Vol. XXIV. 1 
1924 J 
Stray Feathers 
151 
this way. There is, however, no good evidence in support 
of the contention, but the whole structure of the feather is 
against such change taking place.”— (Dr.) E. Murray Ander¬ 
son, R.A.O.U., “Raggal,” Clare-street, Hobart. 
* * * 
Fluctuations in Bird-Life. —Much has been written in 7 he 
Bmu of late concerning possible causes of decrease among 
various species of Australian birds, particularly Parrots. Mr. 
A. J. Campbell is standing four-square against domestic cats 
gone wild. He dealt with the subject in January (Bmu, Vol. 
XXIII., p. 175), and again in April (Ibid, p. 264, as a footnote to 
Whitlock’s account of the search for the Night-Parrot). I agree 
entirely with our veteran as to the menace to bird-life created 
by these cats, and support his proposition for the appointment 
of a committee to report on the matter. But why only the cat 
menace? Why not examine the subject of bird conservation 
generally in relation to Australian progress, embracing at the 
same time Mr. E. Ashby’s helpful proposals in relation to fauna 
and flora reserves? Indeed, should we not have a standing 
committee to watch this matter? Mr. Ashby (also writing in 
The Emu) differs from Mr. Campbell as to the primary causes 
of decimation of certain species, his idea being that encroachment 
of man is the chief factor and that killing by man and destruc¬ 
tion by cats, foxes, rats, etc., “do not seriously count.” Person¬ 
ally, while- agreeing that direct human competition is serious, I 
consider (speaking from experience in Queensland), that the 
damage done by the factors cited has been gravely under¬ 
estimated. Certainly it is possible, as the same writer suggests, 
that representatives of some species, supposedly very rare, may 
have escaped to localities undisturbed by man. This point, how¬ 
ever, either as a possibility or an assurance, is not one to inspire 
confidence so much as zeal—zeal for examining and gripping 
the whole subject. So I suggest again that the R.A.O.U. (with 
the Check List adjusted) make a more definite attempt at this 
work, for the guidance of governments and public, to say nothing 
of bird-students generally. It is a many-sided subject, this ques¬ 
tion of fluctuation in our bird-population. When I discussed it 
with Mr. H. L. White some years ago (chiefly in relation to the 
Psittacidae), he suggested that the outlook for the ground Parrots 
was almost hopeless. Settlement of the country, he had noted, 
seemed to affect some species and not others. The Red-backed 
Parrot was cited as an example. It and the Budgerigah have 
greatly increased in the neighbourhood of “Belltrees” (Scone, 
N.S.W.), while other related species are dying out rapidly. It 
seemed to Mr. White that stocking of the country and bush fires 
were largely responsible, but he was unable to say why these 
factors did not affect all species of grass-feeders similarly, unless 
it was that certain seeds necessary to certain species had been 
burnt or eaten out. Pie added that the Magpie had increased 
