Vol XVII 

 1Q17 



] Campbell and Barnard, Birds of N . Queensland . 



wings are about r8 inches high and are constructed of small boughs 

 and twigs. 



Synoecus australis. Brown Quail. 



Synoicus ypsilophorus australis. 



These birds were fairly common in the long grass of the Murray- 

 River flats and about the cultivation paddocks of the settlers, and 

 their clear whistling call was frequently heard in the early morning 

 and evening. Some birds were laying during October. 



Turnix melanotus. Black-backed Quail. 

 Turnix maculosa melanotus. 



This little Quail was seen on several occasions on the low grassy 

 hills behind Card well, and pairs were several times flushed from the 

 sweet potato patch on Mr. Tom Butler's farm on the Murray River. 

 Two seasons previously, Black-backed Quail were numerous on the 

 Bellenden Plains, further down the Murray. In riding across that 

 country the birds frequently flushed from under the nose of one's 

 horse. 



The males are small birds, about 4I- inches in length. The female 

 is much larger, and is further distinguished by a chestnut nuchal 

 collar. 



A death adder that was severed with a scythe during reaping 

 operations revealed one of these small Quail which the reptile had 

 swallowed. 



Turnix varia. Painted Quail. 

 Oriygodes varius snhminutus. 



These birds were nowhere numerous, and were generally observed 

 in dry localities. 



Ptilonopus swainsoni. Red-crowned Fruit-Pigeon. 



Ptilonopus regina regina. 



This beautiful little Fruit-Pigeon was fairly common in the scrubs 

 about Cardwell, and their note was frequently heard. A male was 

 observed carrying a twig into a thick clump of mangroves. 



[When on a visit to Cape York in 1896 and 1897 I found these 

 birds breeding freely in the mangroves there ; they were seldom 

 found breeding in the scrubs. — H. G. B.] 



Lamprotreron superba. Purple-crowned Fruit-Pigeon. 



This well-named "superb" little bird was plentiful in the scrubs 

 of the Murray River and also in the scrubs of the Kirrama Table-land. 

 They frequently nest in the forest country as well as in the scrub. 

 The male birds appear to do most of the incubation, and are rather 

 conspicuous objects when seen on their frail nests at the end of some 

 bough. Many nests were observed near our camp at the Kirrama 

 " yard " on the table-land, at a height of about 2,000 feet. A heavily- 

 incubated egg was taken from a nest on the i8th October, and on the 

 29th a perfectly fresh egg was taken from the same nest. The pretty 

 bird remained on the nest (which was close to the track"; while a 

 snapshot photograph was taken of the situation of the nest, which 

 was in a small banksia. 



Megaloprepia assi mills. Allied Fruit-Pigeon. 

 Megaloprepia magniftca keri. 



This large and handsome Pigeon was common both at Cardwell 

 and in the scrubs of the Kirrama Range. They breed in any 

 locality, very often over water. The dark green of the upper surface 



