Vol. Ill, 

 1904 



From Magazines, &c. 1 Q S 



presume were a quiet milkers' (one-mile) lot, which let me get 

 up close and thoroughly watch the game. A flock of about 

 50 or 60 Crows flew down on to the cattle. The latter suddenly 

 stood still, and seemed to enjoy the operation which followed, 

 the old Crows completely cleaning them of ticks. Some stood on 

 the backs, picking down the sides of the beasts as far as they could 

 reach. Others ran down the tails and worked in under the hams 

 and udders of the cows, while others remained on the ground, 

 waiting to snatch up any ticks that fell from the operations 

 of the workers above. I watched them for a considerable time, 

 and eventually, after they had apparently exhausted the supply 

 on that particular mob, the Crows took flight. I then got close 

 to the cattle to see how much good they had done, and I was 

 surprised. On mentioning the matter to the station hands two 

 of them said they had seen the Crows only recently at the game 

 I have described, and they can verify what I have stated. The 

 ticks they eat are, of course, the big female variety, who, when 

 they drop off, breed young ticks by the thousand, as has been 

 proved." 



* * * 



The Avicultural Magazine. — Recent numbers of this maga- 

 zine contain (July, vol. i., No. 9) a good plate of the Varied 

 Lorikeet by Mr. Goodchild, with interesting letterpress by Mr. 

 Reginald Phillipps, who on 1 5/1 1/02 secured a pair. His 

 experience proves that the " Red-crowned bird is the female," 

 and the artist corroborates this opinion — one which runs counter 

 to the idea that male birds usually have the showiest plumage. 

 An interesting note from a member of the Aust. O.U. (Mr. 

 F. L. Berney) is embodied in the article. Mr. Gronvold figures 

 the Greater Button Quail (Turnix tanki) in the August number. 

 This is more gaily decorated than most of our Australian species, 

 and ranges, according to Mr. Seth-Smith, " from Spain, Sicily, 

 and through Africa, Madagascar, the Indian Archipelago, China, 

 and Australia " (?). This is another instance in bird life in which 

 the female is more brightly coloured than the male. She is also 

 the larger of the pair. Another item worth recording as to the 

 pair which the author had in captivity and under close observa- 

 tion is a reversal of the usual procedure of gallinaceous birds. 

 Instead of the male picking up dainty morsels and presenting 

 them to the " wife," in this species the order is, to use Mr. Seth- 

 Smith's own words, " exactly reversed, the females unselfishly 

 presenting the most attractive morsels to their husbands." The 

 male sat on the eggs, which hatched on the 12th day, and looked 

 after the chicks most assiduously, the mother ignoring all her 

 responsibilities in this matter. 



Protection of Pelicans. — The following letter by Mr. J. W. 

 Mellor, hon. secretary S.A. Ornithological Association, appeared 

 in the Adelaide Register of 28th October last : — 



