THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 179 



MAMMALIA. 



The animals noted at the Group consisted of Mus (two 

 species), Halmaturus Billardieri (Red-beUied or Stump-tailed 

 Wallaby), H. Bennettli (Bennett's Wallaby or Brush Kangaroo), 

 Phalangista can'tna (Short-eared Opossum), P. viverrina (Ring- 

 tailed Opossum), Dasyurus maculatus (Tiger Cat), Phascolomi/s 

 2)latyrhinus (Wombat), and Echidna setosa (Brown Porcupine). 



J. G. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL REMARKS. 

 By a. J. Campbell, F.L.S. 



As may be expected, the avifauna of the Furneaux Group pertains 

 to that of Tasmania. The land birds we identified were from the 

 Funereal Cockatoo, in black garb, down to the handsome Long- 

 tailed Blue Malurus, or Superb Warbler, and the lovely Pink- 

 breasted Robin, while Shrike-Thrushes, Dusky Robins, and others 

 enlivened the vicinity of our camp with song. Nests were taken 

 oi the Dusky Robin with a pretty set of greenish eggs, also the 

 nest of the sweet-throated Grey-tailed Thickhead. But to the 

 sea-birds we must repair for our more interesting notes. 



Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis JVovce-HoUandice). — Of these 

 remarkably fine and somewhat scarce birds we saw a flock of 

 about 30 on Woody Island and another lot of 20 on Chalky 

 Island, while a few were seen on Babel Islands, off the east coast 

 of Flinders Island. They are also found on other islands of the 

 group, notably Pascoe, Forthsay (a breeding place), and Penguin 

 Islands. Excepting some goslings, which we secured, we were too 

 late for the breeding season, but we came across a deserted nest 

 on Mile Island. A good layer of grass formed the nest, which 

 was placed amongst salt-bush and tussock grass with ice-plant 

 near. It measured 18 inches across, the inside measurement 

 being 9 or 10 inches by 3 inches in depth. A nest containing 

 eggs is usually lined plentifully with down. The clutch is small, 

 the complement being only 5 or 6 eggs. 



Mrs. Robinson, of Green Island, who has kept the Cape 

 Barren Goose in captivity, kindly furnished us with interesting 

 habits of the bird. Each bird has its own spouse. Should a 

 goose lose her mate the probability is she joins a wild flock, and 

 never returns. But should the gander lose his wife he entices 

 another wild bird home to dwell with him. An old bird never 

 mates with a young one (a lesson for the genus homo), nor do 

 young ones from the same clutch pair or breed. The birds do 

 not lay until they are two years old. As well as being situated 

 upon the ground, nests built of grass and seaweed are sometimes 

 placed in thick scrub about 6 feet high. When the eggs have 

 been robbed repeatedly, the birds have laid again, thrice in 

 a season, in the same nest. A pair of Mrs. Robinson's birds 

 continued to sit on a set of addled eggs. These were replaced 

 by young from another nest, which were at once appropriated and 



