^'^'i^'"'] J^^ACGiLLivKAv, iVo/t'A Oil Some N. Queensland Birds. 15Q 



Irides yellow, bill pale yellowish-green, legs pale yellow. Stomach 

 contents usually beetles. Total length in flesh, 15 inches. 



Mr. Wheatley obtained nests of this Podargus in the scrub country 

 bordering the Ducie River ; each nest contained three eggs. 



iffigotheles novse-hollandiae. Owlet Nightjar. — Flushed from their 

 roosting hollows on several occasions in the Gulf country — one grey 

 and the others showing a general rufous colouring, such a variation 

 as iilso occurs in Podargus papuensis and P. marmoratus. 



Eurystomus pacificus. Australian Roller. — DoUar-Birds were 

 plentiful both in the Gulf country, in February and March, 1910, 

 and at Cape York, in March, 191 2. 



Alcyone pulchra. Purple Kingfisher. — Fii'st met with on the Gregory 

 River, where a specimen (a male; was secured in July. 



Irides dark brown, bill black with cream-coloured tip, legs scarlet. 

 Stomach contents, small fish. 



Other specimens were obtained on the creeks at Cape York. 



On 17th February, igii, the following note was made: — "Went 

 to l)ig swamp behind Charo mangroves, and searched through it. 

 Flushed a Kingfisher {A. pulchra^ from its nest in a mass of earth 

 adhering to the roots of a fallen tea-tree near the edge of the swamp ; 

 it contained five fresh eggs. The tunnel was 6 inches long, oval in 

 shape, I J inches aci"oss by i|- deep ; egg chamber 5 inches across by 

 4 in depth." 



After this they were found to be fairly plentiful along the fresh- 

 water creeks, and several old nesting-places were noted. 



Alcyone pusilla. Little Kingfisher. — This little bird is found 

 in the mangrove swamps along the coast, frequenting the creeks that 

 run through them ; and as these swamps are also the haunt of the 

 crocodile (C. porosus), a search for nests, often wading waist- 

 deep in water, is no sinecure. Two nests were found by 'Sir. M'Lennan, 

 both in February, 191 1, an account of which has already appeared 

 in The Emu.* Each contained a full clutch of five fi-esh eggs. The 

 total length of the bird in the flesh is 4] inches ; irides brown, bill 

 black, legs blackish- brown. Stomach contents, small fish. 



The call is a laint whistle. 



Syma flavirostris. Yellow-billed Kingfisher. — Mr. M'Lennan's first 

 note on this bird was made on 2nd December, 1910 : — " Noted Syma 

 flavirostris for the first time ; it is a beautiful bird. Saw another later 

 in Ihe day, and heard it calling ; it has a mournful call, \-ery difficult 

 to locate. The nest is usually in a termites' nest in a tree in scrub 

 or in open forest just at the edge of the scrub. They call only in 

 the breeding season, and the call is almost continual when there is 

 a nest. They resent any interference with or examination of a nest, 

 and usually abandon one that has been examined." 



Another note, made on loth January, 191 2 : — " Flushed a Syma 

 flavirostris from its hollow in a termites' nest 25 feet from the ground 

 at the edge of the scrub ; it contained three hard-set eggs. The birds 

 attacked me when I was taking the eggs, and struck my hand four 

 times, once drawing blood." Several nests were found containing 

 young birds, but never more than three young or eggs in any nest. 



In the flesh the adult bird measures jl- inches; irides brown, bill 

 yellow with the terminal half of the culmen brownish-black, legs 

 yellow. Stomach usually contained small lizards and beetles. 



* Vol. -xi. , p. 1 26. 



