Vol. IX. 



igio 



] Stray Feathers. 255 



Wattle-Bird {Acayithochcera inauris). Brush Wattle-Bird {A. inel- 

 livora). Yellow-throated Honey-eater [Ptilotis flavigularis), Brovvn- 

 rumped Tit {Acanthiza diemenensis). Long- tailed Blue Wren 

 {Maiitriis goitldi). Dusky Robin {Petraxa vittata). Flame-breasted 

 Robin (P. pho'mcea). Dusky Fantail {Rhipidiira diemenensis). 

 Small-billed Cuckoo-Shrike {Graucalus parvirostris), Crow or Raven, 

 Brown Hawk [Hierocidea orientalis). Pipit (Anthus atistralis). 

 Sooty Crow-Shrike {Strepera fuliginosa), Hill Crow-Shrike (5. 

 argiita). No young were seen with the water-birds. 



Nests examined were Brown-rumped Tit's (with two eggs). Flame- 

 breasted Robin's (with three young) ; Diamond-Bird's (in tunnel in 

 root of upturned tree), with five eggs, heavily incubated — that is. 

 judging by appearances ; new Native-Hen's nest, built in tea-tree 

 boughs. — (Miss) J. A. Fletcher. 



Bird Notes from the Upper Goulburn. — The .scrub 

 that fringes the banks of the Goulburn River above Wood's 

 Point forms an ideal home for birds, and here may be found 

 such forms as the Lyre-Bird {Menura victories), Rufous-breasted 

 Thickhead {Padiycephala riifiventris), Leaden Flycatcher 

 {Myiagra rubeada), Rufous Fantail {Rhipidura rnfifrons). 

 Flame-breasted Robin {Petrceca phamiced), and others. Among 

 the tall eucalypts large numbers of the Lunulated Honey- 

 eaters {Melithreptus atricapillus) are at present breeding. The 

 nest, which is suspended from a slender bough, usually out of 

 reach, is formed of grass and bark shreds, ornamented with 

 spider cocoons and small pieces of lichen. On 23rd November 

 I discovered a pair of young ones perched together on a slender 

 twig of wattle {Acacia). They were evidently about 14 days' 

 old, and not yet able to fly. Beyond the green back and white 

 under parts they bore slight resemblance to the parent birds, 

 there being no black cap, but a dark patch on side of head 

 around the eye. An indistinct grey stripe indicated where the 

 crescent " moon-mark " would be at maturity. The parent 

 birds took turns in feeding the young ; the speed with which 

 they gathered a beakful of insects off the wattle trees and 

 returned was astonishing. On the same day I found the nest 

 of a pair of White-eared Honey-eaters {Ptilotis leucotis), with a 

 single young one perched above it, apparently about 12 days 

 out of the egg. The nestling's general colour was greyish-green ; 

 fourth primary in wings white ; greyish-white blotch on side of 

 head ; tail very short. Flocks of Grey Strepera {Strepera 

 ■versicolor) and Pied Strepera {Strepera graculina) may always 

 be found in this district, and their nests are generally placed in 

 the most inaccessible trees, though occasionally one may be 

 found in a lower position. The Streperas are ground feeders, 

 their principal food consisting of the large black and red bull- 

 ants, though in the fruit season they attack orchards, pecking 



