Vol. XVII. 



1917 



] Campbell and Barnard, Birds oj N-. Queensland. 



these were the only ones found breeding. Flocks, however, were 

 seen in the scrubs of the Murray River, where they feed on the fruit 

 of the tall scrub trees — notably quandong {Elcsocarpus grandis). Seed 

 is the usual hard, pitted, round stone about f-inch in diameter, but 

 the thin rind is smooth and of a beautiful king's, or violaceous, blue. 

 A fine Pigeon was obtained in the scrub near the top of the Kir- 

 rama Range, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet. The bird, with its 

 graceful topknot of rusty red, made a perfect skin, the bill being the 

 colour of scarlet sealing-wax. Except being slightly darker in plumage, 

 the bird differed not from the more southern Topknot Pigeons. 

 Moreover, notwithstanding the supposed sub-specific minor, there is 

 practically no difference in the size of the eggs. The dimensions 

 (1.67 X 1.2 inches) given by Mr. H. L. White {Emu, vol. xvi., p. 164) 

 of the specimen we took are about the same as the average of three 

 eggs taken south — viz., 1.68 x 1.17 inches. 



Reference to the illustration (Plate II.) will sliow Mr. H. G. 

 Barnard in the act of robbing the nest near Cardwell— a good companion 

 picture to Mr. S. W. Jackson's {Emu, vol. i., pi. x.) 



Columba norfolciensis. White-headed Pigeon. 

 Leucomelcpna norjolciensis. 



A few birds only were seen, on the top of the Kirrama Range ; they 

 did not appear to be plentiful, but the fact that we were only a very 

 short time in the locality may account for our seeing so few. 



[In February of 1889 I observed these birds in fair numbers on 

 the Bellenden Ker Range, at a height of 4,000 feet.- — H. G. B.] 



Macropygia phasianella. Pheasant-tailed Pigeon. 

 Macropygia phasianella robinsoni. 



These Pigeons were first observed in the scrubs at the head of Stony 

 Creek, in the ranges at the rear of Cardwell. They were fairly common 

 in the scrubs of the Murray River, and were also observed on the 

 top of the Kirrama Range. 



The bird was smaller on the wing only (by about an inch) than 

 the Richmond River (N.S.W.) Pheasant-Pigeon. 



[When exploring Bellenden Ker I came upon a Brown Pigeon's 

 nest in a fern-tree. A carpet snake was round the bird. One egg was 

 in the nest; the other egg was below — broken, of course. — H. G. B.] 



Geopelia humeralis. Barred-shouldered Dove. 



Chrysaiichcena humeralis humeralis. 



This Dove, with its run of laughing " coos," is a common bird in 

 most of the coastal districts of Queensland and in the Northern 

 Territory. 



[I have taken eggs from the following districts : — Dawson River, 

 Cardwell, Cairns, Cooktown, Cape York, and Macarthur River, 

 Northern Territory. — H. G. B.] 



Like most Doves, these birds are very pugnacious. While on Goold 

 Island, and watching a pair of Shining Flycatchers in a patch of man- 

 groves, a pair of Barred-shouldered Doves settled on a bough close 

 to us, and began striking at each other with their wings. One bird 

 was hit badly, and fell to the ground. On picking it up its neck was 

 found to be dislocated. 



Pairs of these Doves were breeding in the orange trees at " Fring- 

 ford," and a pair used to come daily on to the verandah to be fed. 

 on bread-crumbs. 



For a prettily-situated nest in situ see Emu, vol. x., pi. xx. 



