^'^'i 2^^ 1 Jackson, Second Trip to Macpherson Range, Q. 200 



and collecting insects from underneath the scaly bark thereon. 

 This tree contains very light and useful timber, and is not 

 connected with the eucalyptus or gum trees of our forests. 

 During this trip I photographed the lower portion of a large 

 marara tree [Ackatna Mitelleri), showing the "water-pocket" in 

 its trunk, in which the handsome male bird was seen bathing. 

 One's attention is often directed to these birds when they are 

 feeding, as they make a great noise at times while scratching 

 amongst the deliris inside the large cup-shaped hollows of the 

 birds' -nest ferns {Asplenium nidus) and elk-horn ferns {Platy- 

 ceriion alcicorne) up in the large trees. The large staghorn ferns 

 {Platycerium grande) keep more to the lower elevations of the 

 range. 



Spine-tailed Log-runners {Orlhonyx spinicauda) were plentiful, 

 and some plundering creatures — probably dingoes, foxes, or native 

 cats — destroyed many nests and contents. I am sorry to record 

 that the fox has at last found his way into this scrub, and am 

 afraid the Albert Lyre-Birds and other ground species will suffer 

 grealsly. This bird usually builds its domed nest on the ground, 

 or close to it, though we found one placed 4 feet up in a thick 

 bush. In one nest we found a young bird, partly covered with 

 black down. The sides of the mouth, up to within a quarter 

 of an inch of the tip of the bill, were covered with a thick, white, 

 and projecting skin, giving the mouth a swollen appearance. 

 The inside of the mouth and tongue were yellow. Probably this 

 white inflation around the mouth is Nature's method in assisting 

 the parent birds while feeding their young in the dark covered 

 nest. After examining the young one it was replaced in the nest. 



Many more species were met with, but space does not permit 

 mention of them. 



La conclusion, I may state that the photographic work was 

 carried out under great difficulties, owing to the continual rains 

 and gales, and in some instances I was reluctantly compelled 

 to photograph various subjects when they were " wet." The 

 nest of Atrichornis shown here, on the bank of a creek, and from 

 which an egg was obtained, is an example of a wet subject, and 

 rain had not long ceased when the photograph was taken ; and, 

 further, the light in the dense jungle was very poor. 



Colour Change in the White-bellied Sea-Eagle. — At the end of 



1910 the Sydney Zoo received what we took to be a pair of Sea- 

 Eagles from Mackay, for one was imcoloured and was taken for 

 a female ; but last year (iq2o) this bird partially coloured out, 

 and now has the grey back and the white under parts of the fully 

 plumaged male. It thus remained for ten years in the brown 

 immature dress. — A. S. Le Souef. Tardnga Park, Sydney 

 (N.S.W.), 10/3/21. 



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