Iq6 Jackson, Second Trip to Macpherson Range, Q. [,^f \prii 



During 24th October five storms passed over the camp, and 

 extensive damage was done here and as far north as Brisbane. 

 The continual heavy rains and gales came chiefly from the south- 

 east, and during our time on the range (froin 20th September to 

 1 2th December) nearly 30 inches of rain were registered at our 

 camp, named " The Ark," and situated in a small clearing in the 

 jungle. Cooking food was at times difficult — indeed, impossible. 

 A local resident stated that it was the wettest season for years. 

 F"ortunately, two good assistants — Messrs. E. H. Page and 

 Bernard A. O'Reilly — did well in the wet and gales, and helped 

 me through my difficulties. During my former visit, in 1919, 

 the season was very dry. 



On arriving in the scrub we were struck with the numbers of 

 birds of many species that were calling and flying about. It was 

 a superb and unforgettable picture to see these birds of various 

 plumage on the moss-clad vines and trees. The curious fire-flies 

 (Malacodermidce) were often noticed at night, but were more 

 plentiful at the lower parts of the range. 



Rufous Scrub-Bird. 

 The first morning, daylight saw us busy, and by 6 a.m. we had 

 located and seen our first male Rufous Scrub-Bird ; he was 

 calling in an extensive heap of vines and scrub debris. After 

 careful watching a fine view of the bird was obtained as he sat 

 on a stick and took an inquisitive peep at me ; then he vanished 

 suddenly, mouse-like, under the debris. As usual, his movements 

 were wonderfully active, and his tail was kept well " cocked," 

 especially when he moved quickly and fussed about. It is not 

 easy to get these birds in a suitable light to examine their tails, 

 as they live in dark places, and their colouring harmonizes closely 

 with the surroundings. We, later, sat on a moss-covered log 

 within 30 feet of the bird calling loudly under an immense heap 

 of fallen trees and vines, overgrown with a thick mass of two 

 species of scrub-weeds {Pollia crispata and Elatostemma reticulatum) 

 which grow in or near water. For half an hour we listened to 

 the bird calling loudly as he moved about under the debris, but 

 we could not see him. At times the shrill notes vibrated loudly 

 in our ears. As the bird called we moved on, its shrill note 

 smothering, to a great extent, the sound made by us. Our patience 

 was rewarded by getting a splendid view of the bird. We stood 

 up suddenly, and the bird ran along, mouse-like, in a partly open 

 space. He had his breast feathers puffed out, tail " cocked," 

 and head rather thrown back in a peculiar and unusual manner. 

 He vanished in the debris and passed along in front of us, keeping 

 under the rubbish. Each glimpse we got of him showed his tail 

 weh "cocked" when he was not creeping, cramped low down, 

 under objects. When he saw us he uttered a loud scolding note 

 and ran down into a gully where tall stinging nettles were growing 

 upon a heap of decayed debris, and where we had previously seen 

 black snakes. Here he called and carried on his wonderful 



