lOO stray Feathers. [istOct. 



plains, are being shot on the coast clearings. Domestic hen 

 eggs are 2s. per dozen — want of insect food. Small flock of 

 Grey Plovers haunting bald hills here in April disappeared in 

 May. Mr. Meston, Inspector of Aborigines, discovered Osprey's 

 nest on Pinnacle Islet, off mouth of Coorooman Creek. Black- 

 fellow attendant tried to reach it, but failed. Very glad. — 



W. M'l. 



* * * 



Grass-Birds in Victoria during Winter. — During this 

 winter, on three separate occasions, I have had the opportunity 

 of noting the Grass-Bird {M egalums grmninacs) near Melbourne. 

 As some doubt seems to exist that this species does remain in 

 this vicinity during the winter months, these facts will be of 

 interest. At a swamp near Cheltenham, on 26th April, 1902, 

 and again on 5th July following, several specimens were shot 

 after patient waiting. At first the birds were nowhere to be 

 seen, but after a while they ventured to the outskirts of the bull- 

 rushes to feed. They seldom whistled. On the other side of 

 Melbourne, on the Werribee Plains, the species was again noted 

 on 9th June, being identified by its whistle in a " lignum " 



swamp. — A.. G. Campbell. 



* * * 



Notes on the Albatross. — The tameness of the Albatross 

 has not, I think, been noticed by some writers on the habits of 

 this stately ocean bird. 



I have frequently seen them close over the vessel's deck, 

 keeping up with it, without the least symptom of fear. On 

 different occasions I have seen them caught by hook and bait 

 (when we have slowed down the engines or stopped altogether), 

 and after being landed on deck and unable to rise on the wing, 

 they have soon started to plume themselves, and seemed quite 

 at home in their new surroundings, so that the Albatross is a 

 fearless as well as a stately bird. 



Mr. H. L. Tapley, of Dunedin, informs me that while travel- 

 ling as a passenger in the s.s. Hmiroto, Captain Anderson, in 

 1896, a large Albatross got its wings entangled in the patent 

 log line and was unable to extricate itself It was hauled on 

 board and captured. Quite recently Mr. Tapley informs me 

 that while on a passage from Dunedin to Sydney, in the s.s. 

 Quiraing, May, 1902, an Albatross struck the fore rigging and 

 fell on to the poop deck. It is remarkable that Mr. Tapley 

 should have been an eye-witness of both of these occurrences (the 

 only similar ones I have heard of), and also that the Albatross, 

 though approaching the ship without fear, should have made 

 such a mistake, as with their quick piercing eyes they always 

 have the appearance of being thoroughly " wide awake." — 

 (Capt.) W. W. Allen, s.s. Westralia. July, 1902. 



Queensland Camp Notes. — i8th April. —Saw first Robin 



