Vol. VIII. 

 1909 



1 Stray Feathers. ^55 



land, it was known as the Blue Pigeon. One characteristic 

 action very noticeable in this bird is that upon alighting it never 

 fails to lift first one wing and then the other, as if the first 

 closing of the wings did not suit it. Although insectivorous, at 

 times it likes a change of diet, and is very fond of berries, 

 especially the fruit of the olive. I have seen these birds strip a 

 large olive tree in a few days. Many years ago, while shooting 

 in a paddock at Hawthorn, I came upon a flock of these birds 

 fossicking around the dried-up carcass of a dead cow. Upon 

 examining the carcass I found that they had been feeding upon 

 what they could manage to pick from the ribs. Upon shooting 

 one, I found that the stomach contained, besides rib pickings, 

 several insects belonging to the order of Colcoptera. 



Before concluding, 1 may mention that upon dissecting a 

 Grey Crow-Shrike {Strepera cuneicandata, Vieill.), shot a few 

 weeks ago in this district, the stomach contained scores of the 

 large brown bull-ant, well known to those who have accidentally 

 rested upon one of their mounds. This bird had collected them 

 while they were moving up and down the trees in quest of food. 

 — C. F. Cole. Melbourne. 



Notes on Several Birds Found at Strelley River 

 (Pt. Hedland, Marble Bar Road), N.VV. Australia.— 

 Merops ornatus. — Congregation in Clusters at Night. — August, 

 1907. — Numerous, sailing round water-holes catching wasps, 

 &c. Found them congregating together at night, usually flying 

 from various parts to one particular spot, and roosting together 

 in low gums. They sat in rows close together, as many as seven 

 or eight being counted in one row. Twenty or thirty were seen 

 thus roosting for several nights in one particular sapling. As 

 the nights were very cold, this may have been for warmth, or it 

 may have been the congregating together before proceeding 

 south. In September and October much fewer birds were seen, 

 and these usually in pairs, the rest having evidently gone south. 

 These pairs were nesting. 22nd September. — Nest in sandbank, 

 about 3 feet in ; four eggs with young birds forming, laid on 

 the sand at the end of the tunnel, where was a small dilatation. 

 A few small land-snail shells and wasps' wings formed a nest. 



Habits of Ptilotis carteri (kindly identified by Mr. Milligan 

 from skins). — August-October, 1907. — A very common Honey- 

 eater amongst the eucalypts and tea-tree along the Strelley and 

 Shaw Rivers. Resembles very closely in appearance P. 

 penicillata, but of a brighter yellow. In nearly all specimens 

 a very distinct blackish pre-auricular tuft of feathers. Habits 

 almost identical with P. penicillata — the same way of flying and 

 dodging amongst the trees, the same aggressiveness in attacking 

 other birds, such as Grallina and Rhipidum. In this way and 



