Vol. XI 



i9'3 



'•"I Stray Feathers. IQ7 



When near land I observed Gulls {Larus novcB-hollandice), and 

 further out at sea Terns and Gannets, following shoals of fish. 

 Frigate-Birds {Tachypetes minor) were usually not far from land ; 

 I have never seen this bird on the water. Although they are such 

 wonderful flyers, the Frigate-Birds are greatly averse to a strong 

 wind, and on such occasions are usually noted on the lee side of 

 some island. In anything approaching a cyclone they take 

 refuge on the mainland or the islands, otherwise they are apt to 

 be blown into the sea and drowned. Dead bodies of the birds are 

 sometimes washed up on the beach after such wind. I wish that 

 some person living on the northern coast of Australia would note 

 the arrival and departure of migrants. 



On the way from Queensland, not far from Cairns, the steamer 

 passed close to a small, rocky island, which was not more than 

 20 feet above sea level, and measured about 25 feet x 10 feet. 

 There was a hollow in the granite rock, and Edible-nest Swifts 

 {Salangana escidenta) * were flying in and out. They were evidently 

 breeding there. When about 10 miles outside the Barrier Reef, 

 opposite the Capricorn Islands, we passed many thousands of 

 Wedge-tailed Petrels {Puffmus sphenurus) feeding on and under 

 the water. — D. Le Souef. Melbourne. 



From Magazines, &c. 



South Australian Zoological Society. — ^The thirty-fourth annual 

 report of the South Australian Zoological and Acclimatization 

 Society, a copy of which has been received, is an interesting 

 publication, illustrated by fine half-tone plates. The report 

 states that the Zoological Gardens at Adelaide have made good 

 progress, and are highly popular. The gate receipts for the 

 twelve months under review amounted to £1,346 9s. 3d. — a record 

 in the history of the institution. Several important improvements 

 were effected in the course of the year A new flying cage for 

 Magpies and a new cage for Scrub-Turkeys are mentioned. A list 

 is given of the birds in the gardens. These include specimens of 

 Australian Eagles, Owls, Parrots, Cranes, Pelicans, Swans, Ducks, 

 and many smaller birds. The collection is of considerable 

 interest. 



* * * 



Queensland Museum Memoirs. — The Memoirs of the Queensland 

 Museum, vol. i., was issued on 27th November, igi2, the editor 

 being Dr. R. Hamlyn Harris, D.Sc, F.L.S., &c., the Director, 

 who is local secretary of the R.A.O.U. for Queensland. The 

 volume is well printed, and the illustrations are excellent. One of 

 the plates depicts a bower of the Golden Bower-Bird {Prionodiira 

 newtoniana), from the Atherton Scrub, North Queensland, which 

 was recently mounted in the bird gallery at the Museum. The 



* More probably the Grey-rumped Swiftlet [S. francica). — Eds. 



