Vo l' " L l Stray Feathers. 65 



Where individuals were seen, pairs, threes, or fours are common. 

 Nothing is changing among the small migratory birds, but 

 perhaps the backwardness of the season, owing to the want 

 of rain, may account for this. 



1 6th August. — Two signs of spring have to be noted. The 

 full song of a Magpie was heard in the beginning of the week, 

 and about the middle the Swallows, which have been away for 

 some time, returned. Satin-Birds are in flocks. One flock was 

 noted with about a score of green birds and but one black. 



30th August. — Swallows have begun to build against the screen 

 of the verandah. As they are building on boards exposed to 

 full glare of the sun, they use horsehair to bind their work. [A 

 break unfortunately here occurs in Mr. Wilson's observations, 

 owing to his illness. This is to be regretted the more as spring 

 migrations were now due. — Eds.] 



4th October. — The Swallow's nest on the verandah, according 

 to a little boy, " fell down." It was resting on a planed hardwood 

 " tie," and plastered to painted boards, the latter only half an 

 inch thick. A few Ibises are still to be seen about the swamps. 



11th October. — Are the Fantails jackals for the horse? One 

 morning this week a Fantail (Black and White) was noted looking 

 very seriously into a horse's face as the animal grazed. Its 

 position was about 1 5 inches from the horse's nose, and the 

 quadruped seemed pleased with the biped's attentions. Probably 

 the horse disturbed insect colonies in securing his breakfast, 

 and but for the Fantail's help he would have suffered for his 

 intrusion. 



1 8th October. — Building seems to be the prevailing business of 

 the birds. The body hair from two horses, that had been removed 

 by currycomb, had in a few days entirely disappeared. Combings 

 from manes and tails were not in so much demand, but dis- 

 appeared later in the week. The birds visited the yard early, 

 while the material was wet. Unfortunately it was not possible 

 to follow them to their nesting-places. One Ibis was seen and 

 heard at different times during the week. Gang-Gang Cockatoos 

 do not seem to be nesting yet. Occasionally three or four are 

 seen flying from the ranges east of the river towards those to 

 the west, about eight o'clock in the morning. They fly high, 

 and sexual distinguishing marks are invisible, but I think the 

 Gang-Gang is at least a bigamist. Indeed, I should not wonder 

 if he were convicted of polygamy. 



Attention is called to hens (barn-door) assuming the plumage 

 of cocks. These seem to be, in every case, very old, and their 

 vagaries have been preceded by intermittent laying, the pro- 

 duction of small eggs, and finally malformed eggs. These seem 

 to point to exhaustion of reproductive power. The change of 

 plumage is accompanied by other changes. The hen attempts 

 to crow, she walks like a cock, and she shuns her sex. Has she 

 ceased to be an object of desire to the lord of the harem ? Does 

 he accordingly cease to protect her ? Is she safer from her 



