Official Organ of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 



Bir^s of a fezitber. 



Vol. XX.] isx OCTOBER, 1920. [Part 2. 



Notes on Additions to. the *' H. L. White Collection/' 



By A. J. Campbell, C.M.B.O.U. 



Birds from Torres Strait Islands. 



The islands of Torres Strait have been frequently touched by 

 passing naturahsts, but have not been systematically explored 

 ornithologically. So the thought occurred to Mr. H. L. White, 

 of Belltrees, to promote and finance, in his usual unobtrusive and 

 patriotic manner, the task of " rounding up " that portion of 

 the avifauna of Austraha — all the islands of Torres Strait, even 

 those close to New Guinea shore, being pohtically part of Queens- 

 land. The Queensland Government agreeably acquiesced ^in the 

 undertaking, and was good enough to grant the necessary 

 permission. 



Mr. White was again fortunate in securing the services of Mr. 

 W. R. M'Lennan (late of the A.LF.), who, during the season 

 1915-16, performed most excellent and rehable field-work for 

 Mr. White in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory (see Emu, xvi., 

 p. 117). 



The collecting and observing in Torres Strait was chiefly con- 

 fined to and about Moa Island, Banks Group. The group is 

 situated about 35 miles north-west from Cape York and about 

 50 miles from the southern coast of New Guinea. Moa Island 

 country is typical of many coastal parts of North Queensland : 

 rank-grassed flats, open forest of blood-wood and IVIoreton Bay 

 ash (eucalypts) and other trees, paper-barked tea-tree {Melaleuca) 

 tracts, jungle scrub 'in patches, especially along creeks, the 

 mouths of which and other portions fringing the coast had the 

 usual mosquito-infested growths of mangroves, while in the 

 centre of the island was a ridge of rugged hills, much boulder- 

 strewn and difficult to traverse on account of the long grass hiding 

 these awkward obstacles. 



Mr. M'Lennan constructed his camp in the midst of his work, 

 away from the habitations, native or other, and was frequently 

 and obligingly assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Luscombe, of the Mission 

 Station, and others, in the furtherance of his exploration labours. 

 It was a pity Mr. M'Lennan just missed the spring migration of 

 northern birds, but he recorded a few observations of " returns " 



