A2 Alexander, Notes from Western Attsiraha. [,sfTuiy 



informs me further that the Purple-crowned Lorikeets [Glossopsitta 

 porphyrocephala) remained about Dumbleyung all the summer 

 instead of travelling further north, as is their usual custom, 

 recorded by him in his recent notes in The Emu. 



A very curious specimen of the Black Moor-Hen {Gallinula 

 tenehrosa) was brought to me on 27th March. Its plumage is 

 white, but it is marked all over with black streaks, resembling an 

 immature Silver Gull. The eye was black, and the bill and legs 

 normal in coloration, though decidedly pale, both green and red 

 parts being very hght. While I was examining the specimen 

 Mr. Tom Carter came in, and, a few minutes later, Mr. L. G. 

 Chandler, of Melbourne, also called, so that I had the pleasure of 

 showing this remarkable bird to both these ornithologists. I will 

 have a photograph of the specimen taken as soon as it is 

 mounted, for publication in The Emu. It was shot at a swamp 

 near Wanneroo, about seven miles north of Perth. 



A few days ago, when at the Victoria Reservoir, one of the 

 sources of Perth's water supply, situated a few miles from the city, 

 in the Darling Range, I observed a Great Crested Grebe {Podiceps 

 cristatits). In " The Birds of Australia," vol. i., p. 269, Mathews 

 writes : — " A peculiar feature to me was, that I found no speci- 

 mens from Australia or New Zealand in any other than full 

 breeding plumage, although I examined specimens killed from 

 November to August. Buller never noted any 'winter' plumage 

 for the New Zealand form, yet Gould wrote : — ' The beautiful 

 frill which adonis the neck of the P. australis is acquired in the 

 spring, worn during the breeding season, and then cast off, when 

 the face becomes of a greyish-white, or similar in colour to the 

 other part of the neck.' I suggest this was written from Gould's 

 knowledge of the European bird, and not from the actual facts 

 and would ask Australian ornithologists for further information." 

 The specimen seen by me was absolutely without the ruff on the 

 neck, but possessed the two ear-tufts ; its throat, neck, and 

 breast were almost white. Of course, I cannot be sure that it 

 was not a young bird that had not acquired the ruff, but I record 

 the observation for what it is worth. With a stop-watch I timed 

 the period during which it stayed under water, and found that it 

 varied from 20 seconds to 27 seconds, though on one occasion it 

 reappeared in 8 seconds with what appeared to be a small fish 

 in its beak. 



Early in March 1 came upon a flock of Red-kneed Dottrels 

 {Erythrogonys cinctus) on a swamp close to Perth. They were 

 feeding on a mud-flat close to the water's edge or in the shallow 

 water in company with Black-fronted Dottrels {Elseya melanops). 

 Common Sandpipers {Adites hypoleucus), Sharp-tailed Stints 

 {Heteropygia acuminata), and Little Stints {Pisobia minuta). In 

 contrast to these other birds, which were feeding quietly, the Red- 

 kneed Dottrels seemed much excited ; every few minutes one 

 would rush at another with his head held low, and the bird 

 attacked would run away rapidly, with the second bird in pursuit 



