Vol. XIX. 



I9I9 



I K.^MSAV, Birds m Upper Clarence River District. 



a few steps and tlicn sail out on to a horizontal limb, where they 

 appear most foolish and ill at ease, and will even allow a quiet 

 observer to walk beneath them without taking flight again. Once 

 only did one hide tor protection in a thick bush, and allowed itself to 

 be almost trodden upon before being flushed. 



In a small ])atch of scrub three nests were observed, all on stecj) 

 hillsides .indeed, there was no level land a\ailablc;, and facing almost 

 due cast, though very little sunlight could reach them at any time 

 of the day. The first nest (see l^late II.) was discovered being 

 built by the female (the mtile Wcis never observed near it) on the 28th 

 September, and in a little while the bird became so tame that she 

 would allow me to sit within 2u or 30 feet while she was either building 

 or feeding on fallen figs and lilly-pilly berries, making a peculiar 

 grunting cluck the while. During construction, and for a short time 

 after, the nests are easily discovered by the area above them being 

 so thoroughly scraped as to leave the small rootlets of the scrub trees 

 all exposed. A little later, however, more leaves cover the ground, 

 and it is then really remarkable how well these great mounds blend 

 into their surroundings. Several nests were built on top of and others 

 within a few yards of last year's nests. Of several examined only 

 one contained eggs, though two at least of the others had been com- 

 pleted for over eight weeks. The eggs were placed, larger end up, 

 at the very bottom of the nest, and were laid in two circles (8 and 6), 

 all, with one exception, exactly 9 inches apart. One egg, however, 

 had been laid out of place, almost on top of another, and was on its 

 side, broken. They varied from fresh to about half-incubated. 



Megaloprepia magnifica. f'urple-breastcd Fruit-I^igeon. — This fine 

 Pigeon was met with fairly frequently, though more often heard than 

 seen. Between feeding times it would often remain motionless on 

 some broad horizontal branch, giving vent to an occasional call. It 

 commonly took up such a position in some big forest tree, and at 

 the slightest alarm would dash off deep into the scrub. Even when 

 feeding it is a difficult bird to locate at the top of a high fig-tree, as 

 its back blends as beautifully with the green leaves as its breast does 

 with the dark branches. Only two or three were seen at a time, and 

 no nests discovered, though on the iith November a young bird was 

 procured which had sufficient feather growth to enable it to fly 

 freely. 



Lopholaimus antarcticus. Topknot-Pigeon. — A few flocks of 

 " Topknots " were noted, one of which contained some hundreds of 

 birds, which located themselves in the region of some fig-trees in fruit ; 

 they were, in consequence, fat and heavy. In an endeavour to obtain 

 a good pair, ten birds were shot ; eight of them burst asunder on 

 striking the ground. Two others, shot from a small flock passing 

 over, were quite devoid of fat, though in good plumage. 



Columba norfolciensis ^leucomela . White-headed Pigeon.— Only 

 three specimens seen. Locally known as the " Bailey " Pigeon. 



(Edicnemus grallarius. Southern Stone-Curlew. — A few birds were 

 heard around Lionsville, which is imdulating " apple-tree " country. 

 They arc only worthy of note from the fact that an egg, discovered 

 as usual on the bare ground, was. at a second visit, found to be 

 covered over with fine dust to such an extent as to render it almost 

 invisible from horseback. 



