104 Stray Feathers. \ 



6mu 

 ist Jan. 



Mesocalms palliolatus, is a very elongated and lightly coloured 



egg of CJialcococcyx plagosiis. As I saw a pair of the former 



variety not far from the spot last Saturday, 27th November, 



I am inclined to believe that the Qg^ belongs to it. — F. E. HoWE. 



Albert Park, 30/11/09. 



■ * * * 



New Egg for Victoria. — In a patch of box-tree {Eucalypt) 

 forest, some two miles from the foot of the Grampians, I had 

 the pleasure of examining, on 27th November, 1909, a nest of 

 Gerygone albigularis (White-throated Fly-eater). The species is 

 very rare for Victoria, two birds only having been recorded* in 

 1899 as occasional visitors. This is the first instance known of 

 the species nesting in Victoria. The eggs were three in number, 

 warm white ground, speckled, chiefly at the larger ends, with 

 pinkish or reddish-chestnut. Average dimensions, 0.65 x 0.50 

 inches. The nest was built chiefly of shreds of bark knit 

 together with sheep-wool and spider-web, and ornamented on 

 the outside with a few spiders' cocoons and blebs of gum-tree 

 resin. It measured about 8 inches in length and 2]4 inches 

 through, and hung pendent to a low shoot on a box-tree. It had 

 the characteristic hood over the entrance and tail of all Fly- 

 eaters' nests. The male bird has a very pleasant and striking 

 song. The plumage is — upper surface, olive-green ; under 

 surface, yellow, throat white, the female being slightly duller in 

 plumage. — A. G. Campbell. Pomonal (Vic), Nov., 1909. 

 * * * 



Fidelity of the Emu. — Mr. Colvin Clarke had a young Emu 

 and a young kangaroo. When they grew to a goodly size the 

 kangaroo became violently enamoured of the Emu, and, to the 

 amusement and surprise of everyone who saw them, the 'roo 

 used to hug the Emu, The Emu squatting on the ground, the 

 'roo would approach, and, in the most loving way, " hug " the 

 Emu with great gentleness. The Emu then took a great liking 

 to a draught mare, and wherever the mare went the Emu went 

 also. In fact, they " kept company." Even when the mare was 

 in the dray the bird would accompany her, walking alongside ! 

 As the station paddocks are large, the two would often be absent 

 for days at a time. One day the mare was found in a creek, 

 dead, having broken her neck, her faithful feathered consort still 

 feeding around the spot. Judging from evidence the mare had 

 been dead over a week. A fire was lighted over the body of the 

 mare and the remains burnt to ashes. Still for more than a 

 week the bird remained by itself in the near vicinity, till one 

 day it returned to the homestead and again took up with the 

 kangaroo. I think this a remarkable case of fidelity in a bird — 

 a case of " faithful unto death." — (Dr.) Ernest A. D'Ombrain. 

 Sydney, 23/10/09. 



* "Nests and Eggs," Campbell, p. 155. 



