84. THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



V. — On the Birds collected at Cape York, Australia, and on the Neighbouring Islands 

 (Raine, Wednesday, and Booby Islands). By W. A. Forbes, F.Z.S. 



(Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1S78.) 



The collection of Birds made by H.M.S. Challenger at Cape York and in its neigh- 

 bourhood, of which the following is an account, comprises 61 skins, referable to 37 

 species. As might have been expected, all, or nearly all, belong to well known 

 Australian forms, one or two only being left uncertain for want of more materials and on 

 account of the immature condition of the specimens. Most of the skins are in excellent 

 condition ; and their value is much increased by the notes in Mr Murray's journal as to 

 the colour of the soft parts, &c. Besides Cape York, Raine Island (at the end of the 

 Barrier Reef), Wednesday Island (in Torres Straits), and Booby Island (also in Torres 

 Straits) were visited, and collections made. I copy the following extracts from Mr 

 Murray's journal as regards the localities where Birds were obtained : — 



" Raine Island, Barrier Reef, Australia. Ship landed two boats for nearly three hours. 

 The following birds were taken " (several sea-birds, Rallus pectoralis, and Strepsilas 

 interpres). 



" Cape York, Somerset. Ship arrived on evening of 1st September 1874 ; left Cape 

 York on September 8." (44 skins were obtained here). 



" Wednesday Island, Torres Straits. Parties landed the same day (September 8). 

 Most of the birds seen were the same as those shot about Cape York. The following 

 two, however, have not been procured at Cape York ; they were shot on shore ( Totanus 

 incanus and JEgialites inornatus). A great many flocks of Bee-eaters were noticed 

 making passages between the islands." 



v On 9th September 1874, a party landed on Booby Island, a very small island, with 

 only a few shrubs on it. The following land birds were shot or brought on board ; and in 

 addition a Rail was seen, a Megapodius, and one other land bird." (The species obtained 

 were Todirliarnphus sanctus, Merops ornatus, Zosterops luteits, Pachycephala, sp., 

 Ptdopus superbus, and Syncecus cervinus.) 



In the following list I have, with a few exceptions, followed the arrangement and 

 nomenclature of Mr Gould's Handbook to the Birds of Australia. 



1. Ninox boobooh, Lath. 



Ninox boobooJi, Sharpe, Cat. of B., voL ii. p. 168; Forbes, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1878, p. 121. 

 Spiloylaux marmoratus, Gould, Handb. B. Austr., vol. i. p. 73. 



One male skin of this species from Cape York. No. 167. [Stomach contained 

 insects. J 



