no stray Feathers. [.nd Oct. 



are most numerous, and, with the Indian Mynah, come aroimd 

 the tents to pick up crumbs from the soldiers' " tables." I have 

 seen a big flock of Starlings, high in air, above a platoon, and the 

 manoeuvres of the birds were so clever as to suggest that they, 

 too, were moving to the commands of a sergeant-major. During 

 the 15 minutes allowed us for " smoke-o " in the morning and 

 afternoon, reclining on the grass, I watch the Starlings and other 

 birds feeding, and the time passes swiftly. 



Of native birds, the Magpie-Lark {Grallina picata) has been 

 most abundant in the past two months. Day long their shrill 

 cries have resounded all over the camp, and we have seen them 

 patrolling marshy spots or perched on posts or in trees around 

 the park fence. Next to the Grallina, in point of numbers, comes 

 the Ground-Lark, or Australian Pipit [Anthits aiistralis). Every 

 day I see these restless little birds running through the short 

 grass and onion-weed (now in blossom) searching for insects. 

 Some, I fancy, have already begun nesting. Early in August a 

 Scarlet-breasted Robin [Petroica leggii) was observed, flying 

 above the tents in our (A.M.C.) lines, but it was only a casvial 

 visitor. Occasionally, just after the bugles have sounded reveille, 

 one hears a Great Brown Kingfisher (Dacelo gigas) welcoming the 

 dawn. Recently two Rosellas {Platycerctts eximkis) flew over 

 from the direction of the Zoological Gardens, and on a clear, frosty 

 night I heard the honking of a flock of Black Swans that was flying 

 westward above the sleeping camp. Other birds were winging 

 " across the moon " ; I heard their calls, faintly, but could not 

 identify the species. 



The gum trees on the outskirts of the Park are frequented by 

 Honey-eaters, Acanthizas, and other small birds, and if one had 

 leisure in the day-time a fairly good list of species could be made. 

 Several of my camp-mates are interested in birds, and one is a 

 member of the Gould League, having joined it when at school. — 

 (Private) Charles Barrett. C.M.Z.S., R.A.O.U. Royal Park 

 Camp, Vic, 5/9/16. 



Bird Observers' Club. 



The Acanthizae were the subject for special attention at the June 

 meeting of the B.O.C. Mr. F. E. Howe read a paper on the genus. 

 He showed the close relationship of some of the species and sub- 

 species, and compared the methods of Australian ornithologists in 

 classifying them. A chart showed at a glance how each worker had 

 split up the species Mr. Howe traced several dominating species 

 through their geographical variations. Mr. A. Chas. Stone exhibited 

 a series of eggs of the genus, and drew attention to Acanthiza ewingii 

 rufifrons, from King Island, which had the characteristic of laying one 

 white and two spotted eggs to a clutch. 



The secretary, Mr. F. E. Wilson, showed a series of skins of the 

 genus, including Victorian and Western Australian forms of Acanthiza 

 chrysorrhoa. 



