V«J-JV.-| 5^^^^ Feathers. I 7 1 



{Ephthiamira albifrons), and the Black-fronted Dottrel {Mgialitis 

 nigrifrons) are undoubtedly the visitors. — A. G. Campbell. Mel- 

 bourne. 



* * * 



Central Queensland Notes. — Since the breaking up of the 

 drought there has been a wonderful change noticeable in the 

 activities of birds of all kinds. It has been most observable among 

 those which claim the attention of sportsmen. Ducks, which were 

 dried out, have been returning to their former breeding haunts, 

 and have been making up for former idleness by rearing several 

 broods in the season. Quails have been even more procreative and 

 industrious. Grass is luxuriant, and seeds and water are abundant. 

 The Mopoke is now to be heard at night, and the Laughing Jackass 

 at the " scraigh o' day." Finches were so numerous and so easily 

 caught that boys could not resist the temptation to trap them, and 

 a member of the Wild Birds Protection Association had to call 

 the attention of the police to the violation of the law which was 

 going on. Swifts, which visit us in showery weather at midsummer, 

 were seen high up over Rockhampton this week. Among our 

 migratory visitors before the drought smote the district was the 

 Pied Crow-Shrike {Strepera graculina). It came and remained with 

 us during the winter months. In the winters of 1903 and 1904 

 it was conspicuous by its absence. Locahties where it was a 

 cheerful and welcome visitant knew it not. A visit from it in the 

 coming winter is anticipated. — M.A.O.U. Rockhampton, 25th 



January, 1905. 



* * * 



Musk Lorikeet. — On 9th October, 1904, in the Bacchus Marsh 

 district, I chopped out a nest of the Musk Lorikeet {Glossopsiftacus 

 concinnits), which, much to my disappointment, contained a young 

 bird. Having enlarged the nesting-hole to such an extent with a 

 tomahawk, I decided to take the bird, which had only a few 

 feathers. For the first few days after being brought to Melbourne 

 it was fed on honey diluted in water, injected down its throat 

 with a small glass syringe. The little thing soon learnt to feed 

 itself from a small saucer, and was no trouble to rear. Nothing 

 delights it more than to be handled and played with ; its antics 

 on the swing are most amusing. It is now in full plumage, the 

 rusty marking just appearing on the nape and back. Occasionally 

 it says a few words, learnt from a Rosella Parrakeet whose cage 

 hangs near. The breeding season in Victoria appears to be far 

 advanced in October, as two or three nests found by our party 

 on the same occasion contained fairly well grown young, always 

 two in number. These birds were very numerous in the district, 

 ^nd were in company with G. pusillus. Lately they are very 

 numerous round Melbourne, having been seen in the parks, gardens, 

 &c., feeding from the flowering gums. The favourite nest-site 

 seems to be about 18 inches from the opening down the main trunk 

 of a green tree in open forest. The birds quickly betray their 



