2i8 Stray Feathers. [^^.^ 



Emu 

 April 



Swifts and Weather. — In a paper read l)efore the Royal Society 

 of Tasmania a few years ago, I endeavoured to trace a connection 

 between the appearances of the vSpine-tailed Swift {Chcetiira 

 caudacuta), both in this State and in Victoria, and disturbed 

 weather conditions, showing tliat, in all cases which had come 

 under my observation, the appearance of this Swift meant 

 atmospheric change. This was again strikingly demonstrated on 

 27th February, 1915, when, in the morning, I saw 50 or 60 of 

 these fine birds coursing insects over the paddocks near the Don 

 road. The day was sultry but fine. Soon afterwards, I met a 

 friend who spends most of his life out of doors, and, like myself, 

 takes pleasure in noticing natural objects. I told him that I had 

 seen a large party of Swifts for the first time this summer, when 

 he remarked — "Then rain is not far off." That very evening a 

 light rain began to fall, and practically the whole of the following 

 day was wet. Not only so, but for several days afterwards we 

 had high winds and showers, culminating on 7th and 8th of this 

 month (March) in a tremendous north-westerly gale, which did a 

 good deal of damage. All this disturbance came after months of 

 fine, settled weather. Yesterday, gth inst., the Swifts were 

 migrating, passing in twos and threes every few minutes, from 

 S.E. to N.W., during the afternoon from 2 until 4 o'clock. I 

 consider this early departure means cold and rough autumn 

 weather. The Tiers, which are in view from my ground, are already 

 white with snow. — H. Stuart Dove. West Devonport, Tas., 

 10/3/15- 



Notes from Springfield (Tas.) — The Long-tailed Wren-Warblers 

 {MaUirus longicaudiis) are now in heavy moult, and have been 

 so for the past fortnight. The males have only the remnant of 

 blue on the back of their heads, and brown feathers are showing 

 throughout the black velvety patches of their spring dress. A 

 family of these birds has spent the last eighteen months in the 

 back garden here. They nested in the blackberries on the other 

 side of the fence, and brought their brood along as soon as the 

 young birds could fly. They all hop about the back verandah, 

 pick up bread crumbs thrown to them, and also search the 

 fuchsias on the window stand. If crumbs are placed on the 

 window-sill the female will take them, even if anyone is sitting 

 near by. These httle birds enjoy a few morsels of fat. As both 

 broods reared this season have been brought to the verandah, 

 there is often a flutter of brown wings when anybody runs up the 

 steps quickly. 



A Yellow-throated Honey-eater {Ptilotis flavigula) lived in the 

 school-ground last winter. He would eat the jam from crusts 

 thrown down by the school children, and enjoyed a lolly very much, 

 provided that it had been sucked or wetted with water before 

 being thrown to him. This bird has now returned. Evidently 

 nesting responsibihties have ceased. The Lesser White-backed 



