164 Macgilli\'RA\-, Notes on Some N . Queensland Birds. [,5^']",,. 



contents wild fruits. In an adult female — iridcs ruby-red : bill pale 

 olive-green, base of culmen blackish ; legs dark olive-green. Stomach 

 also contained wild fruits. 



Scythrops novae-hollandiae. Channelbill. — These birds, known in 

 the Gulf country as Storm-Birds, on account of their first ap- 

 pearing with the thunderstorms which usher in the wet season, were 

 common during the summer months. On 8th February, 1910, 

 Mr. M'Lennan noted eight in one tree. On 12th March, 1910, he 

 made the following note : — " Struck a channel of the Gilliat River, 

 and found a Short-billed Crow's (C. bennetti) nest containing five 

 young Channelbills almost ready to leave the nest. T took two for 

 specimens. They were all in series — there seemed to be about two 

 days between each of them, and one would be led to believe that the 

 eggs had been laid by the same bird." As two young Channelbills 

 have often been seen by severtil reliable observers being fed by Crows 

 or other foster-parents, it seems certain that they do not eject one 

 another from the nest. At the same time it is equallv certain that 

 they eject the progeny of their foster-parents. How is it that such 

 nestlings are able to distinguish betw^een their own kith and kin and 

 those of the foster-parent, especially, as seems to have been the case 

 with the five young Cuckoos, where they were hatched out in suc- 

 cession ^ Unfortunately, as darkness overtook Mr. M'Lennan on 

 this occasion before he could regain his camp, and he had to spend 

 the night under a tree, the steamy weather spoiled the skins, but a 

 description was made of one, a male : — " Head fawn colour ; back, 

 tail, and wing coverts mottled fawn, grey, and brown ; tail and wing 

 feathers barred ; under surface dirty white. Irides brown, bill 

 reddish-brown. No trace of a channel on the bill. I.egs lead colour. 

 Stomach contents, caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers." 



Another Crow's nest contained one young Channelbill, and a third 

 an egg of the Channelbill with one of the Crow. 



The loud, screeching call of this species could be heard at any hour 

 of the day or night. 



At Cape York they were seen only occasionally. 



Pitta simillima. Lesser Pitta. — This smaller northern form is fairly 

 common in the Cape York scrubs from July until the end of March. 

 They nest in the wet season, from December until ]March, building 

 a domed nest, usually on the ground at the base of a tree or by a 

 fallen log. The nest is generally constructed of twigs and lined with 

 leaves and fine fibres. Three eggs are the usual clutch. In the 

 nesting season their call is frequently heard ; it consists of a three- 

 note whistle, and another .sharp " Keow " repeated at intervals. 

 They will always answer their call if imitated, and come to one. They 

 may often be seen sitting in trees and calling. They spend a good 

 portion of their time on the ground, where they find their usual food, 

 which consists of beetles and other insects. When building they usually 

 find their material on the ground, and have been seen hopping along 

 to the nest with leaves 



Colouring of soft parts : — In adult male — irides brown, bill black, 

 legs fleshy-straw colour. Length in flesh, from tip of bill to tip of 

 tail, 7 inches ; to the toes, 9 inches. 



Not noted in vicinity of Batavia and Ducie Rivers. 



Pitta mackloti. Blue-breasted Pitta. — Found during summer 

 months only at Cape York, when they are common. 



