64 Stray Feathers. [,sf July 



school, with the intention of collecting from about three mounds 

 of Leipoa ocellata, and then devoting my time to general collecting. 

 But I am pleased to say that my time was nearly all occupied in 

 watching what I consider to be a peculiar action of a Mallee-Fowl. 

 One morning I walked through dense mallee in search of a mound. 

 I must have been searching for nearly half an hour before I was 

 rewarded by finding a mound, from which a bird hurriedly 

 departed. (I had been informed that I would not see a bird near 

 the mound.) I examined the mound and found that it was very 

 much damaged. I walked about 30 yards away, to a spot where 

 I could see without being seen from the mound, and waited for 

 over two hours, reading and preparing specimens. My wait was 

 successful, for at length I saw a bird walking near the mound. 

 It went to the other side, and after some minutes began working 

 — dust was fijnng. I waited some time, and then decided to 

 work round and catch a glimpse of the bird. I was complimenting 

 myself on having succeeded, when " snap ! " — I had trodden on 

 a dry stick, and, needless to say, the bird had vanished. An 

 examination showed that more of the mound had been scratched 

 down. I visited the mound again next morning, and, to my 

 surprise, found that it was practically a ruin. All of the north side 

 had been broken down, and the material scattered about. Four 

 fresh eggs lay amid the ruins. I searched for marks of a fox, 

 but could find none. Scratchings similar to those made by the 

 Mallee-Fowl could be plainly seen. I am of opinion that the bird 

 had something to do with the wrecking of the mound, but would 

 like to have the views of other observers on the subject. Mallee- 

 Fowl are very numerous in the new country, I also had the 

 pleasure of seeing large numbers of Bronze-winged Pigeons {Phaps 

 chalcoptera). — Reg. L. Walton, R.A.O.U. Boigbeat (Vic.) 



* * * 



A Friendly Coachwhip-Bird. — Those who are famihar with the 

 Coachwhip-Bird {Psophodes crepitans) know that it is oftener heard 

 than seen, and that fact is borne out by my six years' experience 

 on Ellerslie, a homestead not much more than two miles from 

 Drouin. Throughout the period the bird may have been 

 observed a score of times, but my area of observation lies within 

 very narrow limits, being confined to an adjacent gully. Gum- 

 scrub Creek, and Tarago River. The latter stream is remarkable 

 for its meandering course. I can record only two instances of 

 meeting with Coachwhip-Birds on hilly ground, a single individual 

 being seen in each case. Gumscrub Creek was formerly a rushy 

 morass, of considerable breadth in some places. Of late years, 

 though a drain has been cut, the slopes on both sides of its course 

 through Ellerslie, as far as scrubs are concerned, may be described 

 as jungle. I have often rambled along the fern-tangled inclines 

 without hearing the birds call, but that is no evidence that they 

 were not among the bracken. According to my experience, with 

 rare exceptions, the bird betrays its presence only by its whip- 

 like notes, which competent authorities inform us are produced 



