Birds'-e(j(/s from Queensland. 393 



themselves were shy, and it is astonishing how quickly they 

 hear anyone approaching the tree where they are sitting on 

 their nest, and they frequently fly oft" before being seen. 

 There is no lining to the nest any more than the dust of the 

 termites' mounds, and the mound is sometimes so small that 

 it seems impossible that the bird could find room to make 

 its nest in it. The following are the measurements of 

 one clutch : A, 1-51 x 1-28 inch ; B, IGO x 1-38 inch ; C, I'SO 

 X 1'36 inch. The eggs are pure white and slightly lustrous; 

 they were taken on November 18th, 1896. 



2. PoDARGUs PHAL.ENoiDEs, Gould. Moth-plumagcd 

 Podargus. 



The nest of this bird was found on November 25th, 1896, 

 and contained two eggs much incubated ; on the same day 

 another nest was discovered which contained tvv^o young 

 ones covered with white down and about a week old. In 

 both instances the male bird was sitting on ihe nest, the 

 female being in a neighbouring tree ; and in the various 

 nests of this bird that I have found, in every instance so 

 far, when I have secured the sitting bird either on eggs or 

 young, it has on dissection proved to be the male. 



They are sleepy-looking birds and do not as a rule leave the 

 nest until almost within one's reach, and then only to fly 

 leisurely to another tree not far ofl^ where they can be easily 

 secured. Occasionally I have noticed the female resting close 

 to the male as he sits on the nest, but as a rule they are on 

 a neighbouiing tree and the report of a gun close by does not 

 seem to disturb them much. The present nest was built on 

 the horizontal branch of a eucalyptus about fifteen feet from 

 the ground, being almost flat and composed of twigs without 

 any lining. It was 6 inches in diameter and 2 inches in 

 depth. The eggs are pure white, oval in form, and measure : 

 A, 1 -62 X 105 inch ; B, 163 X 107 inch. 



3. Ptilinopus magnificus (Temminck). Magnificent 

 Fruit-Pigeon. 



The egg of this beautiful Pigeon was found in November 

 at Cairns by ]\Ir. K. Broadbent, of Brisbane, when he was on 



