26 Barnard, Field Notes from Cape York. [isf"juiy 



Myiagra latirostris. Broad-billed Flycatcher. — Not observed on 

 this occasion, but on a former occasion were found breeding in the 

 mangroves. 



Maehaerirhynchus flavi venter. Yellow-breasted Flycatcher. — These 

 birds are only found in dense scrubs, and always in pairs. Nest, which 

 is open, is composed of small vine tendrils, and suspended from a 

 thin horizontal fork at the extremity of a long, thin branch, at 

 heights varying from 6 to 40 feet from the ground. Male bird prin- 

 cipally constructs the nest, and keeps up a continual whistling song 

 during the process, drawing one's attention to the nesting site. Two 

 eggs form a sitting, and a pair taken on 25th October, 1910, measures 

 as follows : — (a) 0.66 x 0.48, (b) 0.67 x 0.49. 



Arses lorealis. Frilled-necked Flycatcher. — Found only in scrubs ; 

 nowhere plentiful. Several nests were found, but only one set of 

 eggs was taken, the other nests being destroyed, probably by other 

 birds, or vermin. A nest found on 9th November, 1910, was being 

 attacked by a Rusty-breasted Shrike-Thrush {Pinarolestes rufigaster), 

 which appeared to be trying to pull the structure to pieces. The 

 Flycatchers were vainly trying to drive the destroyer away, and, to 

 assist them, I threw several sticks at the Thrush, which would only 

 fly a short distance and again return to the attack. I then shot it, 

 and 9 days later secured a pair of eggs of the Flycatcher from the 

 nest. These specimens measure — {a) 0.77 x 0.56, (6) 0.78 x 0.56. 

 The nests were always suspended, cradle-like, between two vines 

 hanging from a tall tree, and the height from the ground varied from 

 10 to 30 feet. Clutch, two eggs. Some of the birds shot had great 

 numbers of thin worms, about 3 inches long, in the intestines. 



Piezorhynchus albiventer. — Plentiful in scrub. Builds a moss- 

 covered nest in the forks of small upright bushes, from 3 to 8 feet 

 from the ground. Eggs, two for a clutch. 



Coracina hyperleuca. "White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike. — Fairly plenti- 

 ful in forest country, where it was found breeding, several nests being 

 observed, mostly containing young. Habits resemble those of the 

 other members of the Coracina family. Another bird was observed, 

 but I was unable to identify it. This species was very shy, and 

 seemed to migrate south, as shortly after my arrival none was to 

 be seen. I have also noted the species on the Dawson River, where 

 it was only an occasional visitor. 



Edoliisoma tenuirostre. Jardine Caterpillar-eater. — A few ob- 

 served in the forest country. 



Lalage tricolor. White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater.^A few birds 

 observed in the forest country. 



Lalage leucomelaena. Pied Caterpillar-eater. — Fairly plentiful in 

 forest country and on the edges of scrubs. Found breeding in the 

 forest. Two sets, of one egg each, secured. 



Drymaoedus superciliaris. Eastern Scrub-Robin. — Fairly plentiful 

 in the scrubs. Always found on the ground. I watched specimens 

 very closely, but could not fmd the nests. 



Pomatorhinus rubeculus. Red-breasted Babbler. — Observed in 

 small flocks in forest country. A number of old nests seen. 



Cisticola exilis. Grass-Warbler.— Plentiful in long grass in open 

 forest. Four nests discovered, two containing four eggs each, heavily 

 incubated. 



