50 ^(■>'^y Feathers. [isfTb' 



inches -.—{a) .88 x .65, (d) .87 x .66. Taken by J. A. Ross, A. H. E. 

 Mattingley, F. E. Howe, and C. M'Lennan, at Pine Plains, 

 Victoria, 16th September, 1907. 



A/est. — Very like that of P. pectonxlis, and built in a small 

 Murray pine on a sand-ridge, about ^V^ feet from ground. — 

 F. E. Howe. Canterbury, Victoria. 



Flame-breasted Robin. — As regards the Flame-breasted 

 Robin {Petrccca p/uvnicea), this bird seems to arrive here (the 

 Monaro highlands) when the snow is on the ground — i.e., in 

 winter ; and it nests with us about October. In the adjacent 

 coastal districts I have never seen it, but the Scarlet-breasted 

 Robin {P. leggei) is common in both. I think the Flame- 

 breasted never appears to greater advantage than when 

 perched on a dead thistle or twig standing up above the snow. 

 The brilliant colouring of the breast is then thrown out in strong 

 relief. — H. V. Edwards. Bibbenluke, N.S.W., 8/2/09. 



P.S. — The Pied Robin (A picata) is now nesting in this 

 vicinity. It appears to place its nest at a much greater elevation 

 than most Robins. — H. V. E. 



The Satin Bower-Bird.— Mr. C. F. Cole, in his interesting 

 " Notes on the Satin Bower-Bird {Ptilonorhynchiis vwlacens)" * 

 states that the change from the green to blue-black plumage 

 takes place in the male birds only. I know of one exception to 

 this rule, having found one " Black Satin-Bird " to be a female. 

 This was at Cape Otway, over 40 years ago. We had shot a 

 few Satin-Birds, all in green plumage but one, in which were 

 found eggs. I have not handled Satin Bower-Birds since then. 

 In the spring hundreds of Satin Bower-Birds used to come from 

 forest country at the back of Cape Otway to flats among the 

 sand-dunes to feed on native spinach. In a flock of perhaps a 

 hundred there would be only three or four birds with the black- 

 blue plumage. The birds were very destructive to peas and 

 cabbage plants in the garden. — H. W. FORD. Fitzroy (Vic), 

 20/4/10. 



* * * 



White-rumped Swift (Migropus pacificus).— I have to 

 record an appearance of this rare visitor to Tasmania. At 

 about 5.30 p.m. on 17th P^ebruary, the sky being very overcast, 

 with a light south-east breeze blowing, I noticed a Swift flying 

 from the south. In a few minutes a fair-sized flock of the birds 

 was circling over Launceston. Owing to the fact that many of 



'"Emu, vol. ix., p. 237. 



