Vol. IV. 

 1905 



1 Lawson, a Glance at the Birds of the Moore River (IV. A .) I 3 7 



BOTAURUS PCECILOPTILUS (Bittern). — Pairs were inhabiting the swamps 

 to the north of Mogumber, where their curious notes might be heard 

 any day. 



PODICIPES POLIOCEPHALUS (Hoary-headed Grebe). — Observed on a pool 

 at the sources of the river and also near Mogumber. 



Chenopis ATRATA (Black Swan). — This species frequents Lake Wanna- 

 mool, where it is said to breed. It is also met with at Bindoon. 



Anas superciliosa (Wild Duck). — A few on the lower reaches of the 

 river west of Mogumber, and a nest found at one of the swamps the day 

 I left the district. 



Description of the Eggs of Ptilotis fasciogularis. 



By a. J. Campbell. 



Mr. E. M. Cornwall, Cairns, has kindly sent a set of two eggs of 

 the abovementioned Honey-eater for examination and description. 

 He took them on Dunk Island, i6th October, 1898. No doubt 

 he would have sent them earlier, but was always hopeful of 

 obtaining a duplicate set. However, his specimens now become 

 the types. 



The eggs may be described as elongated or pointed ovals in 

 shape ; texture of shell fine ; surface slightly glossy, and colour 

 light buff or pale fleshy tint, with a slight cap or darker wash of 

 the same colour on the larger end. Dimensions in inches — (i) 

 l.O X .65 inch ; (2) .98 x .65 inch. 



Except for their more pointed smaller ends and larger size, 

 these eggs closely resemble the type of the well-known eggs of 

 the Singing Honey-eater (P. sonora). 



Mr. Cornwall mentions the nest as being the usual deep, cup- 

 shaped structure, and that it was suspended in a small mangrove 

 growing within high water mark. 



The fine Fasciated Honey-eater can be easily identified from 

 its congeners by the distinct bars of yellow and brown which 

 transversely mark the throat and fore-neck. As far as is yet 

 known, it frequents the mangrove belts of the Queensland 

 coast and islands contiguous thereto ; in fact, it is sometimes 

 locally called the " Island " Honey-eater. Mr. Cornwall recently 

 noticed the birds on Franklin Islands, near Cairns, while in 1885, 

 during an excursion made by Mr. A. W. Milligan and myself to 

 the Lower Fitzroy, we found Fasciated Honey-eaters there. 

 Judging by their pleasant notes the birds were exceedingly 

 merry, but extremely shy. We obtained skins for our collection, 

 which were exhibited at the Field Naturalists' Club, but no eggs 

 were found. 



