224 ■'^i'-^y Feathers. {IlU 



irregularly about it, all turned upside down. A careful inspection 

 disclosed five distinct varieties of leaves, samples of which were 

 taken for future reference. 



At No, 2 we had no opportunity of watching the bird, as he 

 left at our approach, and seemed reluctant to return to treat us 

 to a sample of his musical abilities. Here the leaves were of a 

 different variety to any of those previously found, being with 

 one or two exceptions those of the native ginger. 



No. 3 was a very much more extensive ground, being ten or 

 twelve feet long, but pinched in at the middle like a figure 8. 

 Possibly it was a sort of combination playground, and belonged 

 to two birds, and it might have proved of interest if we had 

 waited for the bird or birds to return. The leaves were all of 

 one kind (native ginger), and were about 20 in number. 



Soon after leaving No. 3 a call led us to No. 4, and there we 

 had opportunity of watching the bird again, though at a greater 

 distance. His songs were not so varied, though the quality was 

 good. An examination of his playground disclosed a rather sad 

 state of things. The bird was either a poor housekeeper or had 

 slept late that morning, for the floor was littered with dead 

 leaves of the previous day's gathering, only two or three fresh 

 ones being amongst them. 



No. 5 was situated close to a timber-getters' track, and, being 

 in slightly more open scrub, was made the subject of a photo. 

 The leaves were 24 in number, and excepting four or five, 

 were those of the native ginger. 



Mr. W. T. White told me of the following interesting trick he 

 played on one of these birds. Finding one of their playgrounds, 

 he removed all the leaves and replaced them with others closely 

 resembling, but of a different variety. Returning a few hours 

 later he found that the bird had thrown out all the leaves he 

 had put there and replaced them with others of his own 

 choosing. — E. M. Cornwall, Cairns. 



From Magazines, &c. 



In The Zoologist (November, 1902) Mr. Frank M. Littler, of 

 Launceston, contributes a chatty article on " The Lesser White- 

 backed }Adi^'^\&{GymnorJii7ia hyperleuca)." Some of his interest- 

 ing remarks regarding this species are embodied in another 

 article — " Notes on Some Birds Peculiar to Tasmania" — which 

 will appear in The Emu shortly. 



In the October (1902) number of The Ibis Dr. P. L. Sclater 

 contributes an article on " Remarks on two Lately-described 

 Australian Birds," with two beautiful plates. The species 



