^°'g,^^- ] Stray Feathers. 5 1 



the birds were flying low and not fast, I was able to bring my 

 glass to bear with good results. The first bird to come 

 within easy range was a Micropus pacificus. Up to the time the 

 birds disappeared to the north-west, 6.30 p.m., I identified 

 positively at least 20 as being of this species out of a flock 

 of perhaps 100 birds. In all probability the bulk of the birds 

 were Spine-tailed Swifts {ChcBtura caudacutd). I was fortunate 

 enough to witness the apparent return southwards of a portion 

 of the flock, as previously recorded from Tasmania by Messrs. 

 H. C. Thompson and H. Stuart Dove. I say apparent, because 

 I was able to watch the return of these birds to join the rest 

 after having made an enormous ellipse. The vantage ground on 

 which I was standing afforded a very extensive view in all 

 directions. — Frank M. Littler. Launceston, 25/2/10. 



A Bird Drama. — The other day I, with two companions, 

 witnessed a pretty drama in bird life. We were on a half- 

 completed wheat-stack, standing between two others already 

 finished, at about 3.30 p.m., when suddenly a flock of 8 or 10 

 Spur-winged Plovers {Lobivanellns lobaius) came sailing round 

 the end of the stacks. They wheeled sharp round and down 

 past one of the outer stacks on our flank, coming quickly into 

 view again and settling in some long, dry grass, about 60 yards 

 away. No sooner were they down than, ducking, all crept into 

 the long grass, disappearing as though by magic. " Whissssh ! " 

 a Black-cheeked Falcon went, not directly over where the 

 Plovers were concealed, but a little to one side, about 6 or 8 

 feet above ground. Following the Falcon's flight, we saw it 

 perch about 300 yards away on a tall, dry tree. Up stood one 

 of the Plovers on " sentry go," and was immobile for fully three 

 minutes until the Falcon left his perch and sailed away. Then 

 the sentry moved. All was quiet for a minute, when, one by 

 one, the Plovers rose, and were soon on the wing clamouring to 

 announce their victory, or, rather, their craft in evading the 

 enemy. I have been a close observer of birds all my life, yet 

 have never before seen so interesting an incident as this. — R. 

 W. Legge. Cullenswood (Tas.), 22/2/10. 



Sharp-tailed Stint in Tasmania. — One day last Feb- 

 ruary, while wandering, gun in hand, over the great Apsley 

 Marsh, which lies at the northern extremity of the Moulting 

 Lagoon, on the East Coast, I surprised a small flock of wading 

 birds. After a short flight, during which they uttered faint 

 twittering, chipping notes, the birds settled, and I killed several. 

 On examination they appeared to be Sharp-tailed Stints {Hetero- 



