18 LAFFER — Notes from Roseworthy. 



Adult Female, Adult Male, 



Napier, Broome Bay. Bcthurst Island, 



Total length 537 458 dry skin. 



Wing 417 336 



Tail 254 218 



Tarsus 76 76 



Culmen 38 33 



Middle toe, with claw 84 76 



This brings the total number of the Melville Island birds up 

 to 170. 



Notes from Roseworthy. 



H. E. Laffer. 



Albino Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). — This specimen was shot 

 during December, and is a true albino type. It associated 

 with the normal type with no apparent interference from 

 them. This skin is the probably first authentic specimen of 

 its kind recorded in South Australia, and is now in the 

 reference collection of the South Australian Museum. 



Late Nesting of Black and White Fantail. — On February 2nd 

 I noticed a young bird of this species (Rhipidura tricolor) 

 which had apparently but very recently left the nest. This 

 appears much later than the usual breeding time for the bird. 



Peaceful Dove (Geopelia tranquilla). — A solitary bird has 

 been about my garden for some days. 



Parakeets. — Numbers of Purple Crowned Parakeets 

 (Glossopsitta porphyrocephala), together with small numbers 

 of G. concinna, have been of late devouring honey from the 

 Eucalypts. ' 



Quail. — In the two previous years, which were particularly 

 dry, it was almost impossible to find a quail in these parts 

 after the end of the close season, December 21st. This year 

 not only was there a fair number here at the end of the close 

 season, but I have seen specimens within the past few days, 

 that is, the latter end of February. Knowing somewhat of 

 the habits of this bird and its dependence upon surface water, 



