into the lantern room, and was caught. Ever after that a dummy 

 wooden pane was kept to block broken windows, if such accidents 

 occurred. For 30 years, to 1879, Swans were never known to strike 

 the light, although we often saw them in the evenings coming 

 across from the direction of King Island, and going towards Aire 

 River, 7 miles north-west, and returning towards the island. 

 Swans were often heard going over at night, and Cape Otway 

 appeared to be the first land that these birds and Ducks made 

 when coming from the south-east ; they always left the land at 

 the same point when going away. They followed the coast -line 

 to and from Aire River. 



Other birds that struck and were killed were Black Duck 

 {Anas superciliosa), Australian Teal (Nettiitm castanenm), Grey 

 Teal (A'', gibberifrons), and White-eyed Duck {Nyroca australis). 

 Once nine of the latter species were killed or wounded ; they had 

 evidently come across the sea from the south-east, as they were 

 on the balcony and ground on that side. Only one Duck flew 

 away from the balcony at daylight, and went towards King Island, 

 about 50 miles away and not visible. Quail, both Stubble 

 {Cotitrnix pedoralis) and Brown {Synoiciis australis), as well as 

 Pipits {Anthus australis) and Crimson Parrots [Platycercus 

 pennanti) and Grass-Parrots {Euphema elegans), were often seen, 

 and frequently struck the lantern. We occasionally saw birds of 

 prey, such as the Grey Falcon {Falco hypoleiicos). Black Falcon 

 F. subniger). Little Falcon {F. liinulatus). Brown Hawk 

 {Hieracidea berigora). and Sparrow-Hawk {Accipiter torqitatits) ; 

 but it was a rare thing for these birds to come to grief. Many 

 other small land-birds used to strike, but very few sea-birds ; 

 probably the light being nearly 300 feet above sea-level saved 

 them. Often, when looking out on a summer's night from the 

 balcony rails, numbers of birds could be seen resting on them — 

 frequently small birds and Hawks near each other. At times the 

 Boobook Owl {Ninox boobook) and Delicate Owl {Strix delicatiila) 

 were seen, but these probably came after the bats and small 

 birds near the light. In later years very few birds struck the 

 light, and of those that did most were able to fly away. — H. W. 

 Ford, q Freeman-street, North Fitzroy, 



Swifts and Weather. — Having for several years recorded 

 observations on Swifts and the weather, I give herewith the result 

 of this year's watching, so far. The first considerable flight of 

 Spine-tailed Swifts [Chcetura caudacuta. Lath.) on tlie North-West 

 Coast of Tasmania this season was noted on the evening of 24th 

 February, from 6.30 o'clock until 7 o'clock, during which time the 

 birds were passing almost continuously — not, of course, in a 

 compact mass, but in a straggling sort of way, a few at the time, 

 as is their wont. I could detect them in the distance, rising from 

 the horizon, as it were, to the westward, and coming gradually 

 overhead, then passing away to east and south-east against a 



