76 
Stray Feathers. 
The Emu 
L 1st July 
The Cuckoo and the Red-capped Robins.— During the season 
1922-23 I found six nests of the Red-capped Robin ( Petroica 
(foodenovii), all of which contained an egg of the Narrow-billed 
Bronze Cuckoo ( Chalcites basalis ). From the similarity of the 
eggs and the fact that I saw only one Cuckoo near these nests. 
1 feel reasonably certain that the same Cuckoo laid all the eggs. 
The owners of the first nest were victimised twice; the Cuckoo 
laying again after I had removed her first egg. Apparently the 
Cuckoo laid every second day. On September 25th, 1 found‘the 
first nest, containing only a Robin’s egg. On the 26th. it con¬ 
tained only a Cuckoo’s egg, which I removed. On the 28th, the 
Cuckoo laid again in the same nest. 
On the 29th, I found nest number two, containing two Robin’s 
eggs, and the 30th only one Robin’s egg, and also a Cuckoo’s. 
Later I found nests three, four, and five, also victimised. On 
November 5th, I found nest number six, which, owing to the 
advanced stage of incubation of the eggs, was the only one at 
which I had hopes of securing a picture. The tree, growing 
on the edge of an embankment, was in a poor position for 
photography, being capable of approach only from one direction. 
Several pictures taken during afternoons were spoiled owing to 
the sun being in an unsatisfactory quarter, but the accompanying 
photograph, obtained in the morning, was more satisfactory. 
Marc Cohn, R.A.O.U., Bendigo. 
Stray Feathers 
North Tasmanian Notes. — On a recent trip in car and on 
saddle round the north-west coast of Tasmania, as far as 
Balfour, about fifty miles south of Cape Grim, I made a few 
memoranda which may be of interest to some of your readers. 
First, a single specimen of the Black and White Fantail f Rhipi- 
dura leucophrys), of whose presence in the Muon district I 
notified you some years ago, was seen brandishing his mis¬ 
fitting tail on the pasture at Black River, near Stanley. At 
the latter place, also, the Brush Wattle-bird ( Anthochccra 
chrysoptera) has now become common, though unknown there 
up to within the last few years. On the vast heathy plains 
about the mouth of the Arthur River, the plaintive piping of 
the Grass Bird ( Megalurus (/ramineus) was much heard. This 
bird is rare in many parts of Tasmania. In the low coastal 
scrub south of Temma a flock of about twenty White Cockatoos 
was seen. Forty years ago these beautiful birds could be 
seen in large flocks in the grain fields; now the verdict is: “We 
seldom see them.” — G. Murray Anderson, “Raggal,” New 
Town, Hobart. 
