vi INTRODUCTION. 



during the last few years is responsible for a marked decrease in 

 the number of birds in many districts. For not only have the 

 birds been driven to seek other haunts, but those that remained 

 have fallen victims to " pot-hunters " and settlers' cats. 



Compared with the resident birds of the Australian mainland, 

 those of Tasmania may be said to show marked melanistic 

 tendencies. Of the species "peculiar" to the island, all save 

 the Lesser White-backed Magpie (Gymnorhina hyperleuca) are 

 larger than their nearest allies on the mainland. 



A number of species lay four or even five eggs to the clutch, 

 while the same species or related ones on the continent of Aus- 

 tralia lay but three. There are also a number of structural 

 differences in the nests of several species as compared with those 

 across the Strait, but this point is not emphasized as much as 

 the preceding ones, nor is it as important. 



Some 214 species are glanced at in the succeeding pages. 

 Omitting the orders Gavice and Tubinares, owing to the distribution 

 and economy of certain species included in them not having been 

 fully worked out, the birds may be roughly subdivided as under : 



Position on list challenged ... ... ... 5 species 



Occurring on dependencies only ... ... 4 , , 



"Peculiar " or insular forms ... ... 21 ,, 



Accidental and casual visitors ... ... 16 , , 



Permanent residents (circa) ... ... ... 110 ,, 



The total number of absolutely authenticated species, including 

 accidentals, casuals, and migrants, of all Orders, for Tasmania 

 and her dependencies may be placed at slightly over 200. 



