^"'lo?"] Doxy., Bird Soles from Tasmania. 47 



plumage was finely contrasted by the brilliant red at the base 

 of tail feathers. After ascending and descending a lew more 

 hills, the stream was again reached, and, turning sharp to the 

 left along a narrow foot-track, the roar of the falls was soon 

 heard. In the bush through which the track presently passed 

 the persistent call of the Ohve Thickhead {Pachycephala olivacea) 

 struck upon the ear: those strange notes — " I'll-whit'-yu, 

 rU-whit'-yu," the first syllable somewhat drawled, the second 

 clear and incisive — seemed in harmony with the voice of The 

 waters. 



During the present month of November, Mr. and Mrs. Thruston 

 took me for a pleasant day's outing to the Mersey, above the 

 shale mine, where the river is very charming. Some Robins' 

 nests in hollows of charred stringy-bark trees were found, probably 

 those of the Flame-breast {Petroica phcenicea), as these were the 

 only Robins seen in the vicinity. The young had left the nests, 

 which were about 4 feet from the ground, and formed of strips 

 of stringy-bark interwoven, the lining being of fine bark from the 

 same spscies {Eucalyptus obliquus). The mud nest of the Welcome 

 Swallow {Hirundo neoxcna) was also foimd, about 9 feet from 

 the ground, in a hollow, burnt-out gum tree. We boiled the 

 billy on a shingle-bank adjacent to the stream, and while there 

 noticed a Pipit {Anthns australis) very busily picking insects 

 from among the shingle-pebbles. A Wood-Swallow {Artamus 

 sordidus) was coursing u]) and down over the water, taking 

 insects as the common Swallow does, but at a much higher 

 elevation (15 to 30 feet), and in a more leisurely fashion, while 

 the Welcome Swallow beat swiftly backwards and forwards just 

 over the surface, and the Tree-Martin [Petrochelidon nigricans) 

 generally kept a few feet higher. Seemingly they were in different 

 strata of insect life. A pair of Flame-breasted Robins — the 

 male in fine plumage — perched on snags projecting from the 

 water, while a male Malurus of almost black coloration flew into 

 a sapling near bj'. The sweet calls of the Grey-tailed Thickhead 

 {Pachycephala glaucura) fell frequently upon the ear. much differ- 

 ence being observed in the call-note of individual birds ; none of 

 its congener, the Olive Thickhead, was observed in this locality. 

 The charming notes of the Yellow-throated Honey-eater {Ptilotis 

 flavigula) were much admired in the belt of saplings close to where 

 Mr. Thruston's car was left while we explored the bush. 



Mr. E. J. Banfield, of Dunk Island, Queensland, is troubled with 

 brown snakes. His dog killed one lately about 6 feet long, and 

 through the wound a hen's egg was extruded,' which shows that 

 these reptiles are not above eating eggs when they get the chance. 

 — W. H. D. Le Souef. ^lelbourne. 



