Vol. III. 



1904 



Stray Feathers. \ g f 



breeding season it is their habit to soar high in the air, similarly 

 to the Brown Hawk (Hier added), uttering a shrill scream. In 

 all open, marshy districts these birds form the most attractive 

 objects of their family, as they " course " gracefully over the 

 land, often for considerable distances, with outstretched wings, 

 in search of their prey, and at such times no doubt often pick 

 up an unwary Quail. 



The Harrier, with its long tarsus, makes a good object lesson 

 of the manner in which birds of prey use their talons. When 

 pursued by Magpies, as they so often are in the breeding season, 

 the latter coming up behind them, and often above them, with 

 great speed, the Harrier will, when taken unawares, perhaps, turn 

 around on its side and strike out the long leg and talons nearer 

 its pursuer with lightning-like rapidity, the Magpie sheering 

 off in its dash, and just getting clear of the sharp claws aimed 

 at it. The whole performance can be seen very plainly, owing 

 to the length of leg possessed by this genus. — W. V. L. 



Clarke Island (Bass Strait) Notes. — The breeding season 

 for birds in the Strait may be dated from the beginning of 

 August, except in the freshwater birds, such as Ducks, Swans, 

 &c. Owing to heavy rainfall this season, it was to be expected 

 that an increase in the number of clutches of the above-mentioned 

 birds would follow, but on the contrary Musk-Ducks are only now 

 preparing to lay, also Teal and Swans. Their nests are in different 

 stages of building. I presume the excessive rainfall has in- 

 undated their former nesting-sites — a fact which may possibly 

 account for their building a little later. 



Cape Barren Geese (Cereopsis novce-hollandicB) are laying in 

 large numbers this season. I have seen as many as 30 nests 

 on two islands. Last year it was almost impossible to get any 

 eggs, which led one to think that the birds had departed else- 

 where to breed, so we must attribute it to nature, which often 

 ordains that both the animal and vegetable kingdom should 

 be less prolific in some seasons than in others. 



The Black Duck's (Anas superciliosa) nest is very difficult to 

 find. I have never found the eggs myself, but have known of 

 others doing so, and have also seen the fledglings. This species 

 prefers to build along the banks of creeks, as distinct from lake 

 bank sites, and generally among dead rushes or at the base of a 

 hollow tree. The Musk-Duck (Biziura lobata) is a very wary 

 fellow. At the crack of a stick, when one is close to his nest, 

 he will slide gently off and reappear 100 feet away from the spot. 

 The nest of this bird is made of small round reeds, with sides 

 and roof to it, also a small opening in the side for the parent 

 to pass through. In the nest will usually be found from two 

 to four eggs. 



A pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles (JJroaetus audax) has occupied a 

 small blue-gum thicket on Clarke Island for the last twenty 



