VoI.XIlI. 



1914 



J Macgillivrav, iVo/^s on Some N. Ouee)isUnid Birds. I3Q 



was shot at Peak Point, the Cape York telegraph station, on 21st 

 February, 1912, the only time that the species was noted. 



Histriophaps histrioniea. Flock-Pigeon, — Only a few small flocks 

 were noted during Mr INI'Lennan's travels in the Gulf country. In 

 early days, as 1 myself witnessed, they occurred here in countless 

 thousands, feeding on the Mitchell grass downs during the day and 

 coming in to water in the evening in an unbroken succession of 

 immense flocks. They breed on the ground, so that the stocking of 

 the country with herds of cattle and sheep has seriously interfered 

 with their nesting operations and feeding habits. 



Ocyphaps lophotes. Crested Pigeon. — Common throughout the Gulf 

 country, but not seen at Cape York. 



Hypotsenidia philippensis. Pectoral Rail. — None noted in Gulf 

 country, but numerous on islands in Torres Strait and all the way to 

 Raine Island. Here they caused Mr. M'Lennan some annoyance by 

 frequenting the caves resorted to by the Tropic-Birds for nesting 

 purposes and dashing out in his face when he was crawling in. 

 Not seen on the mainland. 



Rallina tricolor. Red-necked Rail. — The fli-st bird was noted early 

 in January, 191 1. On the 21st January another was seen, with 

 young ones not more than a week old ; these wei-e covered with black 

 down. They were noted again at the beginning of the following wet 

 season, on iith December, 191 i. After this they could be heard 

 calling almost every night, the call being a loud, shrill " Kare, kare, 

 kare," many times and rapidly repeated, and sometimes a short, 

 sharp " Tock, tock, tock," which would be kept up for half an hour 

 at a time. They always frequented the scrubs, whether along the 

 creeks or on the ridges. Mr. Vidgen's little boy found a nest in the 

 scrub not far from the house, and watched the birds come to it ; he 

 took Mr. M'Lennan to see it. The nest was simply a depression in 

 the dead leaves at the foot of a tree, and contained three white eggs : 

 it was left until the 9th March, when the eggs were fovind to have been 

 taken, probably by a " goanna." Charlie, a South Sea Islander working 

 for Mr. Jardine, found another nest, near Somerset, containing four 

 white eggs. He did not take thena, and when it was visited ten days 

 later the nest contained only one egg. This he brought to Mr. 

 M'Lennan ; it had a half-developed chick in it. Although a thorough 

 search was made of a patch of scrub near the house in which five or 

 six could be heard calling every night, they were seldom seen during 

 the daytime, and no more nests were found. Their calling was last 

 noted early in April, 1912. 



The colouring of the soft parts in specimens obtained was as 

 follows : — Iris orange-scarlet, bill light green, legs dark olive. The 

 stomach contents were usually the remains of land- snails. Another 

 nest, containing five fresh eggs, was found by 'Sir. Vidgen's boy 

 during the past season. 



Poliolimnas leucophrys. White-browed Crake. — One was flushed 

 from a clump of rushes in a tea- tree swamp behind Charo mangro^•es ; 

 it flew to the top of a tea-tree, and was secured as a specimen. 

 $, length in flesh 7 inches, irides dark scarlet, eyelids scarlet, 

 bill dull olive-yellow. Stomach contained beetles and other insect 

 remains. 



Amaurornis ruficrissa. Rufous-tailed Rail. — First seen when in 

 company with ^Ir. Barnard, in loio. Not noted in numbers at Cape 



