^°''i^7^^'] Macgillivray, Ornithologists in North Queensland. y(\ 



Masked Plover, Sharp-tailed Stints, Red-kneed Dottrel, Black- 

 fronted Dottrel, Jabirus, and Native Companions. 



On the following day he went to the swamp early in the day, 

 and later again at sunset, when he found it alive with Duck, and 

 remarks : — " They evidently come to feed at night, as I have 

 not seen them during the day." Three species were identified — 

 Mangrove-Duck, Plumed Whistling Duck, and Black Duck. On 

 other swamps were noted Jacanas, White-eyed Duck, and Pigmy 

 Geese. On a swamp 3 miles north-west of camp were Jacana, 

 Pigmy Geese (with young), and numbers of Semi-palmated Geese, 

 a mob of Black Duck, three White-eyed Duck, and a Whistling- 

 Duck. Out in Pandaniis country Finches were numerous — 

 Red-faced, Bicheno's, Black-rumped, Crimson {Neochmia phaeton 

 alhiventer), and Chestnut-breasted, and several nesting. 



On the 23rd April the country further up the river was explored, 

 but all the smaller swamps were dry. In the evening the natives 

 brought in a water carpet snake. This is a water python, with 

 all its scales keeled, to enable it to hold and crush its slippery 

 prey. Every night some hours were spent out after Owls, with 

 varying results. This expedition ended on 5th May, when 

 Thursday Island was reached. 



Notes on Species Observed. 



Dromaius novse-hollandise {Dromiceius novcehollandics novcshollandics). 

 — Emus had been frequently seen near the camp before our arrival, 

 and the aborigines had brought young birds to Mr. M'Lennan. We, 

 however, did not see any, though we found traces on several occasions. 



Casuarius australis (Casuariits casuarius johnsonii). — The ex- 

 crement of these fine birds was often met with in the scrub ; it con- 

 sisted usually of large stones and seeds of various fruits, even the 

 large, rough stones of the Pandavius. They live mostly upon fallen 

 fruit, of which there is always a plentiful supply. The horny helmet 

 of the bird is no doubt helpful in enabling it to thread its way 

 through the tangle of vines and other climbing plants so frequently 

 met with in its usual haunts. 



On 1 6th September Mr. M'Lennan flushed a Cassowary from her 

 nest at the edge of the scrub ; the nest contained two addled eggs 

 and a newly-hatched young bird. The nest consisted of a layer of 

 grass and leaves three feet in diameter and two inches in thickness. 

 The old bird emitted three roaring grunts as she ran from the nest. 

 The young bird was 50 days old when we arrived. It was i foot 

 high when erect, and was covered with hairy down of a pale brown 

 colour ; three dark brown stripes extended the whole length of the 

 dorsal surface, with two shorter and fainter ones on either side ; the 

 had was not striped, and was of a reddish colour. He was an 

 amusing companion, and accompanied us on our marches from one 

 camp to another, being usually carried in a billy. We fed him on 

 fruit, and were hoping to bring him away with us. Unfortunately, 

 however, he met with an untimely end at the hands — or, rather, teeth 

 — of a mongrel dog. 



On one occasion we watched a Cassowary bathing in a shallow 

 pool on the Upper Claudie River. This one we bagged, and secured 



