66 Stray Feathers. [ is f™ ly 



natural enemies in borrowed plumes ? Apparently she has 

 become incapable of self-defence, and when killed she is found 

 to be " feathers and bones." Crowing hens are objects of 

 detestation in Gaelic folk-lore. The reason seems plain. A 

 hen-wife who permits a fowl to reach such an age as is necessary 

 for the change of garb must be very inefficient. Does the 

 assumption by the female of male plumage take place in wild 

 bird-life D Its analogy is surely seen in the black " death robe " 

 of the Satin-Bird.* 



25th October. — On Sunday Jackasses were observed select i 11 g 

 hollows, obviously for nesting. The male seems to perform a 

 sort of dance among the boughs of the dead tree on which his 

 mate sits. On Monday morning a flock of Ibises (about 20) 

 was disturbed while feeding in the swamp. When they rise 

 they fly a short distance into the heads of dead trees, and then 

 set out, in a " follow-the-leader " flight for some other feeding- 

 ground. On 26th October a flock of about 40 was noticed 

 feeding on the flat, away from the swamp. There has been rain 

 enough to moisten the ground to some depth. The nearest 

 were never within gunshot. 



On 30th a Robin was noticed among the bushes by the river. 

 The situation is very quiet, and probably, as he appeared un- 

 willing to fly far, he had domicile somewhere near. 



8th November. — Small flocks of Ibises are reported in the 

 district. A large and early immigration of Leatherheads is 

 also to be noted. These birds seem to have difficulty in finding 

 food. 



15th November. — A young Wattle-Bird was brought to school 

 by one of the children. It was fully fledged and seemed well 

 nourished. Advice to leave the rest to papa and mamma was 

 given. 



22nd November. — The Buft-rumped Tit is noted where the 

 Robin was seen lately, busily engaged picking up a living. I 

 am not at all sure that these birds in an ordinary season breed 

 on the flats, but those under notice seemed to be foraging for 

 others besides themselves. 



29th November. — Necessity compelled a journey to Bright. 

 The road winds upwards over a range for five miles. The creeks 

 which cross the road on the east side of the range are still running, 

 and birds were seen at the various altitudes as usual. Near the 

 top a Gang-Gang Cockatoo hen flew past my horses' heads, so 

 near that both shied. On the western side of the range the 

 creeks are dry, and bird life in the upper regions is very poorly 

 represented. When the region of running water in German 



* This phase of bird life was alluded to by Aristotle, and some interesting 

 instances are cited in notes to Letter xxxv. of White's " Natural History of Selborne " 

 (Blackwood's edition). There seems no reason why such change should not occur in 

 wild birds, but the analogy given above is a doubtful one. The "death robe" of 

 the Satin Bower-Bird is usually regarded as only the assumption of mature plumage 

 by the male. — Eds. 



