The Emu. 
147 
Crakes here. They are brown, with a Httle white spot on the 
wing. We also have 8 common (Brown) Quail about the 
garden, which are so tame that they will hardly get out of one's 
road. A Black and White Fan-tail fights its own reflection in 
the window glass. It has been at it steadily from the beginning 
of November, and seems quite gay, though a trifle ragged. He 
shapes at it first thing in the morn, and is sometimes there till 
dark. — Ernest D. Barnard. Coomooboolaroo, 22/1/02. 
* * ^- 
White Ibis. — Under date of ist February, 1902, Mr. M. 
Gubbins Roche writes : — " Whilst driving through the forest 
last week between Heywood and Dartmoor (Vic.) I came across, 
in a secluded swamp, a flock of 200 White Ibis. Their only 
companions were two Yellow-legged Spoonbills, some Crested 
Grebes, and a wisp of large Snipe. I have never seen the White 
Ibis before in such numbers, usually only a few birds in flocks 
of Straw-necked or Glossy Ibis." 
* * * 
Do Musk Ducks Fly.?— Mr. Chas. G. Hamilton, Perth, 
W.A., states : — " It is mentioned in Mr. A. J. Campbell's book, 
* Nests and Eggs,' that there is considerable doubt about the 
Musk Duck flying, and letters are given from people, some 
affirming, others denying, that it does so. Till recently I did 
not think the bird could fly more than very short distances along 
the surface of the water. However, we had a shooting trip 
lately, and I was with a friend when he shot one in mistake for 
a Black Duck. The bird was flying high over us, and was 
going very fast. It must have come from another swamp, 
which is about a mile distant. This occurred just at dtisk!' 
* * * 
Cairns Notes. — SJiining Starlmg {Calomis). — 24th No- 
vember, 1901. — I examined a series of 14 nests, which all 
contained young birds ; three of these had four birds each, and 
one four birds and one addled egg ; the balance held twos and 
threes. 
Lo7ig-tailed Kingfisher. — 22nd December, 1901. — Few birds ; 
several nests ready for eggs. 29th December. — Birds plentiful, 
also many nests, but only one egg. 5th January, 1902. — Birds 
plentiful, also nests ; eggs taken ; clutches, 3, 3, 3, 2. One nest 
contained young birds, one nest just vacated, and two ready for 
eggs. I ith January. — Birds very plentiful; eggs taken; clutches, 
3, 3, one slightly incubated. Several nests just ready for eggs. 
Same day, 3 eggs Scrub Turkey. 
Black-backed Quail. — 19th January. — Took clutch 4 eggs.— 
E. M. Cornwall. 
