^"I'jo^'J Camphki.l, Additiuns to " U. L. While CoUcclinn."- 65 



Two S6- These were the only l''iuehe^> coUecti'd on Moa Island 

 by Mr. M'Lennan. They resemble assimilis except having lighter- 

 coloured (cinnamon- buff) upper tail coverts. Observed several 

 times in families or small flocks about the grass flats. 

 Mimeta afTinis, Gould. Northern Oriole. 

 Amimcta sa'^itlata siihaffinis. 



One ?. Slightly lighter-coloured (less greenish) than birds from 

 Northern Territory, but similar to a female taken in Victoria 

 save its smaller size — wing, 140 mm., as against the southern 

 example, 150 mm. Migrating birds taken in Victoria are similar 

 t(^ those at Cardwcll, the bills of which, however, are larger. In 

 northern birds the white spots on the terminal end of the tail 

 feathers are smaller, and almost disappear in some specimens. 

 Observed on three occasions. 



*Chibia bracteata, Gould. Spangled Drongo. 



Dicniropsis b. hractcatus. 



One o, I If. These shining and spangled specimens are typical. 

 There does not appear sufficient grounds for two races or sub- 

 species in Austraha. This migratory species was commonly seen 

 during November, December, and up to about the middle of 

 January. 



*Aplonis metallica, Temminck. Shining Starhng. 

 Mclallopsiir III. piirpurascens. 



One o, I $. Their- plum colour (coal-tar purple and green, 

 according to the angle of light) is exquisite. Both male and 

 female have coats of " shining splendour," the creamy-white 

 under surface of the latter being beautifully streaked. The species 

 is migratory, and similar to New Guinea birds. 



[i8/ii/ig.^Hear Shining Starhngs singing and mimicking calls 

 of other birds — Drongo, Fig-Bird, Yellow-spotted and Lesser 

 Spotted Honey-eaters. 11/12/19. — Strike an open pocket, at the 

 edge of which Shining Starlings have built. Some broken egg- 

 shells on the ground beneath show that the young arc hatched. 

 20/12/19. — Large colony of Starhngs building in a tall white 

 mangrove. Later, found another colony of the birds building 

 in a similar tree, ig/i/20. — Have a look at the colony of Star- 

 lings noted 20/12/1Q. Several small limbs with nests attached 

 are lying on the ground: each contains eggs, majority broken by 

 the fall.] 



Co.NXLUSION. 



Fifty-five other species of birds were noted l)y Mr. M'Lennan, 

 but no material was collected. Of the fifty-live, about thirty- 

 five are f(;und both in Australia and New Guinea. 



The Snipe flushed on two occasions (i()th December and 31st 

 March) — was it Gallinago aiislralis or G. megala ? Most hkcly 

 the latter. Birds identified that do not previously appear to have 

 been recorded for the Cape York region were Bald-Coot {Porphyrio 

 inelanotm), Straw-necked Ibis [Carphibis spinicollis), Black-billed 

 Spoonbill {Platalca rcgia), Lesser Egret {CarzeUa iininaciilala), 



