^'°'- "• ' stray Feathers. 1 7 5 



1 90 J J 



sudden drop is noted in February and March, probably because 

 of the very heavy rains during those months. April, May, and 

 June show a revival of activity, which almost dies out in July 

 and August, to come again in September, increasing in October 

 and November. . . . I would like to see our Union do something 

 for the preservation of the Nutmeg Pigeon. To my mind the 

 whole of the Family Islands should be proclaimed a permanent 

 reserve, so that the Pigeons could breed undisturbed. Some of 

 the islands are visited every season by shooting parties from 

 Tovvnsville, Cardwell, &c.* As for the Cassowary, I fear he is 

 doomed. He cannot live away from the jungle, and gradually 

 but surely his haunts are becoming narrower and narrower. 

 Sugar, bananas, and corn must occupy the land, and the lovely 

 scrub must go. I very much fear that in another ten years the 

 Cassowary will be a rare bird indeed. . . . We have had a 

 very dry time here lately — not a drop of rain for six or seven 

 weeks — and the consequence is the vegetation is scorched up, 

 and bush fires are burning in every direction. To one who has 

 lived for years in a dry climate like Townsville the rapid effect 

 of a little drought here is most marked. Vegetation is so 

 pampered usually with rain and humidity in these localities, 

 that it cannot survive even a few weeks' dry weather. — E. M. 

 Cornwall. 



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The Nutmeg Pigeons. — I am glad the Aust. O.U. Council 

 are taking action re the Nutmeg Pigeons, and trust their efforts 

 will bear fruit. Shooting during September, October, and even 

 the early part of November, does little harm, as the birds do not 

 as a rule settle down to breeding in any numbers until after that 

 time, and so are not on the islands in any numbers during the 

 day. Just before sunset they begin to arrive from their feeding 

 grounds on the mainland, and the flight is continuous until 

 nearly dark. As soon as day breaks they begin to stir again, 

 and soon after sunrise the main flocks have left, only odd ones 

 who have started breeding extra early remaining. The shooting 

 is thus limited to a very short period during the morning and 

 evening, and does comparatively little harm. Later on — that is, 

 after the middle of November and through December and 

 January — it is quite a different matter. The birds are then 

 breeding in countless thousands on these very limited areas ; 

 every bush and tree bear their burden of nests, and many eggs 

 are laid on rocks or even on the bare ground. Then there are 

 hundreds of birds on the islands all day long. Eggs and young 

 birds are destroyed wantonly, and thousands of birds shot which 

 are never used, simply because they go bad before they reach 

 the pot. Some years ago Green Island, which lies a few miles 

 outside Cairns, was a favourite haunt of the Pigeons, but the 



* The Council of the Union have aheady taken action in this matter. — Eds. 



