98 Stray Feathers. [,.?'"oci. 



throughout Queensland (Schedule A), and birds partially pro- 

 tected throughout Queensland (Schedule B), a much smaller list. 

 The close seasons are, for the northern half of the State, from 

 ist September to 31st March, both days inclusive ; and for the 

 southern half, from the ist November to the 31st May, both days 

 inclusive. It is hoped that some of the birds on the already 

 small partially protected list will be placed on the absolutely 

 protected list. Such birds as Bronze-winged Pigeons, Bustards, 

 Mallee-Fowl, and Brush-Turkeys do no harm, and are already 

 becoming rare. They are amongst the world's famous birds, and 

 should not be allowed to become extinct. A good list of reserves 

 within which the destruction of native birds is prohibited during 

 the whole year completes a valuable proclamation. Queensland 

 bird-lovers are to be congratulated on the success of their efforts 

 and the wisdom of their Government. 



Coachwhip-Birds Observed.— At the head of a gully on the 

 Blacks' Spur, Healesville, Victoria, I had the pleasure of seeing 

 openly not fewer than eight Coachwhip-Birds (Psophodes crepitans) 

 in one group, and several of them making the call that gives them 

 their name. Two (presumably males) were fighting fiercely ; the 

 others provided an agitated audience. Owing to the fire, there 

 was no cover, and every movement was visible. One fighter 

 ])ursued the other from branch to branch of the bare saplings, and 

 finally across the road, passing between another member of my 

 party and myself. Their actions were very rapid, but it was 

 possible to note the deep green of the plumage, the white cheek 

 patches, and the crest. The birds rested within 10 feet of me, 

 and in full view, and one gave the full whip call — the swing of 

 the lash and the crack. Immediately one of the group left on 

 the other side of the road (also in full view) added the jerky call 

 that is sometimes heard from these birds. We stood between the 

 producer of the first call and the producer of the second. I 

 watched the one bird and my friend the other, and we saw them 

 produce the notes. Again and again one or other of the birds 

 called, and several times we witnessed the production of the 

 notes. In every instance one bird was responsible for the whole 

 of the call usually associated with the Coachwhip-Bird — the lash 

 and the crack — and another gave the rarer following note. — 

 R. H. Ckoll. 15/4/14. 



* * * 



Notes from Wangaratta District. — In the district about the 

 C'arraragarmungee school the nests of both M crops ornatus and 

 Pardalotus punctatus are tunnelled on a downward slope, possibly 

 on account of the rainfall not being very heavy. Occasionally I 

 find a verandah-like projection over the entrance to the nest of 

 the latter species. Last year a young Pallid Cuckoo {Cuculus 

 inornatiis) was discovered in a nest of the Bee-eater. How it 

 got there I cannot say. The slope of the excavation probably 



