%£<] Stray Feathers. 6 1 



Owls in Captivity Fed by Bush Brethren. — A very striking- 

 instance of sympathy or solicitude has occurred between Chestnut- 

 faced Owls {Strix novce-hollandice) who were enjoying their full 

 liberty and some of their less fortunate brethren who have 

 been confined for some years in a cage in the City Park, 

 Launceston. The occurrence first came under my notice 

 about September last year, when the keeper of the animals drew 

 my attention to the number of young rabbits that the " cats " 

 were bringing home and depositing in front of the Owls' cage, 

 some being left so near that the Owls were able to drag several 

 of the pieces into their cage. After observing this strange 

 occurrence for some days, I could plainly see that the " cat " 

 theory was untenable. A solution of the mystery presented 

 itself soon afterwards. Being in the vicinity of the Owls' cage 

 one evening after dark, the birds seemed to be making an 

 unusual commotion, and attention was attracted to an Owl 

 passing quite close to me, and perching on the top of the cage. 

 I could see it flying about quite plainly by the light from a street 

 lamp at no great distance. I have seen the Owls repeatedly 

 since, and heard them chattering quite close to the cage, but 

 in the uncertain light have not been able to detect them carrying 

 food. There can be no doubt, however, as to the source of the 

 secret supply of food, which consisted generally of the hind- 

 quarters of young rabbits, bandicoots, and bush rats. " Hind- 

 quarters " are mentioned particularly, because there were only 

 three Owls in the cage, and the supply was generally far in 

 excess of their requirements ; consequently they were seemingly 

 too indolent to take receipt of all the food offered. Some, there- 

 fore, was allowed to drop in front of the cage, elevated above 

 the ground about 2 feet. From the remains found I conclude 

 that the providers had the first dainty morsel themselves, and 

 further that more than one Owl was engaged in this laudable 

 enterprise. One morning in particular I counted the remains 

 of no less than four rabbits, in addition to one whole carcass ; 

 there were also the remains of one bandicoot. All these had to 

 be carried some distance after being caught, and taken almost 

 right into the centre of the city, in the full glare of the electric 

 light. The occurrence is more remarkable because the cage 

 front is composed of H-inch mesh wire netting. Indications 

 showed that generally the food was passed in about half-way 

 up the front of the cage. The feeding (which I attribute to 

 the pairing and nesting season) has now (April) almost ceased. — 



W. M'Gowan, Superintendent Public Reserves, Launceston. 



* * * 



Otway DISTRICT. — Rufous Bristle-Bird (Sphcnura broadbcuti). 

 —This bird was plentiful, though more often heard than seen, 

 from Forrest down to Apollo Bay. In all its habits it suggests 

 the Coachwhip-Bird. I found a nest in a " cutting-grass " 

 tussock in a small glade on the side of a scrubby gully at the 

 back of Krambruk (see Emu, vol. ii., pi. 12). There was a 



