144 Macgh.livrav, Notes on Some N. Queensland Birds, l i^^^^W^ 



(Edicnenms grallarius. Southern Stone-Curlew. — Common in the 

 Gulf countr3^ and heard and seen occasionally at Cape York. On 

 one moonlight night at Lockerbie three were calling and dancing 

 a few feet away from the door of the hut. While the loud, shrill, and 

 sustained call was being uttered the wings were outspread, the birds 

 faced each other and kept up a rapid stamping of the feet. 



EsaciTS magnirostris. I.ong-billed Slone-Curlew. — One or more 

 specimens found on most of the islands visited between Cape York 

 and l^aine Island. On i8th July a nest was found on one of the 

 Macarthur Islands ; it was a mere depression in sand on a coral ridge 

 amongst a dense growth of bushes ; it contained one egg. The birds 

 are very shy, and seldom admit of a close approach, even on the most 

 unfrequented islands. 



Choriotis (Eupodotis) australis. Bustard (Wild Turkey).-— Tolerably 

 jilentiful throughout the Gulf country, flocks of from 5 to ^o being 

 frequently seen. Thev also occur on the Cape York Peninsula, 

 having been noted in numbers, and an egg obtained, during the past 

 season, near the Batavia River, by Mr Wheatley, of Peak Point. 



Antigone australasiana. Crane ("Native Companion). — These fine 

 birds were noted on several occasions in the Gulf country, one nest 

 being found with fresh eggs on 26th March, 1910. Only one was seen 

 at Cape York, but on the way from Croydon to Cairns Mr. M'Lennan 

 counted over ?oo of these graceful birds on a swamp near the coach 

 route, and a little later — it was towards evening — this number would 

 have been considerably augmented, as the birds kept flying in from 

 all quarters in flocks of from seven to eight or more. He estimated 

 that by nightfall there would probably be over a thousand birds on 

 the swamp. 



Ibis molucca. White Ibis. — Found both on the Gulf waters and at 

 Cape York. 



Carphibis spinicollis. Straw-necked Ibis. — A few seen early in 

 September, iqit, at Gheedinia Lagoon. Cape York. 



Plegadis falcinellus. Glossy Ibis. — Numerous on the swamps along 

 the Cloncurry River during February, March, and April, 1910. 



Platalea regia. Black-billed Spoonbill. — On the Cloncurry River 

 early in February, iqio, a large flock of these birds was seen There 

 were also many on the swamps and lakes at Sedan, on the same river. 

 Later, large flocks were noted in the same locality, and later again, 

 in July, 1 910, on the Leichhardt River. They were also seen on the 

 lagoons at Cape York 



Platibis flavipes. Yellow-billed Spoonbill. — Several met with on the 

 Leichhardt River, and a nest containing two small young birds was 

 found early in July, ic;i(). Thev were noted on several occasions at 

 Cape York. 



Xenorhynchus asiaticus. Black-necked Stork (Jabiru\ — These birds 

 were seen on several occasions on the different rivers of the Gulf of 

 Carpentaria, and on the Leichhardt River, 25 miles beyond Caloola 

 Station, a nest was found on the i6tli June, 1910, in a large gum 

 about 200 yards from the bank. Mr. M'Lennan states : — " The nest, 

 which was about 55 feet from the ground in a big river gum, was 

 loosely built of sticks and Iwigs, lined with tufts of grass and the 

 paper-like bark of the tea-tree. It was about 5 feet across by 3 feet 

 in dciMh, and contained one young bird, which was about 3 feet 6 inches 



