Vol. XII. 



19 



] Stray Feathers. 283 



called by the Spaniards "huachos." The Ostrich is considered by 

 human beings to be a silly bird, while the Scrub- Fowl is to be 

 honoured because of uncommon sagacity. Probably the species 

 discovered artificial incubation, and even in idle moments may 

 spend time in the making of an ineffectual mound. The Ostrich, 

 with rare thriftlessness, abandons needless eggs with simpering 

 indifference to the cheap sneers of mankind. 



There is one mound of the more intelligent bird which was in 

 use when " Tom " (an aborigine) was a boy, and he passed away 

 at the age of about 40. It is still in splendid working order, 

 though it lies within arm's reach from high water mark. It is on 

 the very verge of the jungle, which at the spot overhangs the tide. 

 Other mounds have been made, and have been used for years, and 

 have passed into forgetfulness ; but that from which "Tom's" 

 grandfather got eggs when he was a bey — that is to say, if the 

 legends of the camp are to be credited — still produces young Scrub- 

 Fowls by the score every year. The "boon-nun-guns" are but 

 temporary phases of the activities of the entertaining bird, which 

 chuckles and crows with shocking discordances and whimpers in 

 that high interrogative falsetto which is one of the singularities of 

 the language of the Chinese. — E. J. Banfield. Dunk Island, 

 North Queensland. 



From Magazines, &c. 



Breeding Wild Ducks. — In The Outing Magazine for November 

 and December, 1912, appear two interesting articles by Mr. 

 Herbert K. Job, State Ornithologist of Connecticut, United States 

 of America. In one article the author relates how he hunted for 

 Ducks' eggs in the marshes of Lake Manitoba, and in the other he 

 deals with the hatching, rearing, and transporting of Ducklings. 

 Mr. Job organized a Government expedition to the Canadian 

 North-West last year, " the purpose being to bring back eggs or 

 young of as many species of Wild Ducks as possible, to study 

 methods of feeding, rearing, and breeding, and to give the results 

 to the public in bulletins of the Storrs Agricultural Experiment 

 Station." The expedition set out in June, 1912, for the immense 

 marshes at the southern end of Lake Manitoba. Twelve species 

 of Ducks were found breeding among the marshes, and eggs or 

 young of each were secured by the members of the expedition. 

 The eggs were hatched in an incubator. On the 2,000-mile 

 journey back Mr. Job attended the consignment personally in 

 the express railway cars, and he landed ail but a few of the 

 Ducklings safe at their destination. The work of hunting for 

 Ducks' nests in the lonely marshes was full of interest, and Mr. 

 Job and his helpers had many experiences, which all other orni- 

 thologists who hear of them must envy him. He obtained a 

 series of photographs of nests and eggs and young birds, some of 

 which illustrate his article. 



The article which deals with the last phase of the expedition is 



