2l6 Littler, From a Tasmanian Notebook. [2nd April 



like the low rumbling bellow of a bull heard from a distance. Sonic low- 

 grunting sounds also emanated from the same localities. The white patch 

 on the wings is very distinct. They run in a very jerky fashion, the tail 

 being jerked up and down both when running and standing still. 



SPUR-WINGED PLOVER (Lobivanellus lobatus). — Somewhat scarce and 

 very wild. Young birds were said to have been seen, but none came under 

 my notice. Most of their time appeared to be spent wheeling in pairs 

 and uttering their harsh cry. No eggs were found ; it appeared as though 

 there could not be any about, as the birds took no notice of myself, com- 

 panion, or the dogs we had with us. A most diligent search was made 

 over the flats and uplands, but all to no purpose. 



WHITE-FRONTED HERON (JS otophoyx novce-hollandicB). — For several years 

 past a pair of these birds has nested every year in a projecting limb of a 

 tall gum, right in the centre of one of the runs. At the time of my visit 

 the birds had young some few days old. The nest was placed in a fork 

 at the end of the limb, and composed of twigs lightly thrown together, 

 the birds obtaining their own and young's food from the creek, some con- 

 siderable distance away. A few days after my visit the nest was robbed 

 by a Wedge-tailed Eagle. 



M< lUNTAIN DUCK (Casarca tadomoides). — A male and female of this species 

 were observed swimming in the creek. The male took to flight as soon 

 as he saw he was under observation, but the female, who had a family of 

 young ones swimming after her, quietly paddled under some projecting 

 bushes. 



Black Duck {Anas superciliosd). — Quite a number of birds of this 

 species was seen swimming on the stream or flying in pairs. When 

 rising from the water they make a great splashing noise. 



Teal {Nettion castaneum). — Only one or two specimens were seen. 



MUSK Duck {Biziura lobatd). — A solitary specimen was seen swimming 

 in the stream. When thinking itself unobserved it swam with its back 

 out of the water, but as soon as it realized that it was under observation 

 it sank until only its head and a small portion of its neck were visible. When 

 it dived it reappeared at some considerable distance from the place where 

 last seen. 



General. 



7th November. — Corra Lynn. — Found a Fire-tailed Finch's {Zonceginthus 

 bellus) nest just begun in a prickly box. The material being used was fine 

 green grass-stems. On my way home a Ground-Lark (Anthus australis) 

 flew out of a clump of band grass just at my feet. In the centre of the 

 clump a nest containing three recently hatched young birds was discovered. 

 It was most beautifully woven with fine grass-stems. But for the parent 

 bird fluttering out at my feet, I would most certainly have taken the nest 

 for that of the White-fronted Chat {Ephthianura albifrons). 



2 1st November. — When I went to see if the " Fire-tails " had laid, I found 

 the nest no further advanced, and evidently deserted. A few yards away 

 another nest of the same species was discovered, containing six eggs. 

 Three were in an advanced stage of incubation, and the other three quite 

 fresh. 



In all probability the bird whose nest was first found deserted it for 

 some reason or other, and then, there not being time to build a fresh 

 one, the female laid her eggs in the nest a few yards off. Without doubt 

 the second clutch of eggs would have been ejected from the nest as soon as 

 the rightful ones hatched. It would be very interesting to know whether 



