I I 6 Stray Feathers. I ist 



Emu 

 Oct. 



roseicapilla) came and fed on the strip. I have not previously 

 seen them feeding here (now over thirty years). Doubtless, owing 

 to the severe drought, they sought new feeding grounds, returning 

 to their natural haunts when the rain came. Last, but not least, 

 quite a number of Emus found their way down from the scrub 

 country about ioo miles north, and would doubtless have reached 

 the mountains, where there was abundance of water and food, 

 but for the ruthless way they were hunted and destroyed, the 

 Game Act notwithstanding. — JOSEPH A. HlLL. Kewell, via 

 Murtoa (Victoria). 



Southerly Range of Long-billed Cockatoo. — In a letter I 

 have received from Mr. Geo. Graham, of Scott's Creek (Victoria), 

 he states, under date 10/5/03, that in his locality are " a flock of 

 White Cockatoos (Cacatua galeritd) which range in numbers 

 from 50 to 150, and since the summer of 1900 a small flock of 

 Long-billed Cockatoos {Licmetis nasicd) have joined our White 

 Cockatoos, have bred two seasons, and are increasing. 

 One would think that the cold and wet of our winters would 

 drive them north again, but not so ; they intend to remain." 

 Mr. Graham asks if L. nasica has previously been noted as resident 

 in a similar southern situation. Of course it seems reasonable 

 to suppose that the prolonged drought in the normal habitat of 

 the Corella has been an important factor in producing this ex- 

 ceptional migration, and it will be interesting to note whether 

 next spring will see an exodus of these birds from the southern 

 portion of Victoria, now that the condition of the northern 

 districts and the interior is less severe. — W. J. Stephen. 

 Hawthorn, 1/7/03. 



* * * 



Emu-Nests in North Queensland.— Have seen three clutches 

 of Emus' eggs this winter — viz., thirteen, eleven, and nine. The 

 first and last were considerably incubated, and therefore full 

 clutches, while the middle set was also, I think, a full setting, 

 but quite fresh, so it was taken and duly made into brownies, 

 puddings, and omelettes, the shells being saved for cabinet speci- 

 mens. This lot was a beautiful clutch. Three eggs picked out 

 at random measured in inches — (1) 51 x 3,(2 and 3) 5f x 3f ; 

 average weight of the three, 1 lb. 9! ozs. The dates of finding 

 the nests were 22nd June, 28th June, and ist July. I heard of 

 two other nests being found, about 12th June (seven eggs) and 

 about 14th June (two eggs, unfinished clutch). It seems to 

 take some fuss to make the birds desert their nests. Two of the 

 above nests were under constant observation, the thirteen-egg 

 nest being looked at every other day. The boundary rider in 

 charge of the paddocks in which they were assured me he was on 

 most friendly terms with the sitting bird ; he could almost put 

 his hand on it before it rose from the nest. This lot was hatched 

 during the third week in July. — Fred L. Berney. Wyangerie, 

 27/4/03. 



