6 Campbell and Barnard, Birds oj N . Queensland . [2na"ju!y 



of the bird assimilates well with the surrounding green of the scrubs, 

 so that detection of the sitting bird is difficult. They are usually 

 first seen as a flash of green splendour streaking over the stream or 

 through scrub. One nest over water was reached with great diffi- 

 culty. Even then the single egg had to be "ladled" with a spoon 

 tied to the end of a long stick. 



At " Fringford " (Mr. Tom Butler's) a nestling was taken to the 

 house and reared. When able to take care of itself it went to the 

 scrub during the day, returning for food and to roost at the house. 

 It was an inquisitive creature, especially if visiters called. If all 

 doors were closed "Mr. Magnificent" would get in somehow, and, 

 bowing gracefully, with deep voice utter " Bonnet is blue " several 

 times. 



Myristicivora spilorrhoa. Nutmeg-Pigeon. 

 Myristicivora bicolor spilorrhoa. 



Fairly common in the scrubs of the mainland, where they resort 

 to feed on the numerous berries of the scrub trees. The birds 

 generally breed on the islands near the coast, but odd birds breed 

 on the mainland, and often in forest country. They lay on the 

 Barnard and other islands in thousands. It is an inspiring sight 

 to witness flocks of these fine black and white birds, in strings, 

 flying between the islands and the mainland. They leave the islands 

 in the morning and commence to return about 4 p.m. 



[I have seen these Pigeons breeding in the forest country at Cape 

 York and on the Macarthur River, Northern Territory. — H. G. B.l 



Like the Magnificent Fruit-Pigeon, the Nutmeg-Pigeon can be 

 made a pet. Mr. Isaac Henry, of Bellenden Plains, had a tame one 

 for several years. It used to fly on to his shoulder when he was on 

 horseback, and would follow him about the run. Mr. Henry missed 

 the Pigeon (probably the migratory instinct became too strong, and 

 it took a trip northward) till the following year, when the bird came 

 out of a wild flock and again followed him some distance. 



Nutmeg- Pigeons were first noticed by us (on Hinchinbrook\ 15th 

 August ; but other observers in the district saw some a week earlier. 

 These Pigeons have been observed as far south as the islands off Cape 

 Palmers ton. 



All islands should be rigidly protected against the " pot-hunting 

 sportsman," or else the fine Nutmeg-Pigeon will soon become, like 

 the famous Passenger-Pigeon of America, extinct. 



[Under the guidance of Mr. E. J. Banfield, two seasons previously, 

 I visited one of his " Family Group." On the west side of the islet 

 we landed on a strip of coral strand, and, diving into a thick scrub, 

 chieflv Eugenia, nutmeg, fig-tree, Casuarina, Hibiscus, and four 

 varieties of palms, besides Pandanus, all comprising a shade so thick 

 as to make it dark below, we found Nutmeg-Pigeons nesting every- 

 where- — at foot of fig-trees, on vines and palm-fronds, in " nest-ferns," 

 and even on bushes near high water mark. The parents flushed 

 before us and cleared off, but we secured successful photographs of 

 nests with single eggs or young. — A. J. C] 



Lopholaimus antarcticus. Topknot-Pigeon. 

 Lopholaimus antarcticus minor. 



The first pair of these large Pigeons observed at Cardwell was 

 found breeding on the top of a bunch of mistletoe growing on a stringy- 

 bark tree in the hills at the back of the township. Curiously enough, 



