6/2 



NESTS AND EGGS OF .'\U ST HAL! AN B7RDS. 



Tlicsc birds must breed somewhere in considerable numbers. Younc; 

 have been observed in the Bellenger River Sci-uhs in June ; while 

 Mr. W. T. Bailev observed a company of old birds nesting in a high 

 fig-tree in the Richmond River district. The nests were well out of 

 harm's way. Mr. S. W. Jackson in the same district found two nests 

 similarly situated at a height of 115 feet in some tall fig-trccs that stood 

 in a clearing, and was enabled to circumvent the fine birds by reaching 

 their nests with the aid of liis ingeniou-sly made rope ladder. As the 

 ladder only reached a.bout half way, it had to be drawn up and shot the 

 remaining distance — a very difficult, not to say dangerous, undertaking, 

 which occupied nearly the whole day to accomplish. An unfortiuiate 

 loss of time occun-ed on account of the second nest not being discovered 

 imtil frrrn firma was regained after the first nest was robbed, which 

 necessitated a second day's work. There was one egg in each nest. 

 One of these rare and historical specimens is now in my collection. 

 Date, 25th October, 1899. 



The Top-knot Pigeon utters a. somewhat guttural double call, 

 resembling " Quook-quook." 



Diu'ing my excui-sion to the Big Scnib, Richmond TJiver, my com- 

 panion and I visited a native tamarinrl-tree favoured bv Fruit Pigeons, 

 where the arrival of a number of large Topknot Pigeons caused us to 

 temporarily forget ovu" stiff necks, from " craning " upwards so long. 

 We discharged our guns with more or less success, and while the smoke 

 was yet hanging in the damp, humid atmosphere, I examined a hand- 

 some creature. The Top-knot Pigeon, side bv side with tlie Magnificent 

 or Purple-breasted, is about the same length, but the latter has the 

 advantage of b"ing slightlv heavier. The Top-knot is the possessor of 

 a splendid grey dress, darker on the upper siu-face, tips of wings and tail, 

 the latter being twice ban-ed. The head looks majestic, with eyes rich 

 orange, encircled with pink eyelids, and with a crowning brownish-coloured 

 top-knot cui'ling gi-acefuUy backward over the head. Feet large and 

 pink complete a fine figure about seventeen inches in length. 



FAMILY—COLUMBTByE. 



SuD-FAMiLY — Columbine. 



539. — CoLUMB.\ LEUcoMF.LA. Tcmminck. — (45G) 

 WHITE-HEADED FRUIT PIGEON. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of ."Vustralia, fol., vol. v., pi. i;o. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxi., p. 320. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — *Gould : Birds of Australia, Hand- 

 book, vol. ii., p. 11^ (iS6i;) ; I,e .Souef : Victorian Naturalist 

 (l8q7). 



Gengraphiral DiHrihution. — Queensland and New f?outli Wales. 



" No dimensions given. 



