2o8 Macgillivray, Ornithologists in North Queensland. [isf April 



freely in April, and were mostly found frequenting the Pandanus 

 fiats. 



Neochmia phaeton albiventer. — This new sub-species of the 

 Crimson Finch we first found on 31st December in a small water- 

 course running through long grass towards a large patch of scrub 

 on the Claudie. We did not come across it again until the 19th 

 January, when we first secured a specimen in Pandanus and long grass 

 country near a swamp. Two days later we saw a few more, again 

 in the same class of country. Mr. M'Lennan found it to be common 

 on the Archer River, where it was nesting in April. He found his 

 first nest, containing four eggs, in a Pandanus, and it was mostly in 

 the Pandanus ilats that he found them. He also noted them catching 

 and eating flying termites. 



Stizoptera bichenovii (Stizopteva bichenovii bichenovii). — When at 

 Cooktown on our way up the coast we noticed several Banded 

 Finches in some small trees near the wharf. They were common on 

 the Archer River in June, where several nests containing eggs were . 

 found. They were also nesting in April on the Watson. 



Erythura trichroa. — On the nth January, whilst ^valking round 

 between the side of Lloyd's Island and the mangroves, Mr. M'Lennan 

 saw a new Finch. It was feeding in the grass, and took refuge in 

 the mangroves. We all went along next morning to look for it, but 

 only got a glimpse of it before it disappeared into the mangroves. 

 We went along to the end of the island, and on our return Mr. 

 M'Lennan secured the bird. It is grass-green in general colour, with 

 a blue face, maroon tail and upper coverts. This species is found in 

 the Moluccas, Papua, and the Caroline and Solomon Islands. 



Oriolus flavicinctus (Mimeta flavocincta kingi). — The Yellow Oriole 

 was a common bird on the Claudie. On a bright day in the scrub 

 the pleasant liquid bubbling notes are heard on every side. On the 

 8th January we found a nest on a tree iiear the bank of the river at 

 about 20 feet from the ground ; it contained the usual clutch of two 

 eggs. On the 28th of the same month, when wandering in dense 

 mangroves down the river, we came across another nest hanging in 

 a small horizontal branch at about 8 feet from the ground. The 

 nest was constructed of strips of paper-bark and lined with fibres 

 and rootlets. It also contained eggs. Judging by the stomach 

 contents, the usual food consists of wild fruits. A few were noted 

 in the scrub along the Archer River. 



Oriolus aflinis {Mimeta sagittata suhaffinis). — The Northern Oriole 

 was noted at Cooktown. A few were noted on the Archer River in 

 June in the open forest. 



Sphecotheres flaviventris (Sphecotheres flaviventvis fl-xviventris). — 

 The Yellow-bellied Fig-Bird was common all through from Cooktown. 

 At the Claudie it frequented both scrub and open forest. This species 

 usually nests in the same tree as the Drongo and Helmeted Friar-Bird, 

 in the open forest. It feeds mostly upon wild fruits. A few were 

 noted on the Archer River. 



Chibia bracteata (Dicrutopsis hracteatus bracteatus). — Spangled 

 Drongos were first seen in the Townsville Gardens. On the Claudie 

 they were common both in the scrub and open forest. Nesting com- 



