I06 Lif^hthouse-keepers' Reports. [,j^( '""„. 



mentions that the Mutton-Birds and Petrels that nest on the 

 island very often strike the lantern in thick or misty, rainy 

 weather, but he has not known one to be killed. He sent skins 

 of the three kinds mentioned as being killed. 



In a report from the Nobbys, Newcastle, N.S.VV., by Mr. W. 

 Gardiner, it is stated that a large number of small birds were 

 about the light from i8th to 31st August. The specimen he 

 sent was a White-faced Storm-Petrel. These little birds seem 

 very plentiful round the coast of southern Australia. 



Field Notes on Birds of the Richmond District, 



North Queensland, 



By Fkedc. L. Bernev. 



Part IV. 



Stubble Quail {Cotumix pccfora/is). — Only to be seen very occa- 

 sionally. My few notes on them bear reference to all the four seasons of the 

 year. A male that was shot gave the following measurements : — Total 

 length, 7^5 inches ; wing, 4-fL inches ; tarsus, i inch ; bill, yj^-inch ; spread 

 of wings, 1 3 -;\ inches. Compared with such authorities as I have access 

 to, these figures seem excessive. I do not think I ever flushed two 

 together. 



Brown Quail {Syncecus australis). — The appearance of the Brown 

 Quail in this district varies much, owing, doubtless, to our uncertain 

 climate. They appear to favour the months January to June ; it is not 

 usual to come across them from July to September, while 1 find I have no 

 record at all of this Quail during the last three months of the year. This 

 does not show any migratory movement, but simply that "they avoid these 

 parts during the droughty half of the year. Actually, July to October are 

 our driest months ; November and December may bring us early storms, 

 but they are so uncertain and patchy that the Quail would derive little 

 benefit from them until January, when some of the grasses would be seeding 

 and insects had time to multiply. 



To me it is pleasant to hear them calling in the evening from the vicinity 

 of a bore stream — " Bee'e quick, bee'e quick," the first two syllables drawn 

 out almost into one, for it reminds me of Partridges in the old country, to 

 which, too, they bear a strong resemblance when on the wing. Commencing 

 a trifle before sundown, they relapse into silence towards midnight, and, 

 starting again as daylight approaches, they ease otT towards sunrise and 

 cease calling altogether shortly after. They generally go in coveys up to a 

 dozen, and frequent moist ground where the \'egetation is green and grows 

 rank. 



On the loth June this year our cat brought in a bird that proved on 

 dissection to have a hard-shelled dull white egg in the oviduct, which I judge 

 would have been laid within twenty-four hours. 



Details of three birds obtained on Wyangarie are given herewith : — 



Total 



