178 Austin, y4 Visit to the Great Barrier Reef . [.st'^Aprii 



Island, two miles to the north, and Tern Island, about the same 

 distance to the south. Strictly speaking, these islands were the 

 principal object of our trip, but unfortunately luck was against 

 us. Just before daylight next morning a very heavy thunder- 

 storm broke upon us, accompanied by a strong south-easterly 

 wind, so there was nothing for it but to hoist the sails as soon as 

 possible and away on a 15 miles' sail for shelter behind Scaw- 

 fell Island. Here we saw no sea birds, but a great number of 

 land-birds, and besides most of those already mentioned as 

 having been seen on several of the other islands we noticed a 

 great many Pied Crow-Shrikes (Strepern gracultna), also a few 

 Scrub-Fowls (Megapodius diipen-eyi). Scawfell was the first 

 island upon which we found fresh water ; here it was running 

 down a small rocky creek. By 2 p.m. we were on our way to 

 Silloth Rocks, arriving at 6 p.m. Went on shore for h^lf an 

 hour, but, finding it very uninteresting, decided to move on after 

 tea to St. Bees Island. At 9 p.m. the moon rose, so, as there 

 was a fair wind, we at once set the sails, and at 12.15 ^•'^• 

 dropped anchor in Egremont Passage. On this island we saw a 

 great many Crows, Pied Crow-Shrikes, and White Cockatoos 

 {Cacatua galerita). After rambling over the greater part of this 

 island for half the day, we departed for Green Island, where we 

 anchored for the night. Next morning we lifted the anchor for 

 the last time, and, turning towards home, reached the Pioneer 

 River just in time to sail up against a very strong outflowing 

 tide at 4 p.m. on Sunday, 24th November, having had a most 

 enjoyable eight days' trip. From point to point on the chart 

 the journey measured about 250 miles, and we had visited fifteen 

 very interesting islands. 



The Spangled Drongo-Shrike. 



By E. J. Banfield, Dunk Island, N.Q. 



In many parts of the coastal tract of North Queensland the 

 Drongo {CJiibia bracteata) — a singularly important little bird — 

 is fairly plentiful. He is black, but not so solemnly black that 

 a shade of purple is absent from his shoulders. He has a 

 decidedly crowish head and bill, brownish-red eyes, and a long, 

 forked, fish-like tail, which he has the habit of twitching or 

 flicking to emphasise the meek clinking tones of his staid and 

 sober moments. Though a bird of the forest, the Drongo 

 chooses those resorts which are adjacent to the jungle, and in 

 my experience invariably selects the Moreton Bay ash for 

 nesting. Among the thin grey-green leaves, far towards the 

 end of a branch, the nest, though conspicuous, is fairly safe. 

 But if the nest were not easily seen, the Drongo is not of the 

 disposition to allow anyone to pass without noticing his demure 



