IQ2 Stray Feathers. r,sf"lan 



the nest, as the male is very attentive in feeding her during that 

 time. The green food I have given them has been " milk thistles " 

 — ^flower and stalk. For the latter they seem to have a particular 

 relish, and also for rye-grass in seed. For dry food, Canary seed 

 ad lib. : hemp seed, about a teaspoonful four or five times a day, 

 and a fevv grains of soaked maize at the same time ; flaked oatmeal 

 and wheatmeal biscuit always before them. When about to nest 

 I give a free supply of animal charcoal (burnt bones, porous ones 

 being preferred), but when rearing young charcoal crumbled small, 

 and from the quantity that they eat there appears a great and 

 important value to its properties. — ^T. Hurst. Inkerman-road, 

 Caulfield (Vic), 12/12/12. 



* * * 



Procellaria aequinoctialis mixta (Mathews' " Birds of Australia," 

 vol. ii., part i., p. iii). — ^The following short notes from my own 

 observations confirm this new sub-species. The first specimen 

 was noted about 900 miles west of Albany (Western Australia) 

 on 12th April, 1909, while I was travelling on a White Star boat 

 homewards, and increasing numbers of these birds were daily 

 observed until 19th April, when we were about 800 miles east of 

 Durban (long. 45° E.), when no more were noted. On the return 

 voyage this Petrel was first seen off Cape St. Francis, between 

 Cape Town and Durban, when about 20 followed the steamer all 

 day (loth December, 1909), and they increased in numbers daily 

 until 17th December, when they were very numerous. The 

 steamer then was in lat. 40° S., about 500 miles north of the 

 Crozet Islands. On 24th December the Spectacled Petrels (and 

 other species of birds that had constantly followed the steamer) 

 became much less in numbers, and the last of the Petrels were 

 seen on Christmas Day, when about 500 miles south-west of 

 Albany. Several specimens were caught on both passages, and 

 the colouration of the bill and soft parts, as given by Mr. Mathews 

 on my authority, may be relied upon, as the colours were noted 

 from living birds. Birds that were dissected appeared to have 

 been feeding upon small squids (?), as great numbers of their 

 beaks were found in the gizzards of the birds. On my voyage 

 both to and from England I daily spent a considerable time in 

 observing and making notes upon the Petrels, Albatrosses, &c., 

 that accompanied the steamers, being assisted by powerful 

 binoculars. Among the hundreds (probably thousands) of 

 Spectacled Petrels that were under observation, not a single bird 

 was seen with any white on the plumage except the chin spot, 

 and this varied considerably in extent. No specimen was seen 

 with any white markings above the beak or on the face. — Tom Carter. 

 Broome Hill (W.A.), 12/11/12. 



* * * 



Descriptions of Eggs New to Science. — Rallina tricolor. — The 

 identity of eggs of this species now being established beyond all 

 doubt {vide The Emu, vol. xi., pp. 19 and 20, also The Ibis of 



