^°''i^iS^''l Ford, Birds of Tanjil River and Ranges. 223 



a pair of Spotted birds excavating in a bank on 25/9/17), 

 Sparrow-Hawk {Accipiter torquatiis), Boobouk Owl [Ninox boobook), 

 Frogmoutli • {Podargiis siyigoides), White-fronted Herons {No'to- 

 phoyx novcB-JiollandicB), Pied Grallina {Grallina picata) (a pair about 

 the camp, but the White-backed Magpies drove thein away), 

 Laughing Jackass {Dacelo gigas). 



The following birds were only seen occasionally : — ^Nankeen 

 Kestrel {Cerchneis cenchroides), White- winged Chough {Corcorax 

 melanorhamphus) (two flocks seen, 1916 and 1917), Wedge-tailed 

 Eagle [Uroactus audax) (noticed carrying stick for building nest), 

 Whistling-Eagle {Haliastur sphemtrus), Black-cheeked Falcon 

 (Falco melanogenys), and Little Falcon (F. Innulatiis). Also 

 European birds, such as Starlings, Goldfinches, and Sparrows. 

 Several species were in evidence during the summer only, such as 

 Leatherheads {Tropidorhynchus corniculatus) , Orioles {Orioliis 

 viridis) (arrived in 1917 on 15th August), Pallid Cuckoo {Cucidus 

 pallidns) (first heard in 1917 on 22nd August), Fantail Cuckoo 

 {Cacomantis flabelliformis) (first heard in 1917 on 8th August), 

 Bronze-Cuckoos {Chalcococcyx basalts) (first heard in 1917 on 

 22nd August), Wood-Swallows {Artamus personatiis and A. 

 sordidus) (come in flocks for nesting). Spine-tailed Swifts {Chcettira 

 caudacitta), and Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon arid). 



Tasmanian Notes. 



Swifts and Weather. — ^The past summer was remarkable for the 

 number of Spine-tailed Swifts {Chcvtiira caudacitta) which visited 

 North- West Tasmania. None came within my personal ken until 

 4th February, although a pioneer pair was reported by Foster 

 Leek from the neighbourhood of Mersey Bluff as early as 6th 

 December, 1916. When, however, these birds did begin to make 

 their regular appearance, they were on view at frequent intervals 

 until the third week of April. The first individuals which I saw, 

 early in February, passed at intervals towards the west, then 

 returned, and were apparently insect-catching, for the - air was 

 full of flying beetles, Tipulae (crane-flies), and moths, the time 

 being about 8 p.m., near dark. Numbers of flying ants were 

 observed emerging from a decayed log and taking wing, so that 

 the Swifts were well supplied with food variety. The evening was 

 clear, with light breeze from S.E., but next day was cloudy and 

 rain threatened. On 21st February there was a warm rain all 

 day from the N.E., then a cool change, wind veering N.W. to 

 S.W. Heavy fall of snow occurred shortly afterwards on the 

 Tiers, in sight to the south. On the 23rd inst. the Swifts, which 

 had not been seen since the 4th inst., came after dinner, and were 

 seen heading to N.W. against a heavy squall. Between 3 and 

 4 o'clock a large party passed to N.W. against heavy wind and 

 showers, flying very high — the highest could just be discerned 

 against the thick squall-cloud. They were moving in circles. 



