56 Stray Feathers: [j 



Emu - 

 St July 



Although narrowly watched, it was never seen to walk or run ; 

 its mode of progression was confined to hops of greater or less 

 rapidity. As a rule, it fed beneath cover, save of an evening, 

 between two lights, when it was observed upon an open space 

 near a large clump of rosemary, into which it sped when I passed. 

 It was constantly seen on the move, but presumably took spells 

 where it was screened from view. Occasionally it showed off, 

 spreading its tail. I beheve that it was young, because the cheek- 

 markings, instead of being white, were greyish- white. When the 

 bird arrived we were having a spell of dry weather, strong sun- 

 heat, and locally some small bush-fires. These causes combined 

 may account for the bird's visit. — Isaac Batey, R.A.O.U. 



Tasmanian Spotless Crake.— At Christmastide the Misses 

 Fletcher, Springfield, Tasmania, were good enough to show me 

 a series of eggs belonging to this Crake. The specimens were 

 considerably larger and different from those of the mainland bird. 

 Miss J. A. Fletcher, R.A.O.U., has since kindly sent a skin for 

 identification which is larger and darker coloured (head almost 

 black) compared with birds in the National Museum, Melbourne, 

 taken in Victoria. As I was aware that Mr. H. L. White, 

 R.A.O.U., Belltrees, New South Wales, possessed more material, I 

 submitted the skin to him. The following is his reply : — 



" If one looks for sub-specific differences I should say that the 

 birds may be separated. The comparative measurements are : — 



Wing. Tarsus. Bill. Longest Toe. 



Tasmania ... 90 mm. ... 32 mm. ... 19 mm. ... 27 mm. 



New South Wales 82 „ ... 30 „ ... 18 „ ... 22 „ 

 Western Australia 88 „ ... 31 ,, ... 20 „ ... 28 „ 



" In colouration Tasmania is the darkest, then come New South 

 Wales and Western Australia, in that order." 



The wing measurements of the two birds in the National Museum 

 are each 84 mm. 



General description of the Tasmanian bird : — Under surface 

 dark neutral grey, lighter on the throat, and blending into an almost 

 black head. Upper surface dark chestnut. 



Should it be found when more material is examined that the 

 insular bird is constantly different from the mainland one, the 

 former locality being that of Gould's Porzana immaculata, accord- 

 ing to Gregory Mathews (" Birds of Australia," vol. i., p. 217), then 

 he will have to provide a sub-specific name for the mainland form. 

 — A. J. Campbell. 



* * * 



Lyre-Birds and the Camera.— In August, 1913, Mr. D. Le Souef , 

 C.M.Z.S., and Dr. G. Home, of Melbourne, journeyed to Poowong 

 (Vic), equipped with good cameras, to take photographs of the 

 Victoria Ly re-Bird {Menitra vidorice) in its native haunts. 



