THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 35 



The Hooded Robin. — In a short paper on the plumage of 

 robins (Victorian Naturalist, vol. xiii., p. 116) I mentioned, on 

 the authority of Mr. J. A. Hill, that the Hooded Robin, Petroeca 

 bicolor,V. and H., rears its first family while in immature plumage. 

 That observer has now furnished me with further details of the 

 nesting, together with the skin of the male bird, which was 

 engaged in paternal attentions during nesting. In this the pro- 

 nounced black markings of the adult are represented by grey in 

 the young bird, except the interscapulum, which has two longi- 

 tudinal blotchings of black, the upper tail coverts darker than the 

 grey, but not an intense black, and the scapulars an indefinite 

 white, broadly tipped with grey instead of the strong white of 

 fuller age. All the remaining indistinct whites will doubtless 

 disappear with the next moult, except the under tail coverts, 

 which are already as strong as in the aged birds. The nest was 

 first observed on the 17th September, 1896, and in construction 

 and material did not appear to differ from the usual one of the 

 species. The first egg was deposited between the 22nd and 23rd 

 of September, and a second between the 23rd and 24th of the 

 same month, when the female bird immediately began to sit. 

 These two eggs, typical in every respect, constituted the clutch, 

 and they hatched out on the 10th of October. Thus sixteen to 

 seventeen days were occupied in incubation. The female on 

 each visit was found to be sitting, and on no occasion during the 

 frequent journeys to the nest was the male observed upon the 

 eggs. Thus we are led to believe that the female bird takes upon 

 herself the task of sitting throughout the period. The female, 

 naturally a shy bird, did not show any inclination to leave the 

 eggs when approached, and only when within a foot of her nest 

 would she temporarily leave. The young birds were able to fly 

 in about fourteen days from the time of hatching, but the exact 

 day was not observed. — Robert Hall. 



Insectivorous Birds of New South Wales. — The second part 

 of Mr. A. J. North's " List of the Insectivorous Birds of New South 

 Wales " has recently been issued. Forty species of birds are 

 referred to, commencing with the Superb Warbler (Malurus 

 ci/aneus), Ellis, and extending to the Reed Warbler (Acrocephahis 

 Australis), Gould. This part contains four plates, eight species 

 being represented thereon in their natural colours. 



The Naturalists' Directory. — The edition of this work for 

 1897 is to hand, and contains a considerable amount of informa- 

 tion useful to collectors and those desirous of opening up corre- 

 spondence with collectors in other parts of the world. Lists are 

 included of natural history societies, field clubs, magazines and 

 books issued during 1896. Addresses, &c, for insertion in the 

 next issue should be forwarded to the editor, at 170 Strand, 

 London, by 1st of December next. 



