Marvev, Bird Notes from Mackay, Q. 



35 



nest, for no soontT has one j^air departed witli its young than 

 another takes possession. 'I'lnis the nest is used eontinuously 

 until it iaUs to pieees. 



Leach Kingfisher [Dacclu Icachi). — This is the common Dacelo 

 in our loeahty, and, although a Kingfisher by name, it very 

 sekloni lishi'S lor a hving. During severe droughts \vc have 

 olisi>rved them on Santhingluun Lagoon catching fish, but under 

 normal conditions they keep to the forest and feed on snakes, 

 small lizards, insects, young birds, and small mammals. The 

 " Jackass," as it is called locally, usually commences nesting 

 operations about September, but eggs have been observed as late 

 as December. A hollow spout is generally chosen as a nesting- 

 site, although in some cases a hollowed-out termites' nest serves 

 the purpose. The eggs (three in number) are almost round, and 

 of a uniform white colour, with a glossy appearance. The fully- 

 fledged young bird may be distinguished from its parent by its 

 brown eyes, which become lighter in colour as the bird reaches 

 maturity. 



Black-throated Butcher-Bird {Craciicus nigyogularis). — Judging 

 by our observations all over the district, and from reliable 

 information gleaned from others, this fine songster is now a rare 

 bird in the Mackay district. The disastrous cyclone of January, 

 1918, and the floods which accompanied it, combined to almost 



Black-throated Butcher-Bird (Cnicticiis iiigrogHhiris). 



I'HOTO. ItV \V. 0. AM) H. (. HAHVIV. 



exterminate the Hutclier-Hirds. How bold these birds were 

 before the cyclone may be gathered from the fact that the one 

 depicted in the photograph would follow us for hundreds of yards 

 during the breeding season for the sake of persecuting our dog. 



