Notices on the migration of birds in Australia 



given by letter of E. P. Ramsay. 



Sept. 3o"" i885. 



I had the honour to receive your letters and papers in 

 due time. Extracts from my note books shall from time to 

 time be sent tbr your acceptance. 



I have communicated your wishes to several of my 

 correspondents in various parts of Australia, and I have no 

 doubt but, that in due time I shall receive notices from 

 them worth recording. 



I have had for many years quite a network of ob- 

 servers in Australia with a view of writing the natural 

 history of our birds. My various note books contain obser- 

 vations from Tasmania and S. E. to North Australia, S. East 

 coast of New^ Guinea, and I have recently sent a collector to 

 North West Australia. 



One thing with respect to our Australian fauna must 

 be carefuUy born in mind, strictly speaking \ve haveno 

 migrationamongourbirds, many observers in Australia 

 fancy that because certain species appear in their districts 

 in the spring of the year or for breeding purposes, or 

 for want of food, that these species are migratory. This 

 is not the case, our birds breed in certain districts spreading 

 themselves over that particular part of the country in great 

 numbers and remaining perhaps one or two years 

 there, at other times they congregate together after the 

 breeding season is over, and their young are able to travel 

 (fly) well and go to another part, sometimes only a few 

 miles (lo"^ to 20"^) off and remain there the winter. 



Ornis I. 4. 38 



