Vol. XX 



1921 



] Jackson, Second Trip to Macplierson Range, Q. 207 



Various Other Species. 



The beautiful Rose-breasted Robins {Petroica rosea) were 

 plentiful, and their feeble, sweet notes were heard daily. The 

 male uttered a call resembling " E-tun-t-nud-i-dee — tee-tee- 

 joev " ; while the notes of the female were " E-tun-t-nud-i-dee — 

 tee-tee-tee." \Vc found one of their small and handsome nests 

 at an elevation of nearly 3,900 feet — the first nest observed in 

 Queensland, as far as can be ascertained. It was fully 60 feet 

 up, near the end of a horizontal branch of a tall tree parasitical 

 on tree-ferns, and known to science as Quintinia Sieberi. It starts 

 its growth, as a rule, on a tree-fern. The tiny nest was found by 

 watching the female, wliu made several trips to it within a 

 few moments, and was busy putting cobwebs over the outside 

 of the structure. She was very rapid with her work, and with the 

 field-glasses we got a splendid view of her. The lovely male bird 

 did not go near the nest or assist in building it. Unfortunately, 

 the great cyclonic storm of 24th October smashed this nest to 

 pieces ; it was completely cut off the limb l:)y the heavy hail and 

 wind. 



Satin Bower-Birds • {Ptilonorhynchits violaceiis) and Regent 

 Bower-Birds {Sericuliis chrysocephulus) were fairly common, and 

 we found a new nest of the latter in the suckers on a damaged 

 rosewood-tree {Dysoxylon fraserianum) on top of a range at an 

 elevation of 3,900 feet ; but, owing to our passing frequently near 

 the tree while watching a young Atric/iornis, the bird deserted 

 the nest. It was very unfortunate, as I hoped to photograph 

 the eggs in situ. The bird was seen busily building the nest on 

 two occasions. Several play-grounds of Satin Bower-Birds were 

 discovered, and the variety of ornaments of decoration therein 

 was interesting ; among these were dead scrub-snail shells {Helix 

 confiisa, H. porferi, and young of Panda falconari), blue Parrot 

 feathers, blue star-shaped flowers of a scrub bush known as the 

 kangaroo apple {Sola)iiini aviciilare), fungi of different species, 

 blue berries, flowers from the spice-bush, empty pupa skins of 

 the Cicada, and cast-off snakeskin. In a play-ground near our 

 camp were displayed, among other things, the hard brown outside 

 skin of onions, pieces of blue paper, and twine. Two nests were 

 found in the tops of tree-ferns, but these belonged to a previous 

 season. 



Cat-Birds {Ailiirddiis viridis) were plentiful, and did not call 

 much until about the end of October. The cry resembles that of 

 a domestic cat, and at times reminds one of the delicate little cry 

 of a young baby. The bird makes a comparatively large and 

 deep cup-shaped nest, composed of sticks and twigs, and then 

 layers of large dead leaves, manv placed around the nest perpen- 

 dicularly on their edge, probably to permit moisture to drain 

 away easily. On examining a deserted nest we were surprised 

 to find, about i inch below the thin stick hning, a layer of wet, 

 decayed wood, some pieces measuring over 2 inches long by a half 

 inch thick. This wet wood filled two 2-lb. jam tins, and, after 



