100 



Stray Feathers. [ ,^1 "oct. 



seen resting upon the water, their resting-place being either a 

 spit of sand or a rock. These graceful birds flit over the waters, 

 and it is partly through their resemblance in flight and Swallow- 

 shaped tail that they get the name Sea-Swallow. The food of 

 these birds consists chiefly of small fish, which they pounce 

 upon; also molluscs and insects. Gulls, in my estimation, are 

 nothing but scavengers of the high seas. 



In conclusion, I trust that I have made myself clear in 

 attempting to define what I consider is the difference between 

 birds that dive by momentum, such as Gulls, Terns, and 

 Gannets, and those which nature has physically moulded for 

 and are known to ornithologists as divers. — C. F. COLE. 



The Raven at Charlotte Plains. — Bird-life as a whole 

 is comparatively quiet in the vicinity of this town (Maryborough) 

 at present, perhaps the liveliest quarter being the open country 

 at the Charlotte Plains (some 12 miles out), and in that locality 

 there is more quantity than variety. 



A Word for the Crow. — With the exception of the ubiquitous 

 White-backed Magpie, the most noticeable bird on these plains 

 is the Crow {Corvus coronoides).* This bird is always very 

 plentiful hereabouts, but this year they are simply swarming. 

 The recent extreme cold, following hard upon the unusually dry 

 autumn, has been the means of killing off scores of sheep and 

 young lambs, and this is the reason of the Crows being so 

 numerous. 



Crows as Scavengers. — Almost every paddock is studded 

 with the dead bodies of the unfortunate animals, and on each 

 carcass is invariably perched half a dozen Crows, tearing off and 

 eating the flesh. In each case the eyes of the beast are always 

 the first to go ; then the wool is pulled off", the skin torn open, 

 and the flesh eaten to the last scrap. If a Hawk or any other 

 bird comes near the feasting Crows, the latter attack the intruder 

 in a body until it is driven off. 



Fox V. Crow. — We were fortunate enough to observe a 

 decidedly interesting chase, illustrating the pugnacious dis- 

 position of these Crows, a few weeks ago. Driving along a road 

 adjoining an open paddock, we were surprised to see five Crows 

 swooping viciously at a fine big fox, which, judging by its actions, 

 fully realized the seriousness of the situation. Adopting the usual 

 ruse of a small animal when thus attacked, Reynard would wait 

 for the Crows to swoop, crouching low on the ground, and each 

 time the birds rose in the air he dashed on for about 20 yards, 



* Read Raven (Corone austratts).— Eds. 



