Vol. XXI 

 1922 



] CAMPRELL. Birds of Grootc Bylandt. 197 



a Sacred Kingfisher and a White-gaped Honey-eater. Two more na- 

 tives came along during the afternoon bringing a pack of mangy dogs. 

 The natives shifted camp to within 100 yards of the tent, so con- 

 sider it advisable to sleep on board the boat. 



5/4/21.— Uneventful. 



6/4/21. — Get Ei'ic to take down tent and fly and rig the latter as 

 an awning over the stern of the boat. Will have to do all my work 

 on beard: natives and flies too much of a nuisance on shore. Take 

 Kosia and Malaki and go inland N.E. for couple of miles, circle round 

 to S.E. across a stretch of ironstone country heavily timbered. An 

 occasional Northern Thickhead and Brown Honey-eater the only birds 

 seen since leaving the beach. Strike a stretch of poorer country 

 lighter timber with stunted cabbage gums and shrubs. A Black- 

 ringed Finch flushed from a nest containing half-fledged young. A 

 pair of Red-collared Lorikeets the only other birds observed. Strike 

 another stretch of ironstone. A party of Red-breasted Babblers was 

 seen. Magpies were flushed from ground some distance ahead; set 

 out after them, but could not get near enough them. A Goshawk 

 {Astur approximans) seen soaring over the tree-tops. Another lot 

 of Magpies heard calling. Send the boys well round to drive the 

 birds towards me. which they did, but the birds were flying high. 

 Strike N.E. end of the Bluff". Heard some more Magpies calling; 

 got within 70 yards of one. Others calling on the top of the Bluff. 

 Set out after them; saw them sevei'al times, but could not get near 

 them. Head back to camp; reach there 3.30 p.m., tired out. More 

 natives came along to-day. This lot brought some spears. Thirty 

 nine natives now in camp. 



7/5/21.— Uneventful. 



8/5/21. — Eric and I got out after the Magpies. Separate on the 

 off" chance of driving birds to each other. Saw one. Boobook Owl 

 flushed from bushy top of tall messmate. Disturbed four Magpies, 

 which flew off in Eric's direction. Have a good search for Owl, but 

 cannot locate it again. Heard Magpies calling in towards Eluff. Go 

 along foot cf Bluff; four Magpies flush from the ground and fly into 

 trees on the Bluff. Sit and watch them for about an hour; then they 

 flew down into the timber about 200 yards away. Get do\\n on my 

 hands and knees and crawl through the undergrowth to within 50 

 yards of one of them. Brought it down. It was only slightly wounded. 

 Use it as a decoy, and in about two hours I secured three more birds, 

 two of them immature specimens. Get back to the boat, 2 p.m. Eric 

 came along half an hour afterwards; he had been chasing the Mag- 

 pies all over the top of the Bluff, but could not. get near them. 



[The history of the Magpies is interesting because attached to 

 type-specimens. See Mr. H. L. White's descriptions. — A.J.C.] 



Eagle and Cockatoo — Two Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were 

 feeding on the seeds of a small vine, when an Eagle swooped 

 down and grabbed one poor "Cockie," flying with it to a large 

 tree, where the Eagle sat on one leg, holding the Cockie in the 

 other, and quietly began pulling it to pieces with its beak, the 

 Cockie shrieking all the time. The lads rode under the tree and 

 threw sticks, and the Eagle flew away, and again perched on 

 a tree, and the last the lads saw of it the Eagle was again hold- 

 ing it in one foot while eating it. — J. Black, Mrs. Adam Black, 

 Payingo Station, Charters Towers, Queensland. 



