^°J-^J'-j Stray Feathers. 73 



dry season. Kite Hawks, probably White-headed Sea-Eagle 

 {^Haliastur girreneraY — a specimen of this bird was secured by 

 Mr. May — "are numerous, but only visit here after the wet 

 season. Whistling Ducks {Dendrocycna eytoni (?) ), of a bright 

 plumage — a few pairs were shot during the wet season. I saw 

 one Jabiru {XenorJiynchus asiaticus) in May last travelling 

 north-west. I heard a {^\n Native Companions {Antis^one aiistrai- 

 asiand) during the wet months. Saw a few Wood-Ducks 

 {Chenonetta Jubata), black and white. The Fawn-breasted 

 Kingfisher {Daceio cervina) is numerous. The Crested White 

 Cockatoo and the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo {CalyptorJiyncJius 

 macrorhyndius) are both plentiful, and remain during the whole 

 year. Honey-eating birds are very numerous. The Finches 

 only visit here during the dry season. The Great Bower-Bird 

 {Chlamydodera nudialis) is plentiful. Doves of all kinds are very 

 numerous. The Black-and-White Fantail {Rhipid?ira tricolor) is 

 very numerous, but only visits us during the dry months. The 

 black and white Magpie-Lark {Grallina picatd) is also numerous, 

 but only seen during the dry months. The Cockatoo-Parrakeets 

 {Calopsittacus jiovie-hol/andice) I saw in thousands in November, 

 1905 ; I expect them in a few months again. Jungle-Fowl 

 {Megapodius diiperreyi) are common. I saw only one Black 

 Butcher-Bird {Cracticus quoyi) and only one Emu {Droniceus 

 itovcE-JioUandics) shot while I have been here. The Varied 

 Lorikeet iPtilosdera versicolor) is numerous, but only visits 

 here during the dry months. I have collected two Pigeons 

 with beautiful green wings, with white feathers on each 

 shoulder {ChalcopJiaps cJirysochlord) ; they are always in the 

 jungle, and I have only seen them in the wet season. The 

 Fruit-Pigeon with the crimson cap {Ptilopiis ewingi) is here, 

 but very shy indeed. I have only seen one shot ; it seems 

 a much smaller bird here. Bee-eaters {Merops ornatus) are 

 plentiful, and only visit us during the dry months. Hawks 

 are very numerous. I have collected two very large Hawk 

 eggs (Wedge-tailed Eagle, Uroaetiis audax) from a huge nest 

 25 feet high in a gum tree. Graucali, Nightjars, Dollar-Birds 

 {Eiirystonius anstralis). Rufous-breasted Thrush [Collyriocincla 

 rufiventris), and hundreds of other birds are very plentiful here. 

 I saw a few Ibises one evening, but think that they were only 

 visitors for the night, as I have not seen them since. The Fruit- 

 Pigeon I sent you — Nutmeg-Pigeon {Mynsticivora spilorrhod) — 

 only visits us during the wet season. I have seen a {&\n Sacred 

 Kingfishers {Halcyon sanctus), and I heard a few black and 

 white Geese {Anseranas semipalmatd) flying over our camp in 

 the evening. 



" The ' Mopoke ' is numerous, as are various other night birds. 

 There are numerous small kangaroos about, but I observed 

 when I came to Port Keats that they have had a hard time in 



