106 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



usual lateral positions on the head. Other specimens show 

 irregular blues in the regions set apart for the full growth of this 

 distinguishing mark in the one sex. There are fully developed 

 and young males abroad now without any reserve. 



The imported Starling is a gregarious bird, which has of its 

 own free will lately introduced itself to this district. Slowly, but 

 surely, has it wended its way through Hawthorn from the city, 

 and taken up its lodgings amongst those houses convenient to 

 fields worth while living near. In many respects this sturdy 

 invader is kin to the Minah, and it is only a matter of time when 

 its connection with the Game Act will need further consideration. 

 This species assembles in flocks of from fifty to a hundred in 

 number, with a sentry posted on a tree top for the welfare of the 

 community. 



We have just had two days set apart in order to the complete 

 overthrow ot the Sparrow, and this is the memorable event of the 

 month to them. On the first Saturday phosphorized wheat was 

 distributed, which greatly shocked this wily finch, but, like the 

 proverbial cat, it came out of the action unharmed. The follow- 

 ing Saturday, however, strychnined grain showed a disastrous 

 result. I caged one little bird that had dined on the phosphorized 

 wheat at 12.30, and by 5.30, with only an hour of spasms, it flew 

 away quite briskly. Sparrows have had many champions of their 

 cause, and we know them to be friendly with city people, but 

 there is an ever returning tale of woe if the name is mentioned 

 beyond the populated centres. 



Very strange, I take it to be, was it to see two occupied nests in 

 May of this year, but these are not the only birds that have been 

 erratic in the winter of 1896, for a Welcome Swallow was building 

 on the 20th April, and Mr. C. French, jun., has told me of a nest 

 of the Geobasileus chryssorhcea placed in the Botanical Gardens, 

 containing young, as early (or as late) as the first week of June. 



Our largest stranger is the Grey Crow-Shrike, Strejiera cunei- 

 caudacuta, which has been with us in twos or threes since the 

 latter part of summer, but not so near the city on the eastern side 

 for years. Insect food is found below the excreta of cattle, and 

 within or beneath the bark of our larger trees. 



The Collared Sparrowhawk, Accipiter cirrhocephalus (Vieill.), 

 and the unmatured form of the Australian Goshawk, Astur 

 approximans, V. and H., a young friend secured for me in the early 

 part of the month, so that they are still in the locality. A 

 neighbour jokingly compared the flight of the former bird to 

 lightning when it is acting well. Certainly its flight is exceedingly 

 rapid amongst the foliage of the timber, and the amazing rate of 

 flight is well known to the small birds, whom nature has taught to 

 immediately seek the higher atmosphere and broader field for 

 protection if they are pursued while upon the wing. When the 



