24 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 



by another which is much shorter than the adjacent primary and 

 secondary. The bird was born with these shed quills, which 

 were 14 days old at fall. Mr. Le Souef could get me no further 

 information, as this living specimen died next day. From a 

 special yard of 13 young birds (about 14 to 30 days old), Mr. 

 Le Souef collected 60 shed wing quills, ranging from 6.5 to 2.4 

 inches. Colour uniform nutty-brown, the under surface duller 

 and lighter than the upper. The barrel of each feather has left 

 the bird quite clear of its early covering. The largest are the 

 primaries, the smallest primary coverts. The intermediate sizes, 

 judging from the median position of the vane, are secondaries. 

 This appears to me a first moult, although we dare not handle a 

 specimen to see if new quills were replacing the old. Specimen 

 B. succumbed in the cause of science, at a heavy financial loss. 

 Only 16 tail quills were amongst these 60, and they were all 

 damaged in the barrel and not moulted. 



In the tail of the Gallinse there are from 10 to 12 stiff radii 

 bearing rami, springing from a slender rachis. 



The caudal region of specimen A shows a neossoptile to be 1.5 

 inches long (sheath, 0.35 inch) and with 40 rami springing from 

 it — 27 visible from the slender but firm rachis in a bilaterally 

 symmetrical way ; 13 as if from the base of the rachis at the 

 head of the barrel, but with the origin hidden. Some of the 

 rami from this bunch branch. 



In specimen B the original contour feathers in several cases 

 are existing an inch away from the body upon the tips of the new 

 feathers that have displaced them. 



In the Melbourne Zoological Gardens Mr. Le Souef pointed to 

 two birds, about half the size of an adult six months old. They 

 were ten weeks old. At the time (10/3/00) twelve young were in 

 the " Zoo," ranging from three days to three months in age — the 

 very successful results of the Assistant Director practically acting 

 as their foster parent. 



Specimen C. — Ten weeks old. 10/3/00. Head dull red, shading 

 into dull saffron-yellow at upper neck ; lower neck dull saffron- 

 yellow ; head and neck not feathered, showing bristles. 



Specimen D. — Ten weeks old. 10/3/00. Much like the adult in 

 miniature; duller neck colours; separation between feathered and 

 unfeathered parts of neck sharp ; breast lineated like adult. 



Specimens three months old show the red and yellow of the 

 neck clear and featherless. 



651. Sterna nereis, Old., White-faced Ternlet (Little Tern). 



Locality, Snake Island, Victoria (25/12/98), per Messrs. C. 

 and C. Smart. 



Nestling about four days old. 



Whole of under surface in white down; forehead white, with 



