13 
now found capping the surrounding 
hills. Later sand-dunes fringe the hay 
• nd form tlie neck itself, a product of 
comparatively recent origin.' The'sink, 
mg of the land to the south of Tas¬ 
mania diverted the drainage from the 
Tasman Rosin into the “drown id val¬ 
ley’’ of Storm Hay, and permitted the 
silling up of the entrance to the form¬ 
er channei, the rift valley of Kagle- 
hawlc Bay. The sinking of the land 
to the east permitted an invasion of 
the sea, and the excessive erosion has 
resulted in the Hippolyte Rocks 
being isolated ten miles out to sea. 
These granite rocks are reported to be 
the home of numerous seals and sea¬ 
birds. A diabase sheet to the south is 
responsible for the curious “Lanterns” 
of h'oirtescue Bay, and the beautiful 
scenery of Cape Pillar and its vicinity. 
ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES 
By Clive E. Lord, Curator of the Tasmanian Museum 
Taking into consideration tne beauti¬ 
ful weather experienced Ibis Easter, it 
is only natural to assume that Nature 
adorned herself for the occasion, as far 
as was in her power at this period of, 
lie rear. To relieve the dull autumn 
green of the enctdypts and beeches, the 
living gems of the forests—.ihe gaily 
coloured birds added tho final touch' 
to an already beautiful scene. 
Camped as we Were at the loot of a 
high wooded ridge, which sloped east¬ 
wards to the seashore, we were away 
from the haunts of the gem i-aq unit ic and 
wading birds, but the birds of the ocean 
were never far away. Looking across 
i he hay, gulls, terns. <1111110 ran Is, and 
penguins could usually be seen, while 
further out the ganuets plunged from 
the heights to secure their food, or the 
majestic albatross soared aloft. Around 
'lie shores patrolled a pair of sea eagles 
II. leueogaster), while over the ridge 
behind the camp a wedge-tailed eagle j 
U. aiulax 1 wheeled in stately circles, • 
and a brown hawk (H. liorigora) flew at 
a lower altitude. 
Occasionally the harsh notes of a flock J 
of black cockatoos (C. xanthonoiis) I 
would echo through the timber while ' 
around the camp numerous green parrots i 
iP. flaviventris) were always in evidence. 
To add to the colour effect, several 
rosellas (P. eximiusj would dart from 
tree to tree, their bright plumage show¬ 
ing to good effect In the sunlight. 
Around the camp the robins (P. leggi ' 
and T. phoenicea) added a touch of col- ; 
our us the male birds appeared in the 
full glory of tlieir new autumn plumage. 1 
An' occasional dusky robin (A. vittata) 
was also observed. Our t\io Tasmanian 
species of whistlers, tho grey-tailed (P. 
giacura) and the olive (P. olivacea) add¬ 
ed their quota to the melody of the avi- 
faunan choir, while the erratic actions 
and quaint notes of the dusky fantail (R. 
diemensis) were studied by all who visit¬ 
ed tin- creek which ran by the camp. 
Both the yellow-tailed (A, chrysorrea) 
and the brown-tailed acanehizas (A. die¬ 
mensis) were common, while the blue 
wren i.M. longicaudns) appeared to be 
fairly so. Tile liquid nodes of the whist¬ 
ling shrike thrush (C. selbii) were typical 
of the locality, and tho rich and re¬ 
sounding notes of this species were in 
marked contrast to the plaintive notes 
of tne pardulotes, which issued from 
the gums. 
The largest family gathering repre¬ 
sented were the lioneyeatci's (melipliagi- 
dre), of which no less than seven species 
were noted, the. majority in close proxi¬ 
mity to the camp. The strong-billed (M. 
validiostris) and the black cap (M. mel- 
Anqeeplialus) were around in numbers, 
while amid the lower vegetation the Tas¬ 
manian spinebill (A. dubius) Hiked from 
tree to tree. Both the yellow-throat (P. 
flavigul.il and the crescent honey cater 
II.. anstrnlasiiina) were often to bo seen, 
as well as an occasional New Holland 
honeyi'ater (M. aovie-hollandiiu). On one 
occasion even a wattle-bird (A. inauris) 
was noted. We did not observe many 
ravens (C. australis) during our stay, 
but that fine songster, the lesser white- 
backed magpie (Cl. orguuicum) added his 
song to the general melody of the birds. 
Whue the district under review does 
not lend itself as a home for many forms 
of bird life, several interesting forms 
were noted, and while the foregoing is 
by no means 11 complete list of all the 
species observed, it will serve to give a 
good idea of the general grouping of 
the avifauna of the locality in which 
we were camped. 
