^"i;^^^'] Stray Feathers-. 193 



As tor native birds, the commonest is, 1 think, the Ground-Lark 

 (Anthus }wv(e-zcalandice). The Harrier {Circus goiddi), the King- 

 fisher {Halcyon vagans), the Fantail {Rhipidnni fiabellifera), and 

 the Grey Warbler {Pscudogerygonc igata), are about equally 

 numerous. The Weka {Ocydromus earli) is not uncommon, being 

 more often heard than seen, and aquatic birds are plentiful on 

 the swamps along the Waikato River. The only rare bird I have 

 seen there is a small Rail, but which one I am not sure, as 1 only 

 glimpsed it twice while driving along the road. I have heard the 

 Tui once (further north I have seen scores), and seen a Kaka 

 once ; these also I have seen on several occasions north of Auck- 

 land. Even when to the abo\T list I add the beautiful Californian 

 Quail, which are plentiful, and the equally beautiful but rare 

 Pheasant, the ubiquitous White-eye {Zosterops ccerulescens) — like 

 myself, an Australian migrant come to stay — the Banded Dottrel 

 (seen at Tokomaru Bay, on the East Coast), the Indian Myna (seen 

 also at the same place), and the dear old Australian Magpie 

 {Gyntnorhina tibicen), foiuid on the mainland opposite Kawan 

 Island, to which thej^ were introduced by Sir George Grey. The 

 Shining Cuckoo should be added to the list, also the " More-pork " 

 Owl. Even with all that I can scrape together, you will see what 

 a short bird list I have, and understand how I miss my native 

 land, with its wealth of bird-life. — T. J. Ick-Hewin'S, M.B., B.S. 



Ornithological Notes. 



By Edwin Ashby, M.B.O.U.. R.A.O.U., " Wittunga," Black- 

 wood, South Australia. 



In looking through my diary I have culled the following notes, 

 wliich may be of interest. 



Pomatostomus superciliosiis, V. and H. (White-browed Babbler). 

 — On the 14th March, 1916, observed a pair of these birds feeding 

 their young in nest situated in a peppermint {Eucalyptus odoratus), 

 about 15 feet from the ground. 1 could not help spending some 

 time watching these birds ; I think they are in some respects the 

 most interesting of all the native birds in this locality. They 

 spread their tails when they make their short flights, the white 

 tips to the tail feathers giving a pretty fan-like appearance. The 

 short, quick beats of their wings make a fluttering sound, very 

 noticeable even when the birds are not visible. The habit of 

 alighting on the ground at some distance from the tree that they 

 wish to ascend, and completing the final few feet by taking a series 

 of huge liops is almost grotesque, and this is added to as each of 

 the flock follows its leader, the whole party ascending the branches 

 of the tree in a spiral fashion. The notes are most varied ; the 

 most common is a combination between a wai'ble and a sc(.)ld, 

 followed by a loud scolding noise without the warble, or some- 



