ASHJ1Y — Current Observations. 15 



Current Observations. 



By E. Ashby, R.A.O.U. 



During a short visit to Port Willunga at the end of April 

 a young Mutton Bird (Neonectris tenuirostris brevicandus) was 

 driven ashore by the storm and caught alive. It was in a 

 most emaciated condition, and continually making a pitiful 

 peeping cry. A small tuft of down was showing at the base 

 of the neck either side. There was nothing in the stomach. 



On the 30th April a large well-nourished specimen of the 

 same species was washed up dead. Under the skin over most 

 of the surface was a layer of fat fully half an inch thick. The 

 whole of the abdominal organs were immersed in fat; every 

 possible space being closely packed with fat. There was a 

 little slimy green material in the stomach. 



On the 29th April we found a Blue Petrel (Halobaena 

 caerulea) lying on the jetty. Evidently it had only been dead a 

 few hours, as the muscles were still stiff; the wings were spread 

 out, and it had evidently settled on the jetty in a dying condi- 

 tion some time during the night or early morning, as we found 

 it quite early. I could find no cause of death other than its 

 extremely impoverished condition. There was no fat, in fact 

 hardly any flesh at all on the bones; the stomach was empty. 



During the month of April and the first two weeks of May 

 Lorikeets have been very numerous around Blackwood. Glos- 

 sopsitta concinna and G. porphyrocephala were in -great num- 

 bers, and small flocks of G. pusilla and Triclioqlossus novce hol- 

 landioe. 



No doubt the heavy blooming of the Peppermints {Eucalyp- 

 tus odorata) is the chief reason, and this may also account 

 for their not having damaged the fruit in the Wittunga or- 

 chard this year. 



The Adelaide Rosella (Platycercus elegans adelaidw) has 

 been rather numerous here; as a rule they are rarely seen this 

 western side of the Coromandel Valley. 



During April the Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo (Neocha- 

 leiies basilis mellori) and the Fan-tailed Cuckoo (CacomanUs 

 rubricatus) were both heard and seen several times at "Wit- 

 tunga." 



By A. M. Moegax. 



Zanthomiza phrygia (the warty-faced Honev-eater)— Is 

 present in large numbers about Blackwood just now. 



