I J.6 Macgili.ivrav, Nofes on Some N. Queensland Birds, fj^f"'"",, 



previously visited this rock in October and found several pairs nesting 

 then. A nest containing two young birds was found on Cairncross 

 Island on 30th June, and dozens of old nests. On the Hannibal 

 Islands on ist July, 1911, dozens of old nests were seen, and the birds 

 were in hundreds — nearly all white birds, only a few odd grey ones 

 amongst them. On the Macarthur Islands, on 30th July, 191 1, a 

 Reef-Heron's nest containing two young was found in some bushes 

 on a coral ridge, and another containing two hard-set eggs 

 Onlv one Reef-Heron was seen on Raine Island, 



Nycticorax caledonicus. Nankeen Night-Heron. — Numerous along 

 the Cloncurry and Leichhardt Rivers, flocks of from 15 to 20 or more 

 being frequently flushed from the tea-tree. On the Macarthur 

 Islands, near Cape York, several were noted, and there were many on 

 Raine Island. On the 15th July, 191 1, Mr. M'Lennan notes, when 

 camped on Raine Island : — " Two young Nankeen Herons strolled 

 round to the camp to-day, and made themselves quite at home. They 

 could not fly, and the down was adhering to their feathers, so they 

 must have been bred on the island. I did not notice any nests." 



These birds were numerous on Cairncross Island. At Gheedinia 

 Lagoon, Cape York, several immature birds were seen. They were also 

 noted on I he Norman River. 



Butorides stagnatilis. Little Mangrove-Bittern — One nest was found 

 on Kvpennv in October On the Bird Islands these Bitterns were 

 numerous on the 2nd July, 1911, and many of last season's nests 

 were observed. There were also many of these birds at Cape 

 Grenville. One nest was found on the Bird Islands on the i8th 

 July, 191 1, containing two addled eggs. 



Dupetor gouldi. Yellow-necked Mangrove-Bit lern. — This Bittern is 

 often met with in the swamps at Cape York, whei^e it breeds in the 

 mangroves The nest is usually a rough platform of sticks about 

 9 inches in diameter and about \\ inches thick, placed in a 

 horizontal fork of a mangrove. 



On the 29th February, 191 1, Mr. M'Lennan writes : — " I went over 

 to the tea-tree and mangrove swamp behind Mud Bay, and found 

 another Bittern's (D. gouldi^ nest. The nest was built in a mangro\-e 

 overhanging the creek and about 1 5 feet from the water When I 

 was climbing to the nest I put my hand on a carpet snake about 

 8 feet long ; it was coiled up in a fork of the tree. I suppose it was 

 waiting till night to gi'ab the bird on its eggs." In an adult male taken 

 on the 18th February, 191 1, the soft parts are as follows: — Irides 

 silvery-brown, bill blackish-brown, legs nark olive-brown. Stomach 

 contained fish and portion^ of crayfish ; two of the fish were 5 inches 

 in length. 



Chenopis atrata. Black Swan. — Two were noted on the Big 

 Dalgonally Lake at Byromine, on the Cloncurry River. These birds 

 are rarities in the Gulf country. 



Anseranas melanoleuca. Pied Goose. — In March and April, loio, 

 Mr. M'Lennan found many of these birds on the lakes on Sedan and 

 Byromine. on the Cloncurry River, where they were nesting on the 

 lignum. The nests contained from six to eleven eggs A large flock 

 was also met with on a chain of lagoons near the Leichhai-dt River. 



Nettapus pulchellus. Green Pigmy-Goose — This beautiful little 

 Goose was found breeding at Byromine, one nesting hollow containing 

 as many as eleven eggs. The birds were also noted at Cape York. 



