Vol. XIII. 



1914 



] Macgillivr.w, Notes on Some N. Queensland Birds. I73 



Another pair was found building, and specimens were secured.- The 

 breeding male was also in plain brown dress. 



They were again noted at Cloncurry and on the Leichhardt, where 

 they were very plentiful, and all brown, in June. Writing from 

 Augustus Downs, on the Leichhardt, under date 4th July, Mr. 

 M'Lennan states : — " One thing noticed regarding these birds is that 

 the three lots that I found breeding were three pairs only — not a 

 male and two or three females as with other species ; but now I am 

 finding them in small flocks." Until after this date Mr. M'Lennan 

 was of opinion that the plain brown Wren- Warblers were a species 

 apart from any other, in which the males were always brown. How- 

 ever, he changed his opinion at this camp, where he found these 

 Wrens in large flocks, as many as 30 in some of them. From one 

 of these flocks he shot two specimens, one of which had a few crimson 

 feathers on the back and a few black ones round the eyes and on 

 the head, showing that the birds were M. cruentatus changing their 

 winter plumage for the early spring breeding. 



S, testes normal ; irides brown, bill light brown, legs pale brown. 



On 20th July, on the Gregory River, another male with changing 

 plumage was shot. S: testes normal, iris brown, bill black, legs 

 brownish-flesh colour. 



They were last seen near Burke town on the 25 th July, still in flocks. 



At Cape York this species frequents the open pockets, and is 

 never found in the scrub. Specimens were secured in January. 



I have compared fully plumaged males from Cairns, Cape York, 

 and the Gulf country, and can find little, if any, difference. 



Artamus leucogaster. White-rumped Wood-Swallow. — Noted at 

 Green Island and on a nest in a tree in the main street, Cairns, on 

 1 8th November, 1909 ; at Sedan in February, 1910, and frequently 

 at Cape York. One nested in an old nest of Chlamydera cerviniventris, 

 another in a cleft of a dead mangrove. 



Artamus supercillosus. White-browed Wood-Swallow. — Only once 

 seen — in the Gulf country, on the Gregory River, in July. 



Artamus personatus. Masked Wood-Swallow. — First noted in the 

 Gulf on 8th June, when on the Leichhardt road: On the 12th June 

 a large flock passed the camp at sundown, flying north. Again seen 

 on the Gregory River on 22nd July, 1910. 



Great numbers of this migratory species appeared in western New 

 South Wales early in August, 1910, and continued to arrive until 

 well on into September. Very few, however, remained to nest. 



Artamus melanops. Black-faced Wood-Swallow. — ^Frequently noted 

 throughout the Gulf country. This species is not migratorv. 



Artamus minor. Little Wood-Swallow. — Fairlv common through- 

 out the Gulf country. 



Colluricincla brunnea. Brown Shrike-Thrush. — Mr. M'Lennan 

 collected two specimens in the Gulf country, both of which Mr. 

 Mathews refers to this species. They differ very considerably from 

 one another, and until a larger series of skins is examined and more 

 observations made in a state of nature I would not consider the 

 matter settled. Mr. North also refers both these to C. brunnea. They 

 are fairly common in the Gulf country, where conditions favour their 

 habits. 



At Cape York there is one large Colluricincla and one small. 

 The latter is easily placed as C. rufigaster. The former is in dispute. 



