes from Prairie Table-land, North 

 Queensland. 



By J. R. Chisholm, R.A.O.U., The Plains (O.) 



The home blackboy had just returned from the horse paddock. 

 " I bin see um 'Awk killen um Turkey," he said. " Well, why 

 didn't you fetch the Turkey ? " " I no bin tinkin' about him." 

 Perhaps I should not have blamed him. Through life it is 

 good to have one job at a time. I sent him away, and he soon 

 returned with the Turkey (Wild Bustard), weighing i6 lbs. A 

 hole had been eaten in the flesh of the breast. The Hawk is a 

 little tawny Sparrow-Hawk — I am disposed to believe rather 

 smaller than the Kestrel described by Dr. Leach ; at any rate, a 

 diminutive chap, but a born criminal. 



Another observation lately is a Jabiru in an out-of-the-wav 

 place, inducing the belief that these birds fly as high as the Stork. 

 Tlie bird was at windmill water supply in high, dry table-land 

 country many miles from any surface water, and could only have 

 seen the water in the tank if flying at high altitude. It was a 

 male bird, with brilHant plumage sheen of blue, green, and 

 bronze on its head and neck. 



On a sheep station it is ditflxult to see eye to eye with IVIr. 

 Froggatt, who would protect the Crow. And, liaving fisli in my 

 reservoirs, my vision is ol:)liquc witli those wlio would protect the 

 Cormorant. 



My other note concerns the sense of smell once shown by a 

 Boobook Owl. One of a pair was shot, and carried home in the 

 darkness — a fourth of a mile. The other followed, and came to 

 perch on the verandah rail, calling sadly. My wife was much 

 concerned at wliat seemed uncanny, and foreboding evil. 



Amongst the Birds in Out-back Moree, N.S.W. 



Bv T. H. Clee, R.A.O.U., Moree. 



A delightful example of the economic value of our bird friends 

 is under notice just now. A severe drought is with us, and every 

 vestige of edible vegetation is of great value to the grazier, and, 

 tlirough liim, dirrctl\' to the jicoi^lc. Large areas here arc (inite 



