212 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [ist^'jan. 



The lovely Noisy Pitta [P. strepitans), too, with his clear call 

 of " Walk-to- work," was frequently heard about the range, and 

 Whip-Birds {Psophodes crepitans), Cat-Birds {Ailuradus smithi), 

 Crimson Parrots {Platycercus elegans), Whistlers [Pachycephala 

 gntturalis), Scrub-Wrens (Sericornis), Mistletoe-Birds {Dicceum 

 hirundinaceum), Yellow^rumped Shrike-Robins {Eopsaltria 

 chrysorrhoa), and Flycatchers (three species), were all in evidence. 

 An unexpected find was a pretty vSilvery-blue Wren, which is 

 probably referable to Malitrus cyanochlamys, and it was inter- 

 esting to meet also the Russet-tailed Ground-Thrush [Oreocincla 

 ' heinii), which Mr. Lau reported from the Bunyas over 60 years 

 ago. (These birds are common in the damp jungle on the heights 

 of the Macpherson Range, overlooking New South Wales.) In 

 company with Mr. Barker, I rejoiced one morning at seeing and 

 hearing an old friend of southern days in the person of the 

 Crested Shrike-Tit {Falciinculns frontatus) ; a pair of these pretty 

 birds was working in the top of a scrub-hemmed eucalypt not 

 far from Mount Mowbullan. More interesting still was the 

 presence of Erythrodryas rosea, the dear little Robin of the rose 

 breast, concerning whose seasonal movements there has always 

 been much ornithological uncertainty. In the absence of the 

 discovery of a nest in Queensland, we had been inclined to 

 attribute to this small bird, which is plentiful in our tea-tree 

 gullies in winter, a spring migration to the south ; but, since 

 noting several members of the species on the Macpherson Range 

 at Christmas time, I have been reconstructing an opinion. The 

 presence of the species in considerable numbers on the Bunya 

 Range in October — its faint, frog-like call could be heard any 

 day — would appear to indicate that this smallest of Wood-Robins 

 goes to the mountains to breed. Close searching, however, failed 

 to reveal a nest, and this still remains a desideratum for Queens- 

 land. Very few birds at all, in fact, were found to be nesting 

 in this time of drought, the exceptions being Eopsaltria, Sericornis, 

 Malurus, Rhipidiira, and, possibly, one or two other common 

 species. 



Of the birds which it was hoped, if not expected, would be seen 

 there were two notable absentees — namely, the Albert Lyre-Bird 

 {Menura'alberti) and the Rufous Scrub-Bird (Atrichornis riifescens). 

 Mr. A. Meston (known to ornithology in connection with the 

 discovery of Prionodura) informed me some time ago that he 

 was " almost certain " that he heard the characteristic whistle 

 of Meniira adjacent to Mowbullan years ago ; but all the searching 

 of the ornithologists failed to reveal the species. The Lyre-Bird 

 is plentiful in the National Park of the Macpherson Range, and, 

 not being a traveller, if it was ever in the remoter Bunya Range 

 it would assuredly be there to-day. The remarkable Atrichornis 

 I heard and saw for tlie first time — a new record for Queensland — 

 in the same National Reserve (Macpherson Range) at the end 

 of last year, and it was reasonable to hope that the species might 

 also be found in the quiet Bunyas. All in vain. Fired by a dis- 



