Vol. XIX. 



1919 



II..\RVF.v, Bird Notes from Mackay, Q. 



37 



Southern Stone-Plover {Bitrhinus grallarius). — Being nocturnal 

 in its liabits, this tine bird is seldom seen, but its weird call is well 

 known to anyone who has spent a few nights in the bush. The 

 open paddock between our house and the lagoon appears to be the 

 meeting-place f(ir all the Stone-Plovers in the noiglibourhood. 



Southern Stone-Plover {Burhivus grallarius) at nest with eggs. 



■HOTO. liT W. G. .\ND E. C. H.inVEY. 



Here, during the winter months, they assemble from far and near, 

 and at times their glee-parties are such that only our combined 

 enthusiasm in " birdology " enables us to appreciate their music {?). 



Black-and-White Fantail (Rhi'pidiira tricolor). — This happy 

 little fellow was very plentiful here before the cyclone, and nested 

 freely on the Sandringham Lagoon, always building in close 

 proximity to the Pied GralUna (Magpie-Lark). During the cyclone 

 we rescued three, but all the rest perished. Our three lived 

 happily together until the breeding season commenced, when the 

 less attractive female got the order to "go bush," and she went, 

 vowing vengeance. The remaining pair were soon busy at a nest 

 in the mango tree just above the verandah, and in due course 

 had a neat little cup-shaped nest, containing three eggs. Both 

 birds took turns at incubation, and all went well until the eggs 

 were nearly hatched. Then something happened. The female 

 was busy with incubation duties, the male was out foraging for 

 insects, and while thus engaged he met the outcast female, who, 

 after the manner of her sex, commenced a flirtation. The male 



