42 



Haevev, Bird Notes from Mackay. Q. 



r Emu 

 List July 



placed its egg in that nest between the hours of 6 p.m. on the 

 i8th and 6.30 a.m. on the 19th, hut whether the egg was placed 

 there in the twilight or under cover of darkness is a moot point. 



The Northern Oriole {Oriolus affinis) is not by any means a 

 common bird in this district. During the breeding season each 

 pair of birds seems to be restricted to a certain locahty, and 

 never goes beyond its own boundaries. As a mimic the Oriole 

 has few equals. During the months of July and August, just 

 before the breeding season, the Oriole amuses itself by imitating 

 the calls of other bush birds. Among the bird-calls which are 



Young Northern Orioles (Oriolus affinis). 



PHOTO. IIT 



imitated to perfection by this mimic may be mentioned the 

 Magpie, Black-throated Butcher-Bird, Friar-Bird, Magpie-Lark, 

 Drongo, Maclcay Kingfisher, Black-faced and Little Cuckoo- 

 Shrikes, Whistling Eagle, Goshawk, Blue-faced Honey-eater, Fig- 

 Bird, and many others. Its suspended, open nest is a bulky struc- 

 ture of tea-tree bark, and similar in size and shape to that of the 

 Friar-Bird, but easily distinguishable 1)\- its untidy appearance. 



Cuckoo-Shrikes. — On 6th April, 1919, near Lower Tarwin, a 

 small township in southern Gippsland, I saw a flock of Cuckoo- 

 Shrikes which must have numbered many scores. They were 

 flitting from bush to bush amongst the stunted coastal vegetation, 

 and looked as though they were tired out. These birds were 

 possibly the Tasmanian forms on their migration northwards, 

 and it would be interesting to know if Tasmanian observers had 

 noted the departure of Cuckoo-Shrikes just previous to the above 

 date. — A. Chas. Stone. South Yarra (Vic), 2/5/19. 



