ASHBY — Tasmania^, Field Notes. 65 



recent years these parrots, especially the latter, used to 

 appear at harvest time and after, in hundreds, right through 

 the centre of the island as far south as Sandford on Frederick 

 Henry Bay. Particular enquiries made in a large number of 

 the townships elicited the fact that instead of hundreds only 

 a few pair now visit their old feeding grounds. Several of 

 my informants ascribed this decrease to the methods adopted 

 in the free distribution of poison for killing rabbits. On 

 going north we saw no sign of these parrots, but Mr. W. L. 

 May saw a pair alongside the main road in Epping Forest, on 

 the return trip. 



A hasty visit was paid to Scottsdale, in the north east of 

 the island. At an altitude of nearly 2,000 feet, on what is 

 known as the "Sidling", bird life was most numerous. 

 Acanthornis magnus, Gld. (Scrub Tit), was here first met with. 

 Several Pink-breasted Robins, Erytlirodryas rhodinogaster, 

 Drapiez, were noted, and more Olive Thickheads, 

 Timixos olivaceus, V. and H., were heard whistling at 

 one time than I have ever heard before. The 

 Acanthiza was still the common one, and not A. ewingii. 

 There was a bare hour available for searching this scrub so 

 rich in bird life, and drenching rain precluded any further 

 search if more time had been available. 



The night was spent at Scottsdale, and a visit was paid to 

 one of the many swamps in this district next morning. The 

 grunting notes of Rails were heard in the Cutting Grass about 

 five feet high, and although they could have been only a yard 

 or <so away, some times only a few feet, only once was the bird 

 seen, apparently Porzanoidea plumbea maculata, Swainson, 

 (Eastern Spotless Crake), and I was fortunate enough to find a 

 nest of this species containing five eggs almost fresh. The 

 nest was neatly made of grass about two feet above the water 

 in the centre of a tussock of cutting grass ; the cutting grass 

 well overhung the nest, screening it from view. The photo 

 taken of the nest was unfortunately a failure. Of the eggs, 

 four were covered with fine spots and lines, and one with much 

 larger blotches. The parent bird kept within a few yards of 

 the nest for half an hour, sometimes on one side, and some- 

 times on the other, but not once did I get a glimpse of it. 

 Another interesting bird met with in this swamp was the Tas- 

 manian Emu Wren, Stipiturus malachurus littleri, Mathews. 

 Several were seen, both cocks and hens, and one cock bird 

 secured. Only about two hours was spent here, but it 

 would have well repaid a stay of a few days. 



