1^0 Macgillivray, Notes on Some N . Queensland Birds, [uf "]' 



Emu 

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throughout the Gulf country, and during the winter months only at 

 Cape York, where they assemble in large flocks prior to their departure. 

 After September only an occasional bird is noted. 



Graucalus hypoleucus. White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike — Seen only 

 at Cape York, where they were most numerous down towards the 

 Jardine River, and were present all the year round. They nest 

 in the early summer months, in open forest. Iris brown, bill 

 and legs black. Stomach contents, large winged insects and cater- 

 pillars. 



Edoliisoma jardinii. Great Caterpillar-eater. — Frequents the open 

 forest country at Cape York, where it is fairly common. 



Campephaga humeralis. White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater. — 

 Common in the Ciulf country, but only occasional at Cape York. 



Campephaga leucomela. Pied Caterpillar-eater — Fairly numerous 

 all the year round at Cape York, in the scrub, open forest, and man- 

 groves. One nest was found, early in February, built on the topmost 

 branch of a mangrove at 50 feet from the ground. The nest is a very 

 small structure, hardly more than sufficing to hold the single egg. 



Drymodes superciliaris. Eastern Scrub-Robin — Fairly numerous in 

 the scrub at Cape York, where its note, a long-drawn-out whistle, 

 inay often be heard in the breeding season. It finds its living 

 on the ground, where it hops about quietly, turning over leaves and 

 other debris in search of hidden insect life. When they are nesting 

 the male will at once put in an appearance when its call is imitated, 

 and becomes very excited. The female does all the nest-building 

 and alone engages in the task of incubating the eggs. 



22nd December, 1910. — "Watched a pair of Scrub-Robins for some 

 time engaged in building a nest ; it was about half-built. The 

 female selects a leaf and then hops along to the nest. Male follows 

 her about, but does not do any work. It is a difficult job watching 

 these birds, as one cannot see far through the undergrowth, and you 

 have to get down on your hands and knees and crawl about after 

 them." 



28th December, 1910. — " Went out to Scrub-Robin's nest pre- 

 viously noted building. It came on to rain heavily after I had got 

 some distance from the camp, and made things pretty miserable. 

 The nest contained two eggs. It was built in the side of a small 

 hollow in the ground, composed outwardly of a thick wall of twigs, 

 some of which were f-inch thick and from 3 to 8 inches in 

 length, and lined with dead leaves and fine fibres. Egg chamber 

 3-i- inches deep and 3 inches in diameter. Whole nest was 9 inches 

 across and 4^ inches high on one side and 3 inches on the other. "- 



S, iris brown, bill black, legs fleshy-straw colour. Stomach contents, 

 beetles. 



Pomatorhinus intermedius (Mathews). — A form intermediate between 

 P. rubeculus and P. temporalis, with a leaning towards the former, 

 is found in the Gulf country in fair numbers, and, according to Mr. 

 Mathews, is identical with the Northern Territory bird to which he 

 has given the above sub-specific title.* It usually lays two eggs. 



Length of adult male, 10 inches ; irides light stone, bill and legs 



*Mathews, "Reference-list," p. 335. 



