;jO Mellor, Birds of the Blackalls. \ 



Emu 

 ^t Dec. 



the White Goshawk {Astur novcB-hollandicB) was present, also the 

 common Goshawk {A. approximans) and the Brown Hawk 

 {Hieracidea orientalis). The useful little Kestrel {Cerchneis 

 cenchroides) was carrying out its usual good work — catching mice 

 in the open glades — hovering above for a second or two, and then 

 pouncing down like lightning upon its prey. 



Through the kindness of Mr. A. S. Douglas, a pioneer townsman 

 of Cooroy, I was enabled to further study the bird-life by staying 

 two days at his home, about 3 miles out of the town, where Mrs. 

 Douglas and their daughter made me welcome. It was easy 

 to see that they loved and cared for the birds, for, on entering 

 their dining-room, the first thing that caught my eye was a nest 

 of the Swallow {Hinindo neoxena) built on the wall, the foundation 

 being formed of a picture nail. The female bird was sitting, 

 while from a neighbouring point of vantage the male bird 

 twittered his song of thanksgiving to those who had so 

 generously afforded protection. Mr. Douglas's home being 

 situated among the dense scrub made it extremely good for 

 bird-observing, many species coming close to the house to seek 

 their food. I noted the Tree-Martin [Petrochelidon nigricans) 

 building in the hollow trees, and on one occasion, just prior to 

 stormy weather, a number of Spine-tailed Swifts {ChcEtura 

 caudacuta) were hawking high in the air after their usual prey. 

 In the scrub near I first noted the Spine-tailed Log-runner 

 {Orthonyx spinicaudus) scratching about in the decaying leaves 

 in the dense undergrowth in search of the little hoppers which 

 live in these damp localities. 



At Mr. M'Donald's house several Swamp-Quail [Synoecus 

 australis) were so tame that they would come right up to 

 the door and feed upon bread-crumbs, as did also the Red- 

 browed Finch {Mgintha temporalis), while yet another Finch, 

 the Chestnut-breasted {Mania castaneithorax), came to eat the 

 seeds from introduced grasses in the front garden. At the end 

 of the fortnight we were reluctant to leave such a bird-paradise,- 

 with the wealth of Nature we had seen during so short a period, 

 the memories of which will long remain, and to bid adieu to our 

 kind host and hostess and family. Their last cheery words were 

 — " Now, mind and come again." 



The following is a complete list of the birds observed : — ■ 



Uroai'tus audax (Wedge-tailed Eagle). 

 Hieracidea orientalis (Brown Hawk). 

 Cerchneis cenchroides (Kesti"el). 

 Astur novce-hollandicB (White Goshawk): 

 A. approximans (Goshawk). 

 Ninox hoobook (Boobook Owl). 

 Chcstura caudacuta (Spine-tailed Swift). 

 Hirundo neoxena (Welcome Swallow). 

 Petrochelidon nigricans (Tree-Martin). 

 Eurystomus atistralis (DoUar-Bird). 

 Dacelo gigas (Laughing Jackass). 

 Halcyon sanctus (Sacred Kingfisher). 



