132 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



The few insects and Planaria seem all Victorian forms, and of 

 these I have had the advantage of Mr. Kershaw's opinion. 



National Museum, 



28th November, 1890. 

 My Dear Mr. Le Souef, — I have cleaned the fragments of 

 skull, and have no doubt they are of the Tasmanian and Victorian 

 Paddymelon {Halmatariisb illardieri) and the Old Man Kangaroo 

 (Macropus major) — I believe not now living in the island. The 

 fragments of body bones are chiefly birds', with a few belonging to 

 the above marsupials. — Ever truly yours, 



Frederick M'Coy. 

 D. Le Souef, Esq, 



Remarks on the Birds of Kent Group. 

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



With regard to the birds, we were not disappointed. Two Vic- 

 torian species, new for Bass Straits islands, were shot — namely, 

 the White-fronted Scrub -Tit {Seruornis frontalis), and the Lunu- 

 lated Honey-eater (MeliiJa eptus lunulatus). It has been con- 

 jectured that their progenitors may have been carried to their in- 

 sular quarters by the north-west gales that sometimes prevail ; this 

 is likewise the only agency to account for the presence of the 

 European sparrow, which no doubt came from Victoria. 



Six or seven species seemed to lean to the other (Tasmanian) 

 side — namely the Yellow-bellied Parrakeet, Sooty Crow -Shrike, a 

 Graucalus or Cuckoo-Shrike, the Grey-tailed Thickhead (at once 

 noticed by its very pale yellow breast, in contrast to the brighter 

 colouring of the Continental variety), the Tasmanian Fantail 

 (noted for its more dusky colour), the Tasmanian Warbler or Tit 

 (Acant/iiza), and the insular variety of the Mountain, or, more 

 properly speaking, Ground Thrush. 



The Ground Thrushes, considered by many persons to be very 

 silent birds, were amongst the most pleasant recollections of our 

 camp. Before sunrise their matins ascended in subdued whistle- 

 like notes from the scrubby hill above our tents. Not till the stilly 

 twilight were the soft notes again heard, as if the birds were chant- 

 ing low to the goodness of a closing day. 



The balance of the 54 species, including sea-birds, is common 

 both to Victoria and Tasmania. One only need be mentioned — 

 the pretty Flame-breasted Robin, so common about our gardens 

 in winter time — which was here found plentiful. Right merrily 

 did they cheer our camp, especially at early morn, with antiphonal 

 singing, rapidly answt-ring each other from tree top to tree top, 

 or from rocky eminence to grassy bank. We were evidently at 

 suitable breeding grounds, several nests being observed with eggs 

 or young. A photograph taken represents a nest cleft in the side 



