Bird Notes. 91 



Ou Sunday ITtli July, a Magpie {Gymnorhina leiiconota), 

 •d Mopoke {^pilofjlmu hoohook), and a Narrow-billed Bronze 

 Cuckoo {Chalcitcs hasalis) wei-e heard calling at 5.39 a.m. 

 Tlie last-named bird has been here since 4th flune. 



By J. \V. Mel lor. 



On the ord July the Pallid Cuckoo {HetGrosvcnc8 pallidus) 

 was first seen at Fulham this year, and on the Sth it appeared 

 at Lockleys where both the notes, running up the scale and the 

 more discordant screeching calls, were frequently heard in the 

 open timbered country. On the 7th several pairs were noted 

 ehasing each other about, apparently mating, and all through 

 the month they have been more than usually j>lentiful, their 

 calls being heard every day. Their early arrival in such numbers 

 seems to point to an eai-ly s]»ring. with ])robably dry weather 

 in the summer mouths. 



While patrolling my jiaddocks at night during the early 

 part of the month, especially while the moon was growing 

 towards full, I Avas pleased to liear the number of Screech Owls 

 (Tyfo alba dciicattila) that were tlying about in the old gum 

 trees calling loudly in all directions. This was very marked 

 on the 7th inst., when the calls of the Marble Boobook Owl 

 (Spiloglaux tnarmoruta) were also noted. Apparently both 

 these species are seeking out their respective hollows now. 

 hence their activity. 



On July 7 I noted a female White-backed Magpie {Gymnor- 

 hina hi/polcaca Icucoiiota) with her beak full of hair ready to 

 fly to her nest w'hich was nearly finished, save the lining. 

 Several days later I noted three magpies ymlling out bits of 

 string from bags of chaff and all had their beaks full before 

 departing to their nests. 



The [)air of Laughing Jackasses (Dacelo ffi(/a.s\ that breed 

 here each year, have been extremely tame and often come down 

 to examine the ground that is being dug, and fine feeds are 

 their reward. 



(^uile a large numl)er <(f Murray Magpies (GraUina rijaiio- 

 letica) are about this year, and seem to be now uniting. They 

 are very early birds and are to be seen when it is hardly light 



A solitary Rose-breasted Cockatoo ( FJolophfin roscicapilhis] 

 was noted at Lockleys on the 18th inst. flying over the large 

 gum trees, but it did not settle. 



