Vol. IV. "j Bprn£y, A^. Queensland Notes on Some Migratory Birds. 45 



here by birds from the south. I have no record of ever having seen 

 Black and White Swallows in either March or September ; those are 

 the two intervals. 



Fairy Martin {Petrochelidon ariel). — Two lots, a summer and a winter 

 lot, the former arriving in November and leaving again in March, while 

 the latter arrive in April or May and leave us towards the end of August. 

 None about — practically none — from the middle of April to early in May, 

 and the same from middle of September to early in August. The birds 

 are very much more numerous in summer than winter. Both lots nest 

 in the district, December-February and July-August. 



Ground-Lark {Anthus australis). — There is a migratory movement 

 among these Larks, but I have not so far given them sufficient attention 

 or collected the requisite data to say what its extent is. During the 

 past summer, 1903-4, it has been totally absent, but one showed up on 

 22nd May this year, since when they have been constantly in the district. 

 As to whether subsequent notes will confirm or upset this remains to be 

 seen. 



Bush-Lark {Mirafra secunda). — Is with us all the year round, but 

 much more numerous in summer than winter, and I expect there is a 

 double movement with these as with the Swallows and Black-breasted 

 Larks, the summer residents leaving us during April. Nests with eggs 

 found through January and February, my latest date being 26th of the 

 latter month. Has this species been previously recorded for Queensland ? 



WhitE-RUMPED Swift (Micropus pacificus). — Always more numerous 

 than their Spine-tailed relative. In 1902 they did not show up till 2nd 

 January, while in 1903 they made their first appearance on 5th November. 

 In both years they left again during the first week in April. 



Spine-tailed Swift {Chatura caudacutd). — In the summer of 1902-3 

 they did not arrive till 2nd January, and in 1903-4 did not show 

 at all. 



Roller {Eurystoums australis). — Arrives in these parts in October, my 

 earliest record being the 7th, in 1902. In the years 1903 and 1904 they 

 have been all gone by end of first week in April. In my previous notes 

 I stated that they were scarce out west, but my experience then had been 

 confined to the open downs country, which these birds avoid. As a 

 matter of fact they may be seen or heard any summer's day among the 

 big gums on the Flinders River, from Hughenden down. 



Bee-eater {Merops ornatus). — Following on my previous notes the first 

 Bee -eaters to arrive in the spring of 1902 showed up on 28th August. 

 The succeeding winter (1903) they never left the district — a most unusual 

 proceeding, more particularly as we had some pretty cold weather in 

 June, with sufficient frost to kill the " pig-weed." Up to the end of that 

 month Merops were plentiful, but during July their numbers were greatly 

 reduced, though still there were a fair number that were " cracking hardy," 

 but the early part of August found us with only a few individuals. From 

 this out they gradually increased again, and the summer of 1903-4 found 

 them as plentiful as ever. On two occasions I watched the capture of 

 specimens of the largest dragon-flies ; they were swallowed whole, wings 

 and all, after a few blows on a dead limb to break their bones. They 

 stayed a bit late last autumn, but were all gone early in June. Their 

 migrations appear to be made in daylight, as between the i6th and 27th 

 March this year I saw four flocks, consisting of 28, 50, 28, and 100 in 

 number, pass overhead, fairly high up, their pipe attracting my attention. 



