^°\ j^"-] Noles and Notices. 20y 



bodies. But what of their young ? They, cruelly deprived of 

 their parental support, and having themselves no feathers of any 

 value, are left to die the horrible death of slow starvation. These 

 are the circumstances I wish to point out, and why I would ask 

 all men and women to discourage the wearing of osprey plumes, 

 for if there were no demand the supply would soon cease. I am 

 glad to read in a leading London newspaper, commenting on the 

 millinery taken to India by Queen Mary in the recent tour, that 

 her Majesty had never worn a real aigrette, and had given 

 special instructions that nothing of the kind should be employed 

 in her millinery. This example will, I earnestly hope, be followed 

 when the facts are known." 



Lighthouses and Birds. — Two reports from lighthouse-keepers 

 have been forwarded to the hon. secretary of the R.A.O.U. by 

 Mr. J. Adams, Secretary to the Marine Board of Hobart. 



W. A. Campbell, superintendent of the Eddystone Point light- 

 house, reports : — " Re birds striking the tower. loth September, 

 1912, 4.50 a.m., a Blackbird struck the tower, and continued to 

 do so till daylight, when it disappeared. Again on 13th October 

 a bird (Mutton-Bird) struck the tower. Found this bird dead at 

 the base of the tower." 



The following is a list of birds which hit the tower of the light- 

 house on Goose Island, as observed by C. Carlson, the superin- 

 tendent : — I2th August, 2.35 a.m.. Starling. i6th August, 3 a m.. 

 Red-breasted Robin. 6th September, i a.m., Brown Thrush, 

 gth September, 3.5 a.m., not seen ; 3.30 a.m., Starling ; 4.30 

 a.m.. Brown Robin ; 4.40 a.m., Cuckoo or Summer-Bird ; 4.50 

 a.m.. Brown Thrush and Dusky Fantail ; 5 a.m., Cuckoo, 

 Brown Thrush, Fantail. 12th September, 7.45 p.m., Brown 

 Thrush. 29th September, 11 p.m., Brown Robin ; 11.40 p.m.. 

 Brown Thrush and bird unseen. 4th October, 1.15 a.m., Fantail. 

 6th October, 10.20 p.m., Ground-Lark. The Mutton-Birds were 

 not put down, as they hit the tower too frequently. 



The Turquoisine Parrakeet. — ^As an aviculturist and a member 

 of the Union, I should like to draw attention to the dis- 

 appearance from the bird markets during the last twenty years 

 of the beautiful little Turquoisine Parrakeet {Neophema pulchella), 

 which is easily bred in captivity and can be kept with the 

 smallest Finches without fear of accidents. It seems likely 

 that this little bird has gone the way of the Dodo and the 

 Passenger Pigeon, and certainly it may be placed, as far as 

 aviculture is concerned, on the extinct list. But there may still 

 be a few specimens in the wilder parts of Australia, and it would, 

 I think, be of interest to hear something about them. I would 

 suggest that if the birds are found a few specimens should be 

 taken to one of the Zoological Gardens in Australia for breeding 

 purposes. According to Mr. Seth-Smith, this species was bred in 

 considerable numbers in the London Zoological Gardens between 

 i860 and 1883. In Gould's day the Turquoisine Parrakeet seems 



