280 
DOVE, Rare Birds in Tasmania 
r The Emu 
L April 
slight depression amid stones. On the same day, we also noted a 
Dotterel chick. On the 13th October, we discovered another young 
Dotterel hiding from us amongst the stones. The accompanying pho¬ 
tograph, taken exactly as we found the bird, clearly shows its pro¬ 
tective coloration and instinctive habits. 
White-headed Stilt (Hirnantopns leucocephalus) .—Contrary to the 
experience of Sir Walter Buller, on the 7th October, 1923, in company 
with Mr. Wilkinson, I saw four Stilts wading in deep water, their 
long legs being practically entirely submerged, and the water touch¬ 
ing their breasts. Of the four birds, one lacked the white collar on 
the hind neck, but had just a tinge of white in its place. 
Southern Black-backed Gull (Larus dominicanus ) . — These birds 
arrived at Waingawa somewhat earlier than is usual in 1923 (the fol¬ 
lowing autumn and winter season was a boisterous one). Although 
really a non-breeding autumn and winter visitor, odd birds, mostly 
immature, may be seen in spring and summer months. 
Paradise Duck (Casarca variegata) . — Rare. Although continually 
about in the district, I did not note this species of duck in the Waira- 
rapa before the 14th October, 1923, when with Mr. Wilkinson I saw a 
male bird on the Ruamahunga river-bed. On the 20th November, we 
were fortunate to come across in the same locality a female with four 
ducklings. To my knowledge this bird is rare in this district, but is 
fairly plentiful in some neighbouring localities. It may be a regular 
breeder. Other reliable observers reported several of these birds in 
the same locality as those noted above. 
I have been informed that the Blue-winged Shoveller ( Spatula 
rliynchotis ) has been seen in the district. It is very likely it does 
occur, but must be rare. 1 have not noted it, except around 
Wairarapa Lake, where it is fairly plentiful. 
Rangitumau Hill, a few miles north of Masterton, was in the 
early days a favourite haunt, besides other species, of the Blue- 
wattled Crow ( Callaeas wilsoni ), Piopio (Turnagra tanagra ), 
and Huia ( Neomorpha acutirostris). In the swamps around 
Masterton the Fern-Bird ( Bozvdleria punctata) was abundant, 
and throughout the district roamed the Weka ( Galliralius aus¬ 
tralis) — now these birds are but a memory to the “older hands,” 
gone, I am afraid, never to return. 
Some Rare Birds in Tasmania 
By H. STUART DOVE, F.Z.S., West Devonport, Tasmania. 
In Mr. Edwin Ashby's interesting paper on “Extinct or Rare 
Australian Birds,” read at the Conference in Hobart last year, 
he mentions {Bum, XXII 1 ., p. 182), the Orange-breasted Grass 
Parrot (Neophema chrysogastra ), as having practically disap¬ 
peared from the visited portions of South Australia between 
1885 and 1918 , in which year Dr. Morgan saw a number in the 
South-east, after which they again disappeared. 
I 11 Emu, IX., p. 141 , Mr. F. M. Littler, of Launceston, records 
a trip which he made to North Island, off the north-eastern 
coast of Tasmania, and within sight of land. He describes the 
island as about 300 acres in extent, consisting principally of 
rocks and tussock-grass, with patches of sown grass. After 
