I02 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [isf"}"!!. 



only conclude that fluid is obtained from other sources. Birds of 

 prey, perhaps, find drink enough in the lizards and smaller birds 

 which they capture. Honey-eaters and other nectar-sipping species 

 may obtain what thej^ require from the blossoms of the eucalypts. 

 Doubtless, in other cases, the precipitation of dew during the 

 cool nights may give a further supply. That moisture was not 

 absent from the soil, in spite of no rain for some weeks, was shown 

 by the fact that some freshly-expanded specimens of a long- 

 stalked puff-ball {Battarea, sp.) were found growing in the sand. 

 Probably heavy dews had brought them up. 



A start was made next day for the railway station, the oppor- 

 tunity being taken of seeing another Leipoa mound which had 

 been opened. The train was then entered at 10.20 a.m., and 

 Murray Bridge reached about 4.30. A very pleasant impression, 

 added to by the cool change, was left of this mallee country, and 

 the locality was evidently one worthy of a more prolonged stay. 



Notes on Some North Queensland Birds. 



By (Dr.) W. Macgillivray, R.A.O.U., Broken Hill (N.S.W.) 



Late in 1909 Mr. W. M'Lennan went to North Queensland on my 

 behalf to obtain specimens of the birds and their eggs, and to 

 make notes on their nesting and other habits in that portion of 

 country drained by the Cloncurry, Leichhardt, and Gregory 

 Rivers, the western portion of that tract of land known to all 

 Oueenslanders and many others as " the Gulf country," and also 

 at Cape York. 



Although Mr. M'Lennan's journeyings have not resulted in the 

 discovery of any very distinct new species, still they have been 

 helpful to me in clearing up many doubtful points as to the 

 identity, distribution, and habits of the various species inhabiting 

 the Gulf country, Cape York, and the islands between Cape York 

 and Raine Island. 



After a brief visit to Cairns and the Upolu Bank and Oyster 

 Cay, where he made acquaintance with nesting sea-birds, he 

 went inland by train from Townsville to Cloncurry, arriving there 

 early in January, when he found everything very dry. the wet 

 season not having commenced as early as usual. Hearing that 

 the country was in better condition, owing to early rains, and birds 

 more plentiful, further down the Cloncurry River, he procured 

 an outfit, and journeyed down the river, finally making a per- 

 manent camp at the Sedan Dip, about 10 miles north of Byromine 

 Station and about 80 miles from the Cloncurry township. 



The rainy season started in earnest soon after his arrival, all 

 the lakes and swamps filling \\\) rapidly, and the river running 

 bank high. Vegetation grew rapidly and rankly along the river- 

 flats and out on the downs. Many small birds nested, and on the 



