2 10 A. G. Campbell, The Birds of King Island. [,sfApril 



BiziURA LOBATA (Musk Duck). — Common. When swimming fast to 

 get away from an intruder, like a ship at high speed, this bird sinks deeply 

 into the water, only the head and neck being visible. 



It may be as well to conclude with the interesting fact that 

 Albatrosses — apparently TJialassogeron cauttis — are found on 

 Reid Rocks, about lO miles south-east of King Island. Passing 

 in the steamer on the north side, 20 or 30 birds were distinctly 

 visible sitting upon nests. Should not the Tasmanian Govern- 

 ment extend the protection it gives to Albatross Rock, a few 

 miles away, to Reid Rocks also ? 



North Queensland Notes on Some Migratory Birds. 



By Fred. L. Berney. 



The Richmond District of the Flinders River, on its southern 

 side, where most of my notes were made, is high, open, 

 practically treeless downs, watered by many bore streams ; 

 while Homestead, on the Campaspe River, is ordinary forest 

 country — ironbark and bloodwood ridges, with box fiats. 

 Where the district is not specially named the note refers to 

 Richmond. 



Welcome Swallow {Hirundo neoxend) and Fairy Martin {Lageno- 

 plastes artel). — My notes are hardly full enough to warrant my saying more 

 than that I think these two are winter visitors to us, arriving middle to end 

 of April, and leaving again in September. I found a colony of the spouted 

 nests of the latter, most of which contained fresh eggs, as early as 19th 

 August. 



Black and White Swallow {Cheramceca leucosternum). — I first came 

 across this Swallow on 24th May, 1900, on the Flinders River, 40 miles 

 below Hughenden ; the following winter, although I was in the district, 

 I saw nothing of it, but this winter I have seen it fairly frequently, on and 

 after the 15 th April, on the Flinders, about 30 miles below Richmond, never 

 more than three or four together. 



The Roller or Dollar-Bird [Eurystomus australis). — During the 

 summer of 1 900-1 901 these birds were plentiful about Homestead, on the 

 Campaspe, where they commenced arriving on 20th October. By the 

 3rd November their queer chattering could be heard everywhere. Towards 

 the end of the following March they got scarce, and I have a note that I 

 heard one on the 20th April, but did not remember to have done so pre- 

 viously for two or three weeks. Out west they are scarce, and I have only 

 met with it three times in four years, twice about Richmond and once at 

 the head of the Landsborough, in January and March respectively, the 

 latest date being the 22nd of the latter month. 



Bee-eater {Merops omatus). — ^om my diary I take the following dates 

 of arrival and departure: — 1898, 2nd October, one seen, the first; 3rd 

 October, numerous. 1899, 9th September, first birds seen. 1900, ist 

 September, first birds seen; 5th September, numerous. 1901, 25th 

 August, fairly plentiful. 1902, 25th March, all disappeared suddenly. 



The winter of 1898 was exceptionally severe, which may possibly account 



