2l8 Stray Feathers-. [xst^ April 



time there can be seen a mound built by a pair of these birds. 

 It is about 40 feet in circumference, and built from material 

 placed at their disposal. The aviary is about 45 feet long by 

 II feet wide, the width increased to 14 feet at one end to admit 

 of mound-building. The female started laying about the end 

 of last August, and up to date has laid twenty-nine eggs. 

 Having a large rainfall, excessive moisture in the mound 

 destroyed all eggs laid previous to last week in November. 

 About three weeks ago the first chick came out ; two more have 

 since appeared, and another is about due now. I have been 

 interested in these wonderful birds for about 30 years, making 

 a special study of them and their habits during the past 12 years. 

 A large number of these birds have passed through my hands 

 during my career as a collector of native fauna. They make very 

 interesting pets, getting on very friendly terms with their keeper. 

 Their dispositions vary considerably, it being easier to get on 

 good terms with some individuals than with others. I always, 

 if possible, take the pairs as I find them, avoiding as much as 

 possible the mating of strange birds. I can always form a good 

 idea of their dispositions during the period spent in the collecting 

 camp ; but the best birds to deal with are those reared from 

 chicks. I have several such pairs, and for some years I 

 endeavoured to impress on the minds of these birds the need of 

 taking up family duties and responsibilities. At the age of 

 two years they would hardly entertain the thought ; at three 

 years I got them to start in a half-hearted way. Not until the 

 fourth year would they fully accept my suggestion ; then, in the 

 month of April, they cleaned out the old hot-bed, and set to work 

 with a will. Then I gave them abundant material, which they 

 made good use of, hence my present success — the first instance 

 on record, I believe, of the breeding of Mallee-Fowl in captivity. 

 — J. P. Bellchambers. Humbug Scrub (S.A.), 17/ 2/14. 



From Magazines, &c. 



"Australian Nature Stories for Children." — Under this title 

 an admirable little handbook by Miss Constance Tisdall, B.A., 

 is published by Messrs. James Ingram and Son, Melbourne. It 

 contains twelve charmingly written stories — four each of birds, 

 animals, and trees. But, although only " stories," it is a pity 

 that all the natural history facts are not accurate. Surely Miss 

 Tisdall could have got some expert friend to vise her proofs. The 

 Laughing Jackass, or Great Kingfisher, is stated to lay " two 

 lovely eggs." That bird oftener lays three eggs, while the full 

 complement is four. " Some Magpies lay eight eggs " is another 

 statement. Any schoolboy will tell you that Magpies lay three 

 or four eggs, rarely five ! But the most astounding statement of all 

 is that the Lyre-Bird lays a " pale green egg " ! Exception is 

 also taken to attributing the wonder-workings of Nature to 



