ig2 MACG1L1.1VRAY, Orniihologisis in North Queensland. [,,^""^1 



It seemed to be an entanglement of prickly and spiny climbers and 

 shrubs, whilst we were beset by the usual swarm of mosquitoes and 

 March-flies. Next day we found three nests, each containing the 

 full complement of three eggs, after which they became everyday 

 occurrences till we left. The birds were then common in the scrub, 

 and their undulating flight through the trees was more apparent than 

 real, owing to the waving of the two central tail feathers ; these vary 

 a good deal in length. The birds feed upon grasshoppers, beetles, 

 and other insects. Not all termites' nests are suitable to burrow 

 into ; many show that the birds had tried them and given it up, some 

 being too shallow, the birds only digging in a few inches before 

 encountering the tree-trunk. 



Merops ornatus (Cosmcerops ornaius ornafus). Australian Bee- 

 eater. — Noted on many occasions on the Claudie ; became very 

 plentiful about the 20th December, hawking for insects in the open 

 forest and along the edge of the scrub. Mr. M'Lennan found this 

 species to be quite common on the Archer River in June. 



Mr. H. G. Vidgen writes from Paira, under date loth November, 

 1915 : — " Merops ornatus generally departs from here to the last 

 bird. This year some thousands camped on the mangroves in our 

 bay during May, June, and July, and then disappeared. August 

 being the month on which they start to come over from New Guinea, 

 I presume this lot then started for the south. 



Caprimulgus macrurus (C. macturus yorki). — We heard the " Chop- 

 chop-chop " note of the Large-tailed Nightjars on the evening of our 

 first day on the Claudie and almost every day afterwards. At the 

 top camp they were all round the camp, and would come and perch 

 on the tent pegs. They fly at dawn and dusk and on moonlight 

 nights. We often flushed them during our wanderings from some 

 roosting-place on the ground either at or just within the edge of the 

 scrub in thin scrub bordering a creek or on scrubby hills. We found 

 three nests — just depressions in the leaf-covered ground ; the first 

 was on the 19th November and the last on the 26th December. One 

 evening, at dusk, when sitting by the tent listening to the voices of 

 the birds and other creatures, a Capritmilgus that had been " Chop- 

 chopping " in the scrub near at hand came and took possession of 

 a small post three yards away, whence he would sally forth at 

 intervals to capture a passing insect, sailing round again to his perch 

 on widespread and noiseless wings. Our dog walked towards him, 

 when he flopped down on the ground and flattened himself out, but 

 on the dog coming nearer he was up and away. When hawking and 

 waiting for passing insects the birds do not call. On the 26th 

 January I flushed an old one accompanied by a young one fi'om some 

 tea-tree brush. They are common on the Archer River. 



Collocalia francica. — Numbers of the Grey-rumped Swiftlets were 

 often to be seen hawking for insects near our camp. They are very 

 quick on the wing, darting here and there with great rapidity. 



Chaetura caudacuta (C. c. mudacuta). Spine-tailed Swift. — Only 

 noted on one occasion (7th November). 



Cypselus pacificus {Micropus pacificus pacificus). — On the 22nd De- 

 cember a great flock of these White-rumped Swifts were soaring over 

 our camp, and made off in a south-easterly direction. They were 

 about on the 24th and 25 th December. On the 26th numbers were 

 hawking for flying termites all round and over our camp. The mouth, 



