THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 1G7 



being taken until November. The Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis 

 pallida) is chronicled as being heard for the first time early in 

 September [he was with us, near Melbourne, on the same date of 

 the year referred to], and as recalling many southern memories. 

 Writing in October, my friend says: — "The Roller (Eurystomus 

 pacificvs) is again here on his annual visit and will remain until 

 after the wet season. A pair have taken up their quarters in a 

 corner of our paddock and seem intent on nesting in a hollow 

 tree. Flinders's Cuckoo is also here again. I have occasionally 

 heard the Pallid Cuckoo call on moonlight nights, but this dark- 

 robed fellow sings whether it be moonlight or not. Last night I 

 heard him several times. Merops ornatus is very common here 

 now. No eggs have yet been taken, though the birds are nesting 

 everywhere. Each hole yet dug out has proved almost or quite 

 ready for eggs. The nest of the Red-backed Superb Warbler, a 

 structure very similar to that of the common Blue Wren of Vic- 

 toria, was taken a few days ago. The eggs were smaller than 

 those of the Victorian bird and rounder in form. Whilst wander- 

 ing over the flats near Cromarty one morning I found a nest of a 

 Native Companion. Here they build a very large nest of rushes 

 and water weeds, all woven into a mass and floating in the water. 

 I also saw several Grebes. Wild Geese and Ducks were plentiful, 

 as well as many specimens of the beautiful Shieldrake, usually 

 called Burdekin Duck." About the same time of year a pair of 

 White-headed Ospreys (Pandion cucocephalus) were found nesting 

 at Armidale Creek, some thirty-six miles away ; but the tree was 

 too hard to climb, and, in the absence of "niggers," the eggs 

 could not be obtained. Speaking of Armidale Creek, surprise is 

 expressed that the Laughing Jackass of the southern colonies 

 (Dacelo gigas) was quite as plentiful there as anywhere in Victoria 

 — in short, seemed to have full possession of the place, since the 

 "discordant yells" of the northern bird were rarely heard there. 

 " It seems strange," Mr. C. says, "that these birds should be so 

 plentiful here, whilst a kw miles down the road one scarcely sees 

 or hears them." At Roseneath a fresh visitant, noted early in 

 November, was the Channel Bill, and as rain followed within two 

 days of his appearance, his reputation of rain bird was regarded 

 locally as well sustained. 



Some eggs much desired — those of the Roller — were obtained 

 early in December ; as well as those of Leach's Dacelo. Eggs 

 of the Pelican were procured in the same month from an outlying 

 portion of the coast, with the curious information from a resident 

 there that " these birds breed every three months regularly, 

 regardless of seasons." The informant also said the Curlew 

 proper builds near where the Pelicans nest. On both points my 

 friend wants further evidence. Nests of Grallinas, Orioles, Bee- 

 eaters, Pardalotes, Kites, Warblers, Thickheads, Kingfishers, 



