V ° 1 - 111 ' I The Nutmeg {Torres Strait) Pigeon. I 85 



coasts and littorals is almost unvisited by man, the Pigeons therefore having 

 it virtually as an unmolested preserve, unless from their natural hereditary 

 enemies. 



In conclusion, I have carefully gone through the papers forwarded by 

 you, and find that their contents and opinions, in addition to personal 

 knowledge and experience, fail to make it clear to me against whom, or 

 what, the Pigeons in these millions are in need of protection, therefore 

 my opinion is most decidedly antagonistic towards it, for the simple reason 

 that really there is nothing tangible to protect them from. 



Stray Feathers. 



From Northern Siberia. — Mr. A. R. Reid, Hobart, saw a 

 flock of about 1,000 Little Stints (Limonites rufvcollis) at the 

 South Arm, Storm Bay, Hobart, on 9th November. He shot 

 three, and they were all females. — D. Le S. 

 * * * 



I OBSERVED a flock of about 30 Galahs (Cacatna roseicapilla) 

 flying over North Melbourne this morning, coming from the 

 south, and flying low, as is customary with them. It is the first 

 time I have noticed these birds so far south. — A. MATTINGLEY. 



22/9/03. 



* * * 



Large Clutches of Eagles. — I took a trip on the run the 

 other day, during the wet weather, and in addition to other 

 nests noticed two of the Whistling Eagle (Haliastur sphenurus), 

 each containing five young. Never found one before with more 

 than three, and often only two eggs. — Sep. Robinson. Buckin- 



guy (N.S.W.), 5/10/03. 



* * * 



An Authentic Koel's Egg. — A medical friend, a collector, 

 shot a male and female Koel {Eudynamis cyanocephala). He 

 collected the female and put her on the ground to go for the fallen 

 male. The female, to his surprise, dropped an egg and flew. I 

 have the egg, and he has the male bird. — (Dr.) F. HAMILTON- 

 Kenny. Hospital, Gympie, Q., 11/11/03. 



* # # 



A Flycatcher in a Customs Shed. — In the A. U.S.N. Shed, 

 Australian Wharf, Melbourne, there has been for two or three 

 months a White-shafted Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa). It pipes 

 merrily at times on the rafters of the shed, and flits up and down 

 catching flies (which are numerous, attracted by the fruit, &c, 

 cargoes), regardless of the busy throng beneath. — A. J. CAMPBELL. 



23/10/03. 



* * * 



Grey Shrike-Thrush a " Bird of Prey." — Last season Mr. 

 Andrew M'Gregor, of Essendon, Victoria, shot a little Chestnut- 

 bellied Quail, which fell close by a tree not far from where he 

 was, but before it was possible for him to secure it, a Grey Shrike- 

 Thrush (Collyriocincla harmonica) picked it up, and flying into 



