Vol. III. 

 1903 



Stray Feathers. 6 X 



would make nearly j\ months for the bird to rear the first 

 fledgling ; this leaves 4^- months, so we must naturally conclude 

 that the bird would not so materially change its habits as to 

 produce another brood in such a less space of time. Re the 

 Mutton-Bird laying a second time after it has been robbed, I 

 can only say they have never been known to do so. The theory 

 was that if you robbed a nest when the egg was fresh and examined 

 it again in ten or twelve days' time you would most likely find 

 another egg. This year, to prove what I state, I marked a 

 number of nests after robbing them, and looked at them again 

 after the stated time and also nearly a month later, but in both 

 instances found no eggs. I examined numbers of nests that 

 had been robbed by other people (who had been there and ate 

 the eggs, not being scientifically inclined), with the like result. 



A marked decrease is evident in the numbers of the Cape 

 Barren Geese (Cereopsis novcs-hollandies) in Bass Strait. This 

 year in particular the nests found on the sheep-breeding islands 

 were almost nil ; it is probable that this is due to the fact that 

 the residents rob the nests so systematically every year that the 

 birds seek more secluded spots in the breeding season, and return 

 to their old haunts later. A curious feature about these birds 

 is that, although web-footed, they are never seen swimming 

 except when wounded or too young to fly. They are very 

 suspicious, and one must be careful not to touch their nests or 

 handle the eggs if wishing to obtain a clutch of goslings from 

 them. People have taken eggs out of a nest and finding them unfit 

 for blowing, &c, have replaced them carefully, and, happening 

 to return the same way, have been astounded to see the parent 

 bird breaking them with great expedition. 



The Summer-Bird or Cuckoo-Shrike (Graucalus parvirostris) 

 usually makes its appearance in September in flocks of six or 

 eight. Only one clutch has been found, on one of the principal 

 islands, which shows that they do not breed here to any extent. 



The Wood-Swallow (Artamus sordidus) arrives about the same 

 time as the preceding bird, and also seems to prefer breeding 

 elsewhere, although its eggs have been found once or twice. 

 In each case the nest was built on that of another bird. 



Spur-winged Plover (Lobivanellus lobatus) lays in October, but 

 it is difficult to find the eggs of this noisy bird. The nest is simply 

 a slight depression in the ground, and the eggs are apt to be 

 mistaken for small stones, particularly as their colour resembles 

 the surroundings to a greater or lesser extent. 



The Large-billed Ground-Thrush (Geocichla macrorhynchd) is 

 also a rare bird. It constructs its green moss-made nest 

 generally in a hollow stump in a thickly wooded gully and 

 almost invariably near water. It is a very shy bird. 



The Black-cheeked Falcon (Falco melanogenys) is not plentiful. 

 It is generally found nesting among cliffs or rocky gorges, the 

 eggs being almost similar to those of Brown Hawks (Hieracidea). 



The Black and Pied Oyster-catchers (Hcematopus unicolor and 



