A Campbell and Barnard, Birds of N. Queensland. [jnd'juiy 



that when the party was approaching the Murray River a Cassowary 

 on the opposite bank was posed, intently watching something in the 

 water. Closer inspection revealed the snout of a crocodile. 



Mrs. Tom Butler, " Fringford," possesses an abnormally large- 

 sized Cassowary egg ; probably it was a double-yolked specimen, 

 measuring 6x4 inches, or a circumference of ^6^ inches. The average 

 dimensions of an ordinary Cassowary's egg is 5-^ x 3f inches. Our 

 visit to " Fringford," Upper Murray, was of historic and ornitho- 

 logical interest. The late Dr. E. P. Ramsay mentions {P.Z.S., 1876, 

 p. 121) that in 1875 the first nest discovered was found by some of 

 Inspector Johnstone's black troopers, from whom Mr. Millar (not 

 Miller), a settler on the Herbert, purchased eggs. One— a hght green 

 specimen — was presented by Mr. Millar to the Doctor, which he 

 described. Mrs. Tom Butler is a daughter of the late Mr. Millar, 

 and well recollects the incident. 



Those persons who are champions for exact priority of specific 

 names would like to know why Mr. G. M. Mathews (" 1913 List " 

 uses Mueller's name johnsotiii, 1867, when Wilham S. Wall, brother 

 of Thomas Wall, of the ill-fated Kennedy expedition, previously 

 described and named the Cassowary ausiralis in the lUnstrated 

 Sydney News, 3rd June, 1854, p. 88, with figures. 



For realistic situations of nests and haunts of the Cassowar>- sec 

 Emu. vol. xii., pis. xxi. to xxiv. 



Megapodius tumulus. Scrub-Fowl, 

 Megapodius dnpcrryii assimilis. 



Scrub-Fowl were frequently seen, and an egg-mound surroundmg 

 the base of a dead tree in tangled scrub, when prospected, yielded 

 five fresh eggs. Date, 24th October, 1916. We thought this an 

 unusual position, as the egg-mounds of these birds are generally isolated 

 and of pyramidal form. On 25th September the blacks brought in 

 three eggs and a young one just hatched. 



Masters would appear to have some reason for separating the 

 eastern Megapode from the Northern Territory bird. The former, 

 M. assimilis, is generally smaller in size, has a smaller bill and tarsus, 

 besides different marking and coloration of the head and hind neck. 



Catheturus lathami. Brush-Turkey. 

 Aleciura lathami robinsoni. 



A few Brush-Turkeys were seen near the edge of the mangroves 

 in September, but they do not breed on the low country. Several 

 egg-mounds were seen in the ranges at the back of Cardwell, in course 

 of construction, at an altitude of about 1,500 feet. Other mounds 

 were observed in the hills near the Murray River Falls. 



Mr. T. Butler informs us that Brush-Turkeys come down from the 

 ranges each year about the first week in May, go as far as the coast, 

 and return about the end of July. If there be a late, wet season the 

 birds may be a week or two later coming down. They do not breed or 

 make nests in the low country. Most of the birds that came down 

 this year (19 17) were very young, some merely chickens. There were 

 few full-grown ones. The blacks had a great time catching them in 

 their traps. Since the majority of the blacks have been removed to 

 the settlement on the coast, the Turkeys seem to be on the increase, 

 their egg-mounds in the ranges not being so much interfered with. 

 The rough and ready traps made by the blacks consist of two extended 

 wings in the form of an obtuse angle that lead into a net. The 



