No. in THE JACKSONIAN OOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 
Data Campbell's No. of 
No. Book. Eggs. 
128 535 I TOP-KNOT PIGEON, 
Lopholemus antarcticus, Shaw. 
This is the first authenticated egg of this 
pigeon known to science (see A. J. Campbell’s book, 
page 672). It was taken by W. McEnerny and 
Sid. W. Jackson, at Booyong, 14 miles north-east 
of Lismore, in the Richmond River district of 
N.S.W., on 24th October, 1899. The nest was 
placed at an altitude of over roo feet, in a tall 
Moreton Bay Chestnut or Bean-ball tree (Castanos- 
permum australe), that had been left standing in a 
cleared belt of scrub, and which was enveloped by 
the Parasitical Fig tree (Zicus rvubiginosa). The 
nests were most difficult to obtain, and my climbing 
ladder was put into use after a day’s work in carry- 
ing it over fallen trees and vines. The task was a 
very big one, and one I shall never forget in my 
life, yet our work was well repaid, for these tworare 
nests each contained an egg. Both were in the 
same tree. The other egg has since passed into 
the possession of A. J. Campbell, of Melbourne, 
and which he looks upon as a very rare and historic 
specimen. ‘These birds are very numerous in the 
scrubs of all the coastal rivers of northern New 
South Wales and Queensland, and many large 
flocks are frequently seen during April and May, 
when they congregate and feed on various berries, 
etc. Shooting parties often go out and wantonly 
destroy great numbers of these handsome pigeons 
during the latter months. I remember one instance 
that came under my notice, where nearly 4oo were 
shot, in the Macleay River district of N.S.W., and 
were left to rot, only a few being taken away for 
table use. It seems remarkable that the nests and 
eggs of this species should be so very rare, when 
we take into consideration the vast flocks that visit 
us every year. During my visit to the Ourimbah 
scrubs, near Gosford, N.S.W., in April of 1904, I 
heard guns in every quarter, and many birds were 
shot and forwarded to Sydney. The egg is pure 
white, oval in shape, and slightly glossy, and the 
nest is a very frail structure of dead sticks, on 
which is laid the single egg. The specimen under 
notice measures = 1°64 x 1°16. [See page 16.] 
WHITE-HEADED FRUIT PIGEON, 
129 539 I 
Columba leucomela, Temminck. 
F W. McEnerny climbing the tree containing two rare 
This rare egg was also taken near Booyong; jects of the Top-knot Pigeon. Set data, No. 128, came 
it was found at Binna Burra scrubs, 18 miles north from the nest placed at the top cross. Loc., Booyong 
2 = . Scrubs, Richmond River, N.S.W. 
east of Lismore, New South Wales, on 18th Novem- 
.- 
15 
