good photograph of the clutch in the nest. I see by my notes that in November, 1906, a friend and myself discovered a Wattle-Bird's nest containing three young birds just ready to leave the nest.—L. C. Cook. Poowong, Gippsland, 24/12/09.
***
A Novel Experiment.—A neighbour of mine made an interesting experiment in bird-rearing recently. Finding in the bush one day two Stone-Plover's (Burhinus grallarius) eggs, she took them home and placed them with some eggs under a domestic hen. One of the Stone-Plover's eggs, unfortunately, got broken, but the other hatched out. Being unable to follow its foster-mother about, the Plover chick was kept inside during the day, and returned to the hen again at night. For a few days the little "Curlew " flourished, but then one morning a White-backed Magpie (Gymnorhina leuconota) was seen flying away with it. The Magpie was shot later on.—A. G. Chisholm. Maryborough, 3/2/10.
***
Remarks on Eopsaltria jacksoni, Le Souëf.—Mr. A. J. Campbell has sent me a specimen of Mr. Le Souëf's new Eopsaltria from the Herberton Range (Emu, 1909, pp. 70, 71, pi. iii.) I have taken the specimens in my collection and Mr. Campbell's bird to compare with the series in the British Museum (which has the type of E. chrysorrhoa and also a skin of E. magnirostris). My opinion is that Eopsaltria jacksoni is not distinguishable from P. magnirostris, which, in turn, is not to be separated from E. chrysorrhoa. I think there is no question about E. jacksoni being merged as a synonym of E. chrysorrhoa, as in the series examined there are no characters for specific separation to be discovered.—Gregory M. Mathews. Watford, Herts., England.
***
The Magpie Defamed.—I regret that in this district the Magpie (Gymnorhina leuconota) does not bear nearly as good a name as it did formerly. At a recent "evening with the birds," before a mixed audience of farmers and orchardists, the farmers found fault with it for pulling up sprouting wheat, and one orchardist proclaimed the bird as an occasional fruit-eater. But the greatest objection to "Maggie" is its pugnacity during the nesting season, many birds having been shot for attacking and terrifying children. The reply to this objection is that the Magpie has learnt by bitter experience of the danger from marauding boys, and the birds can hardly be expected to discriminate.[1]—A. H. Chisholm. Maryborough, 3/2/10.
- ↑ It is more probable that the birds have become accustomed to human beings—wild Magpies are always shy.—Eds.
