Vol. Xlll 



] MacgIllinray, Ko/cs on Some N. Queensland Birds. 183 



occasionally in the scrub. The nest is a pensile structure of bark, 

 and as a rule one long streamer of bark of from i to 2 feet in length 

 hangs from it. Nests were found from November to February. 

 Two eggs form a clutch. 



Sphecotheres flaviventris. Yellow-bellied Fig-Bird. — One of the 

 commonest of birds at Cape York, where it nests high up. usually in 

 a Moreton Bay ash, in company with the Helmeted Friar-Bird, 

 Drongo, and Calornis (A plants). 



Chibia bracteata. Spangled Drongo. — Found all the year round 

 at Cape York, but not so numerous in the winter. They nest in 

 company \v'ith other birds, in the open forest usually, but sometimes 

 in the scrub. 



Aplonis metallica. Shining Starling.— Numerous at Cape York 

 from August until March. They usually come early in August, and 

 soon take possession of their nesting- trees. 



cJ, irides scarlet, bill and legs black. Stomach contents, wild fruits. 



Chlamydera maculata. Spotted Bower-Bird. — Met with at Sedan. 

 Mr M'Lennan's note, made on 24th February, 1910. reads : — 

 " Saw a bird in a thick bush. Could not get a clear look at it, so 

 shot it ; it proved to be a Bower-Bii^d. Its mate flew from a tree 

 close by. and started to mimic all the birds of the district — Miner, 

 Friar-Bird, Whistler, Magpie. Butcher-Bird. Red-throated Honey- 

 eater — and ended with a marvellous imitation of a cat in a rage." 



When at Cattle Creek, 50 miles west from Cloncurry, this note 

 was madf : — '' While fixing up the horses I heard a Bower- Bird 

 mimicking the following birds : — Black Cockatoo, Whistling-Eagle, 

 Brown Hawk, Kite, Butcher-Bird, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, 

 Whistler, and Restless Flycatcher — all imitated to perfection ; in fact, 

 I was trying to locate the three first-named birds when I saw the 

 Bower-Bird." They were numerous round this camp. 



Chlamydera nuchalts. Great Bower-Bird — Seen on the Gregory 

 River and at the Brook Hotel. 20 miles from Burketown. They are 

 considered to be a nuisance in the hotel garden, destroying the fruit, 

 especially the grapes. 



(J, irides brown, bill blackish-brown, legs olive. Stomach contained 

 seeds and portions of green vegetable matter (wild figs) 



Chlamydera orientalis. Queensland Bower-Bird. — Numerous at 

 Lockerbie in iqio, but fewer in 191 1. Their bowers are decorated 

 with the shells of land-snails. 



(J, length 1 T,^ inches ; irides brown, bill blackish-brown ; legs olive- 

 green, feet a darker shade Stomach contents, wild fruits. 



Chlamydera cerviniventris. Fawn-breasted Bower-Bird — Fairly 

 common at Cape York, but unevenly distributed. They were met 

 with at Paira, Peak Point, and Somerset, on the Jardine River and 

 Escape River, and at Cape Grenville. Many nests were found, but 

 only one contained the much-coveted eggs Seven bowers were 

 noted at Cape York. Some had a platform of sticks in front of the 

 bower, and one had a square platform, also of sticks, about 6 feet 

 from the bower, raised i^ inches from the ground. The only decora- 

 tions about these bowers were bunches of green berries — no shells, 

 flowers, or leaves were noted Berries were on all the bowers, and 

 on the platforms in front. One bower was below high-water mark, 

 in the mangroves, and was flooded by the high tide every fortnight. 



