2I 4



0 ?i my Visit to Australia.



Pheasants, were White-fronted Herons, Night Herons and Black¬

tailed Water-hens ( Tribonyx ventralis'). The last of these birds

is a very interesting species from the fact that it occasionally

arrives in the Southern states of Australia in incredible numbers,

while it may be practically absent for years. It is a striking

bird with an erect tail like that of a bantam hen, bright red eyes

and legs, and a mostly pea-green bill.


The Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, situated to the south

of the city, on the banks of the Yarra River, are perhaps the

most beautiful in Australia; and here, surrounded by native

and foreign semi-tropical foliage, one can see any number of

Australian wild birds. On the ornamental water Coots and

Wild Duck disport themselves, and Pied Grallinas walk grace¬

fully on the well kept grass banks. The attractive and familiar

Black and White Fantail Flycatcher is almost always to be seen

here, and Honey-eaters of many species abound. Lorikeets,

especially Muskies, regularly visit the gum trees when in flower.

The ubiquitous White-eye ( Zosterops ) is always present in

numbers, and the Laughing Jackass and its small cousin the

.Sacred Kingfisher is often seen.


At the time of my visit there were a number of Aloes in

full flower, and these proved an irrisistable attraction to Honey-

eaters. The White-tufted species, a yellowish bird with small

white cheek tufts was the most numerous, and almost every plant

In flower was visited by a large Wattle-bird. The Yellow-tail

.(.Acanthiza ) and the tiny Spotted Pardalotes, the White-shafted

Fantail and Blue Wren were also included in my list of the

birds I saw in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens.


(To be continued).



On going to press we have received from Mr. George Carrick a cutting

from the Glasgozu Evening News of April 27th, relating to the sale of

Bostock’s Menagerie. The most extraordinary bidding took place when

“the Australian Gin Gin bird, a small green bird of the parrot kind” was

put up. The bidding commenced at 10 guineas, and the bird was knocked

down for 260 guineas. This bird was said to whistle many tunes. Can any

member enlighten us as to the proper name of the “Gin Gin ” bird ?



