176



Stray Notes.



our last issue, Mr. Pocock refers to “ the mechanical unanimity in the

wheeling flight of a flock of Budgerigars,” and a writer in the January

number of the Emu also contributes a note on this subject; he writes:—

“ A sight for bird lovers is a flight of Betcherrygahs or Warbling Grass-

Parrakeets ( Melopsittacus undulatus) on the Peak Downs [Queensland]. To

attempt an estimate of the numbers in some of the flocks is useless, and

one would be accused of exaggerating, but I have seen some masses of

green and gold some chains long and over a chain wide. The speed and

concentrated movement as they sweep round in and out of the timber in

a perfect ecstasy of flight are, I thiuk, unequalled by those of any other

bird; one minute they will be almost lost to sight as they turn edge¬

ways, and the next present a broad waving ribbon.”


A few months ago we noticed in these columns the new cage-bird

journal Canary and Cage-bird Life, and we are pleased to note its satis¬

factory progress. We are informed by Mrs. Lewer, its Editor, that the

circulation is rapidly increasing. A new feature consists of a page of in¬

teresting notes on current topics connected with birds, under the heading of

“By-the-Way Notes,” by Mr. Henry Scherren, a very well-known writer on

Natural History subjects; and a most useful series of articles (which we

hope may someday be reprinted in book form) by Dr. Butler on “How

to sex Cage-birds,” deals with both British and foreign species and is of

particular value to aviculturists.


A discussion has recently taken place in the columns of the Field as

to whether the Kea Parrot (Nestor notabilis) really attacks sheep as it is

generally believed to do. A conference was recently held on this subject at

Wellington, and the members came to the conclusion that the case against

the Kea was noil-proven, and the opinion of the meeting was that the

charge originated from one of these birds having been seen examining

the carcase of a sheep in the inquisitive manner that is their wont. There

seems to be very little doubt however that the Kea is occasionally guilt}'.

It lives high up in the mountains, and only the flocks kept in these

regions are attacked, and the Kea is such an extraordinarily shy species

that it is practically impossible to actually discover the culprit iu the act.


The beautiful work which has quite recently appeared in two volumes

on the “ Birds of Tunisia,” by Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker, should find a place in

the bookshelf of every ornithologist who is interested in the avifauna of

North Africa and the Mediterranean.


“ As a country for Caravan-travel and nomad-life,” writes the author,

“ the Tunisian Regency is perhaps unrivalled, its climate throughout a

considerable portion of the year being all that could be desired, and its

safety and freedom from hostile or fanatical natives absolute, provided

the French military outposts in the South be not overstepped.” It would

seem to be a most delightful country for the study of bird-life.



