70 Stray Feathers [i^^i 



mu 

 )ct. 



Clarke Island (Bass Strait) Notes. — It is a serious fact, at 

 least as far as those who make a living by them are concerned, 

 that the Mutton-Bird {Puffinus tcnnirostris) is getting visibly 

 scarcer. Last season the catch was far less than usual, and 

 this year only about half the number have been taken, and 

 these much under the regular size and weight. The scarcity 

 may possibly be accounted for by this — namely, in November 

 and December, when the eggs were hatching, terrific downfalls 

 of rain occurred, which filled up a great many of the holes with 

 sand and water. As far as being thin and small, one can only 

 conjecture that the food supply was not so plentiful as usual. 

 The principal island (Chappell) has again been leased for grazing 

 sheep, as it is contended that no damage is done if they are taken 

 oft" shortly before the laying season. Granted that they are not 

 so harmful as cattle, still they do not certainly improve matters, 

 especially as the stock is never oft" to time. 



The Cape Barren Goose {Ccreopsis) has laid very early this 

 year, as some eggs were taken in June, and were then found 

 to be hard set. Their breeding season is somewhat hard to 

 define, as one will also get fresh eggs in September. This is in 

 itself somewhat of a protection to the bird. 



The Wild Duck of any species is a vara avis this year, and 

 one could spend a day amongst the numerous little lakes here 

 and would then perhaps see only half a dozen. 



The Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon {Phaps clcgans), on the con- 

 trary, is very numerous, it being quite a common sight to see 

 seven or eight together. Their invariable haunts are under the 

 wild cherry (Jixocar pus) bushes, where they feed largely on 

 the old cherry-stones amongst the dead leaves at the foot of 

 the tree. 



Brown Quails {Synoecus australis) are also in force. It is 

 curious to notice the difterence between the birds that frequent 

 the uplands and those that prefer the plains. The former will 

 be large and strong on the wing, while the latter are often so 

 feeble that they will only fly a few yards, and one can then often 

 catch them. They are mostly very thin. 



The Olive Thickhead {Pachyccphala olivacea), which breeds 

 largely here, is noticeably numerous, but the difterent species 

 of Honey-eaters are scarce as yet. These, however, do not make 

 themselves conspicuous until August and September, lying close 

 during the winter months. 



I have not seen a Black Crow-Shrike iStrcpcra fuUginosa) for 

 months ; generally these birds are a most constant companion, 

 frequenting the sea-beach and feeding on the numberless sand- 

 hoppers that exist in the cast-up sea-weed. — J. D. Maclaine. 



21/7/04. 



* * * 



Remarks on Certain Melithrepti. — About three years ago Mr. 

 Fred. L. Berney forwarded from Homestead (North Queensland) 

 a Honey-eater which I could not altogether recognize. He 



