Vol. X. 



] Stray Feathers-. 2Q5 



dissected contained the two legs and feet and many feathers of 

 a Parrot, apparently Barnardius zotiariiis. 



30th June. — When Mrs. Carter was driving along the road, a 

 pair of Uroa'ctiis audax (Wedge-tailed Eagles) that were perched 

 in a jam-tree {Acacia) on the edge of the road followed the 

 buggy for some distance, flying and hovering at a height of only 

 a \q.\v feet above it, much to the alarm of the horse. Mrs. 

 Carter said she could have struck them with the whip, but was 

 doubtful of the consequences if one fell in the carriage or upon 

 the horse. I tried to find these Eagles subsequently, but with- 

 out success, so I poisoned the carcass of a lamb in one of 

 my paddocks where I had seen Eagles ; but, although one of 

 them undoubtedly visited the body, the only result was the 

 unfortunate death of six Magpies {GymnorJiina dorsalis) and a 

 fine Brown Hawk {Hieracidea orientaHs) that I found lying by 

 the lamb. 



8th July. — Podicipes novce-Jiollandice (Black-throated Grebes) 

 made their appearance upon two of my stock tanks — an earlier 

 date than usual. 



Podargus strigoidcs. — While walking through one of my 

 paddocks, my attention was attracted by what seemed to be a 

 strip of dry bark in the small upper branches of a York gum 

 tree. As fallen bark is not usually seen in the smooth upper 

 limbs, I used my field glass, and found that the object was a fine 

 Tawny Frogmouth, its body compressed and elongated to an 

 extraordinary length. I am well acquainted with the upright 

 pose of this bird, resembling the dead limb, but the horizontal 

 position was new to me. I may mention that the Owlet 

 Nightjar {AigotJieles) has the habit of compressing the feathers 

 when it knows it is observed in the open (where it is rarely 

 seen), thus making it appear very small. 



8th July. — Cacoiiuintis flabclliforniis (Fan-tailed Cuckoo) first 

 heard and seen. 



2 1st May. — A fine specimen oi Diontedea exulans wdiS received 

 by me, having been captured on a steamer not far from Cape 

 Lceuwin. It measured3 feet 6 inches in length, 9 feet 6 inches 

 expanse of wing, and weighed 15 lbs. 



17th July. — Zonifer tricolor and Pctnvca cavipbelli (Black- 

 breasted Plover and Western Scarlet-breasted Robin) were 

 first observed, and a nest of the White-fronted Bush-Chat 

 {Ephthianura albifrons) containing three eggs was observed. 



23rd July. — PacJiyccpJiala rufiventris (Rufous-breasted Thick- 

 head) made its appearance, uttering its pleasant song. 



29th July. — Pctnvca goodcnovii {^^A-Q2i^T^Q.d>. Robin) appeared 

 in considerable numbers on its winter migration. 



3rd August. — Zostcrops gojildi (Green-backed White-eye) 

 still about in flocks. 



9th August. — A nest of the Long-billed Honey-eater 

 {Meliornis longtrostris) was seen containing two eggs. 



