Ornithological Discovery in Australia. 83 



ornithology. It is also quite unexpected, as Cape York had 

 been so well worked, while Cooktown, Cairns, and the Bellen- 

 den Ker Range had been well attended to. Yet this region 

 about the Claudie and Pascoe Rivers harbours a peculiar 

 avifauna, only second in interest to that of the Bellendcn Ker 

 Range. Dr. Macgillivray, from personal investigation, 

 prophesies that it will take a generation of field-naturalists 

 to exhaust its treasures. No prophecy could now indicate 

 the nature of the finds to be made, as no worker conversant 

 with the New Guinea and Cape York avifauna could have 

 guessed the wonders of the Claudie River region. 



Ecological study of avifaunas will certauily prove the 

 most fascinating pursuit of the " new ornithologists,'* as the 

 mere collection of birds' eggs gives little satisfaction, and 

 the field-naturalist is generally no wanton killer of bird-life. 

 The study of such a fauna as is here suggested in con- 

 nection with its environment would claim Dr. Macgillivray's 

 adjective as a glorious one. The mere record of the bird- 

 life, in conjunction with a study of the land, the forest, and 

 the seasons, would force a perusal by the most casual bird- 

 lover, and would conduce to suggestions from more serious 

 students. 



Thus Hedley has told us that the dense bush of Queens- 

 land is very similar to that of New Guinea. Here it harbours 

 quite a similar avifauna, whereas at Cape York, nearer to 

 New Guinea, a less remarkable though still a New Guinea- 

 like bird congregation exists. In the Bellenden Ker Range 

 the peculiar Bower Birds strike a new note, but here the 

 New Guinea effect is also produced. 



It must be obvious that there must be some reason for 

 these different faunas, and I suggest that the solution may 

 be found in the high laud of the two more southern habitats. 

 That is to say, as above quoted, a slight elevation would 

 connect the shores of Torres Straits. A' further depression 

 would have flooded Cape York, but have left the high land 

 around the Claudie River and the Bellenden Ker Range 

 isolated as islands. 



The faunas there existent would be preserved, while that 

 of intervening lowlands would have been exterminated. The 

 elevation to the present level would probably be heralded by 



g2 



