Vol. XIII. 



1914 



j Stray Feathers. 21 "^ 



Eggs of Munia pectoralis. — It will probably be considered pre- 

 sumptuous on my part to criticise the work of writers like Messrs. 

 A. J. North and A. J. Campbell ; but, as the following remarks 

 may help to solve a puzzle, I have no hesitation in making them. 

 It has long been a mystery to me why eggs of Munia pectoralis 

 should possess a faint bluish shade, while those of the rest of the 

 genus are pure white. Mr. A. J. North, in pages 281 to 283, 

 vol. ii., of his " Nests and Eggs," describes eggs of Munia castanei- 

 thorax and Munia xanthoprymna as being pure white, while on 

 page 286 those of Munia pectoralis are said to be " white, with a 

 faint bluish tinge." Mr. A. J. Campbell describes eggs of Munia 

 castaneithorax and Munia pectoralis in a similar manner, those 

 of the last-named bird being apparently from the same clutch 

 as described by Mr. North. It struck me as being pecuhar that 

 birds so closely allied should lay differently coloured eggs. A set 

 in my own collection presented the same bluish tinge, but the 

 eggs were not identified beyond question, and therefore are 

 labelled "doubtful." From the Macarthur River, Northern 

 Territory, Mr. H. G. Barnard lately sent me a clutch of Munia 

 pectoralis eggs, and skins of the parent birds shot at the nest ; the 

 eggs are pure white, of similar shape to those of the rest of the 

 genus, and measure — {a) .67 x .47, (b) .65 x .47, (c) .67 x .47, 

 {d) .69 X .49, {e) .71 X .48, (/) .67 X .47. I claim them to form the 

 true type clutch of the species. While on the subject of Mr. 

 North's book, if the publication is to be considered an official one, 

 authorized by the Trustees of the Australian Museum, let us hope 

 that these gentlemen will issue a supplement containing descrip- 

 tions of the many well-known birds omitted from their proper 

 places in the original. In its present form the work, admirable 

 as it is as far as it goes, is very far from being a complete record 

 of the " Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia 

 and Tasmania." — H. L. White. Belltrees (N.S.W.) 



Frogmouth and Boobook Owl. — For several months past I have 

 heard at night a peculiar metallic call. It appeared to come 

 from the creek, about a mile away, and was never heard earlier 

 than 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. A few days ago I was watching a pair 

 of Tawny Frogmouths {Podargus strigoides) ilying about our 

 garden, a little after sunset. Occasionally they uttered the call 

 " Oom, 00m," as if communicating something of importance to 

 one another, especially after a sudden swoop on the part of either. 

 A httle later a Boobook Owl {Ninox boobook), a frequent visitor, 

 fluttered into one of the pine trees, and began its leisurely, 

 solitary call. Early in the morning I awoke, and, hearing this 

 metallic call, determined, if possible, to find the author thereof. 

 It should be noted that the Boobook Owl continued its note 

 during the time of which I am writing. Going out into the 

 garden, I at first found it very difficult to locate the bird (pre- 

 sumably) for which I was looking. At times the cry appeared 



