no stray Feathers. [isfoct. 



Plantation, where I observed them, is only two or three miles 

 from the sea. I have never seen this species here before. — -E. H. 

 Webb. Herbert River, N.O., 19/6/02. 



Since forwarding you my last notes re certain species of birds 

 now to be seen in this district (Herbert River) on account of the 

 drought inland, I have observed several more kinds. While out 

 Duck-shooting on a lagoon close to the sea I came upon a 

 small flock of about a dozen Red-kneed Dottrel {ErytJirogonys 

 cinctus) which were feeding on the mud flats, and also saw 

 upwards of half a dozen Pratincoles {Stiltia Isabella) in a few 

 hours. This was in the last week of June, 1902. Also, during 

 the first two weeks of this month (July), I have observed 

 several flocks of EpJuliianura tricolor busily feeding round the 

 margins of the waterholes and lagoons. It is surely unusual to 

 see Pratincoles and Red-kneed Dottrel so close to the sea. — E. 

 H.Webb. 31/7/02. 



Large numbers of birds are dying about here from sheer 

 starvation — Magpies, Jackasses, and smaller birds. — H. Green- 

 SILL Barnard. Coomooboolaroo, O., 17/7/02. 



Bronze-winged Pigeons, driven out of their usual haunts, have 

 been swarming of late in Mr. Cusack's paddock, not far from town. 

 Pot-hunters innumerable have had their eyes upon them, but 

 Mr. Cusack prohibits trespassing, and the birds are enjoying 

 some measure of protection. Wild Turkeys are being driven to 

 the coast country by drought, and their slaughter proceeds 

 apace.— Rockhampton Biilietin, 1 0/6/02. 



The drought, which has continued for two years in this 

 district, is proving fatal to vast numbers of birds, and tempting 

 others out of their usual habits — Magpies and Butcher-Birds 

 especially, being ravenous, owing to the dearth of usual food, 

 have not the decency to wait as long as the Crows, but attack a 

 sheep's eyes as soon as it gets down. — F. B. Campbell Ford, 

 Survey Camp, via Springsure, O., 6/7/02. 



Warrachiabeal. — Several Emus have lately been seen about 

 the district, where water is more plentiful than further north. 

 Since the settlement of the Mallee country they had pushed 

 further back, and it is supposed the drought has sent them down 

 again. 



Sheep Hills. — A large number of Emus, evidently starved out 

 of the Mallee, are at present in this district. — Melbourne Argiis. 



Only yesterday afternoon, whilst walking in the University 

 grounds, I caught a glimpse of a small bird with a bright red 

 head exploring the flowers on a pittosporum bush, but it was 

 disturbed before I could obtain a good look at it. Thinking that 

 I was on the track of the Sanguineous Honey-eater I repaired 

 this afternoon to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, and was 

 rewarded by finding a large pink-flowered ironbark tree on the 

 lawn above the lake simply swarming with Honey-eaters, of 

 which I counted five different kinds — the Wattled, the Spiny- 



