20 Campbell and Barnard, Birds of N. Queensland. [^ndXiy 



events. This bird must have increased since Ramsay's day ; he only 

 found it after dihgent search. 



Its miniature nest (the smallest, probably, of Australian nests;, 

 with single egg, was found. A photograph of a nest and egg (natural 

 size} appears in The Emu, vol. xv., pi. xxix. 



Regarding Mathews's M. ter r cere gin ce, one would expect to find, 

 in heavy forest country, this species greener above and brighter 

 yellow on the under surface than, say, the birds from the type 

 locaUty — Northern Territory. It is a scientific fact that all life is 

 affected by its environment. 



Smicrornis flavescens. Yellow-tinted Tree-Tit. 

 Smicrornis brevirostris pallescens. 



This tiny Tit was detected on the table-land, where it was feeding 

 in company with other small birds in the tree-tops. We procured 

 a pair. 



For phases ol colouring this appears to be a perplexing little bird 

 We are satisfied with its identity as per first name above. S. 

 flavescens may be taken as a northern representative of S. brevirostris. 



Gerygone albogularis. White-throated Fly-eater. 

 Gerygone olivacea queenslandica. 



Found on the table-land only; nowhere pleutilul it was not 

 ol)ser\-ed by Broadbent, but Ramsay ncMed it. 



Gerygone magnirostris. Large-billed Hy-eatcr. 

 Ethelornis magniyostris cairnsensis. 



Common alDout tea-tree swamps and the ^Murray River, where 

 their long, flood-drift-like nests were often observed. 



The nests were invariably within reach, and some were pic- 

 turesquely placed overhanging the water of lih' lagoons. Sometimes 

 the nest would be suspended from the end of a slender branchlet, 

 which was swayed by the lightest wind that blew. One was seen sus- 

 pended from a " button " orchid. These tiny birds apparently give 

 themselves an unlimited amount of labour in constructing their nests. 

 First they construct about a foot in length of vegetable and other 

 matter resembling flood debris, to the bottom of which is attached 

 a roundish, cosy, and covered nest. The birds are often fond of 

 building their nests in the sheds or verandahs of settlers' homes, 

 suspending the nest to some chance bit of wire, rope, &c. It takes 

 about three weeks to construct a nest. These nests are the favourite 

 receptacles of the olive-coloured egg of a small Cuckoo, presumably 

 the Little Bronze-Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx minulillus). 



Gerygone pallida. Pale Brown Fly-eater. 

 Wilsonavis fusca /Pallida. 



Supposed skins of this bird were obtained in the table-land scrubs, 

 near the ranges, and a nest was observed swaying from a " lawyer " 

 palm. The birds, which were not scarce, seemed to approach 

 North's G. pallida, from the Cairns district ("Nests and Eggs, &c.," 

 vol. i., p. 196). They are smaller and much lighter-coloured than 

 fusca. especially on the under surface, which is almost white, and, 

 if a sub-species at all, show more affinity to Icsvigaster than to fusca. 

 More material is required. 



The total length of the Kirrama bird is very small- — 3^ inches, with 

 wing i|- inches. 



