jQQ, ■ J Littler, Birds in the Launceston District. I 7 1 



Little Cormorant {Phalacrocorax melanoUucus). — Rather scarce. 



Black-throated Grebe {Podicipes novce-hollandice). — Uncommon. 



Hoary-headed Grebe {Podicipes poUoce.phalus). — More in evidence than 

 the above species. 



Shieldrake or Mountain Duck {Casarca tademoides). — An occasional 

 visitor. 



Black Duck {Anas superciliosd). — At certain seasons very numerous. 



Teal {Nettion castaneum). — Occasionally visits in considerable numbers. 



Pink-eared Duck (Widgeon) {Malachorhynchus membranaceus). — An 

 infrequent visitor. 



Blue-billed Duck {Erismatura australis'). — At certain seasons of the 

 year not uncommon. 



Notes and Observations from the Launceston District 

 to 30th June, 1902. 



By Frank M. Littler, Launceston. 



1902.— May 5. — An occasional Welcome Swallow {Hirundo neoxend) is 

 still to be seen on the southern outskirts of the district. 



May 14. — On several moonlight nights recently I have heard flocks of 

 Plover passing overhead, seemingly some considerable distance up. From 

 their cries I would say they were Spur-winged Plover {Lobivanellus lobatus). 



May 24. — Observed a male Long-tailed Blue Wren {Malurus gouldi) still 

 in full summer plumage by the rifle butts, to the east of the district. All 

 other males of this species I have seen have long since assumed their winter 

 coat. 



May 25. — Counted a flock numbering 47 Lesser White-backed Magpies 

 (Gymnorhina hyperleucd) feeding on the ground in a small paddock not far 

 from the house. Such a flock is most unusual. 



May 30. — This is the first autumn in which the Spine-tailed Swifts {Chce- 

 tura caudacuta) have been so scarce round about this district. Usually 

 numbers are to be seen nearly every evening towards the end of -summer, 

 either wheeling high in the air or skimming close along the ground 

 very swiftly. The occasions on which I have observed them this 

 autumn have been few and far between. I can only remember having seen 

 one really large flock ; among it were a number of White-rumped Swifts 

 {Micro pus pacifiais), whose forms I could readily distinguish as they dashed 

 close by. 



June 3. — Observed a Fan-tailed Cuckoo {Cacomantis flabelliformis) in 

 the bush towards the southern outskirts of the district. As this is the second 

 autumn in which I have obser-vsed this species after all the other migrants 

 had long since departed for warmer climes, I am of opinion that certain 

 individuals of this species, at least, must be in the habit of wintering here. 



June 8. — Observed a flock of some twenty or thirty White-fronted Bush- 

 Chats {Ephthianura albifroiis) feeding in a field in South Launceston. When 

 disturbed they flew some distance, uttering sharp cries. This is the first 

 occasion on which I have either seen or heard of so many individuals of this 

 species being so close to the city. 



Also observed a small flock of Ground-Larks {Anthus australis) feeding 

 close by. It is somewhat unusual for this species to be in the vicinity at this 

 time of the year, A Yellow-rumpcd Tit {Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) was seen 



