32 stray Feathers. [^^mu^ 



returned several times, each time dashing close to the thick 

 branches near the top of the tree and finally dashed into the 

 thickest mass of leaves, making a rustling noise as though the 

 bird was hardly able to steady itself It was by this time 

 almost dark, and I remained close to the tree for upwards of 1 5 

 minutes, and the bird never left the tree, hence I am certain it 

 roosted there. Since this instance occurred I saw another 

 Swift circling around a tall pine {P. insignis), where I have no 

 doubt it rested for the night. — G. E. SHEPHERD. Somerville, 



Vic. 



* * * 



Pied Cormorants Nesting in Western Port. — About 

 15th March, 1901, my friend Mr. J. Brown noticed Pied 

 Cormorants {P. Jiypolaicus) in large numbers on the east side of 

 French Island. The birds were sitting upon tall mangroves, 

 which had been stripped of leaves and branchlets for the con- 

 struction of their nests, as many as a dozen of these nests being 

 located in one tree. The nests were about 2 feet across, con- 

 structed entirely of the green leaves and small branchlets of the 

 mangroves. At this time the nests were used apparently for 

 roosting purposes, and the young had been reared the previous 

 spring. I suggested that a good look-out be kept the ensuing 

 spring. 



About the end of August the birds commenced to repair the 

 old nests with green leaves, and on the 15th September I visited 

 the locality, arriving at midnight with a favourable tide. On 

 pushing the boat among the mangroves the birds flew off the 

 nests in the immediate vicinity, and on examining some dozen 

 nests in one large mangrove about half the number contained 

 one egg apiece. I removed one only, intending to revisit the 

 place again in a week's time. Unfavourable weather prevailed, 

 however, and it was not until the 29th September that I was 

 enabled to again visit the locality, when to my dismay I found 

 the nests deserted, not a bird being visible or an o.^^ to be 

 found. A solitary Raven was seen leaving the spot with an &g^ 

 in its beak, evidently taking it off to its nest in the timber near. 

 The fact of these birds nesting in this locality is somewhat 

 remarkable, as the oldest local residents or fishermen have never 

 seen them nesting previously in any part of Western Port Bay. 

 Possibly some of the fishermen had visited the rookery between 

 the date of our first and second visits, and from ignorance, no 

 doubt, shot some of the birds, frightening the balance away. I 

 saw one dead bird hanging from one of the mangroves in which 

 some of the nests were situated. The rookery contained about 

 150 nests altogether, the largest mangroves only being utilized 

 as nesting sites, and the trees favoured were quite denuded of 

 foliage. — G. E. Shepherd. Somerville. 



