QUEENSLAND and NORTHERN TERRITORY 39 



growers find the family a mixed blessing. The 

 Buphaga, a similar bird, of Ziiluland and the Trans- 

 vaal is a valuable asset to that country in so far 

 as it regularly accompanies the cattle, devouring 

 the ticks. The Myna brought to Australia from 

 the Bombay Presidency and the Punjab is another 

 cheerful member. 



B. The Rifle Birds are the Birds of Paradise map 

 13, b^ b- b^. They form the section together with 

 Satin Bower Birds, that keep to the coastal scrubs. 

 In New Guinea a species is found to live at 9,000 

 feet above sea level : in Queensland at 4,000 feet. 

 The other section keeps to the dry portion of 

 Australia. 



Humming Birds and Rifle Birds have no equal 

 as families dressed in the height of splendour and 

 wonderful cut of garment. 



In Batchian they have been known for centuries 

 as Birds of the Gods. If we have ever seen gor- 

 geous metallic butterflies floating through the soft 

 air of a forest, sparkling like precious stones, we 

 may just imagine the same lovely thing, much 

 multiplied, in a forest of the Richmond River. 



RANGE OF THE FROGMOUTH (Podargus 

 strigoides) IN TWO RACES 



An examination of the broad beak of this twilight 

 bird at once indicates its kind. If we enquire for 

 the most common species we find it is the Tawny 

 shouldered with two races : a southern and a 



