^°';^^^''] Stray Feathers. 5Q 



ago one sat on the wire which runs past the garden and trilled 

 like springtime on the shortest day of the year. For some un- 

 explained reason it is almost invariably this species of which an 

 individual or two elects to winter with us ; the more robust-looking 

 Pallid Cuckoo haidly ever stays, and the Bronze never, in my 

 experience. — H. Stuart Dove. West Devonport (Tas.), 31/5/16. 



Bird Notes from Gallipoli. — 24/9/15. — Yesterday 1 witnessed 

 a sight that gladdened the eyes. High in the air, over the top- 

 most hill as seen from our camp, the Swallows were gathering in 

 hundreds for their great migratory flight. It was most inter- 

 esting to watch them wheeling and circling in such numbers. I 

 was on my way to a trench near the summit of the hill, and as 

 I mounted the slopes I obtained a grand view of the great army 

 of birds gathering their forces together for the long southern flight. 

 At times, when massed together, they formed a dense, dark 

 cloud for a few minutes ; then they would gradually thin out in 

 wide, sweeping circles, and swoop towards the earth, cleaving the 

 air with a swishing sound quite foreign to their usual graceful 

 motion. The idea they gave me was that they were angry and 

 excited. They moved off eventually in a south-eastern direction 

 as far as the eye could follow them. To-day I notice a few of the 

 birds still about. Very little bird-hfe here. I have seen, so far, 

 three forms — a bird like a Honey-eater, a shy little Robin, and 

 a little bird, observed one day on a flat near the beach, which 

 closely resembles our Field-Wren. From the nature of the 

 country, I should not think it attractive to bird-life. 



6/10/15. — One morning I heard a commotion on the hill 

 opposite our camp. Such a clucking and challenging of notes ! 

 I could see across the gully to open patches of clayey cliffs, and 

 there were the creatures ha\nng a high time, and chasing each 

 other like rabbits. Then I saw they were Partridges. Visions of 

 juicy roasts rose before my eyes, but, alas ! friend Turk can sweep 

 the area with his guns. 



6/10/15. — I found such a pretty little bird one day — something 

 like our White-eye {Zosterops), with a quiet green plumage and soft, 

 dove-coloured under-parts. The throat, when pulsating, shows 

 a beautiful flush of yellow. The song is very sweet. The boys 

 call it the Canary. 



5/12/15. — A few migrants have reached us here. Near tlie 

 beach I noticed a dozen birds of the Stint family. They remained 

 but a few hours ; probably the noises of war hastened their 

 departure. In Tasmania, at Lake Sorell, I have shot these birds 

 in November. If these are going Australia way they are late on 

 their joinney. More birds are now observed here. Some are 

 very beautiful, but to what family they belong I do not know.— 

 Extracts from letteis written by Mr. A. W. Swindells, R.A.O.U., 

 when stationed near Suvla Bay. 



