, XIX 



] Jackson. Discovery of the ['cinale h'ltfoiis Sti'iih-liiyd. 26Q 



sittiiii; on tlio root of a tree in the scrub about 5 inches from 

 tlie ground, and it Iiad its mouth wide open with an egg in it. 

 Its feathers were all puffed out, and wings expanded, while 

 two White-fronted Scrub-W'rt-ns {{Scricoynis frontalh) were fighting 

 and flying at>it. We shot the cuckoo, and, on examining the ground 

 where the bird fell, found the egg that had dropped from its mouth. 

 The egg was then badly damaged, and, on examination, proved 

 to belong to the Scrub-Wrens mentioned, and it contained a 

 small chick. Probably the Cuckoo removed the egg from the 

 Scrub-Wren's nest in order to foist its own in its place. The 

 Qgg and chick are now safely preserved. 



The Pigeons met with were — Topknot or IHock-Pigcon {Lo- 

 fholaimits antarcticiis), Magnificent Fruit-Pigeon {Mc^aloprepia 

 magnifica), Long-tailed Brown Pigeon {Macropygia phasianclla), 

 Wonga-Wonga Pigeon {Lencosarcia picata), Little (ireen Pigeon 

 {Chalcophaps ckrysochlora). Red-crowned Fruit-Pigeon {PHlino- 

 pits regina). The notes or call of the Long-tailed Brown Pigeon 

 are remarkable, and of a very low pitch, and somewhat re- 

 semble " Wo-ork " " To-wo-ork," and also "Stick-to-wo-ork"; 

 the notes are drawn out very slowly. The Magnificent Fruit- 

 Pigeon usually renders a loud and most extraordinary note, resem- 

 bling " To-bol-it — To-boo," and sounds very much like the noise 

 produced by a powerful treacle-pump in a Queensland sugar mill 

 when pumping treacle to a Iiigher level. The Red-crowned 

 Fruit-Pigeon usually calls "Coo," slowly first, then gradually 

 getting faster and faster, the note being generally uttered about 

 12 to 16 times. Although the note is not loud, yet, strange to 

 say, it can be heard for a good distance in the scrub, but when 

 the bird calls it is generally well up in a tree. 



Many Wedge-tailed Eagles {Uroactns aitdax) passed low down 

 over the scrub, and often 4 or 6 would be soaring about close 

 together. All those noted were very black specimens, and they 

 build in the giant forest trees outside the scrub ; often these trees 

 are on the edge of a great precipice. 



The magnificent Rifie Birds-of-Paradise {Ptiloris paradisca) were 

 daily met with, and their harsh, unmusical notes often heard. One 

 nest was found, it was situated about 70 feet up in a mass of vines 

 which were creeping over the top of an old dead and decayed 

 scrub tree. We were unable to get to it owing to the unsafe place 

 where it was situated. The bird eventually left it, but did not 

 appear to build again. Several of the birds w^ere found carrying 

 twigs and leaves, and when carefully followed (which was a most 

 difhcult task through dense scrub) it was found that they simply 

 let these things drop, and were only playing and not building in 

 earnest. No doubt the dry state of the scrub at the time greatly 

 interfered with their breeding habits. It was interesting to watch 

 these birds climbing the trunks of the large Beech {Fagiis nioorci) 

 and other trees, and levering off the big scales of bark with their 

 long curved bills when hunting for beetles, &c., thereunder : tlu>y 

 also examine all grub holes, and when " probing " these holes in 



