Vol. XVI. -1 White, North Australian Birds. 127 



1917 J ' 



this branch for about 7 miles, until further progress was barred by 

 the mangroves, which are overhanging and interlaced across the 

 channel. Bird-life not very plentiful along the river. A pair of 

 Tadorna riifitergum, a large flock of Dendrocygna eytoni, an occasional 

 Numenius cyanopus, N. variegaius, Notophoyx novce-hollandice , 

 Herodias timoriensis, Nycticorax caledonicus , and Plotus novcB- 

 hollandicE were the only water-fowl noted. Cr adieus quoyi, 

 Piezorhynchus nitidus, Stigmatops ocularis, Myzomela ohscura, M. 

 erythvocephala, and Microsca flaviventris were also seen. A nest of 

 Micrceca flaviventris containing one egg was found in a dead mangrove 

 near the edge of the river. Got ashore on the left bank and made 

 for the sandstone ranges across a fiat stretch of poor country covered 

 with a thin growth of stunted trees. A Falcon (F. hinulatus) was 

 observed. Reached the ranges and climbed a bluff to get a view of 

 the country up river. The fiats on both sides appeared very poor, 

 covered with a thin growth of stunted trees — paper-barks, wattles, 

 blood-woods, and other eucalypts. No signs of fresh water. A few 

 Bower-Birds were the only birds seen in the ranges. Returned to 

 the dinghy and went back to the boat ; reached there about 3 p.m. In 

 the afternoon went down river to the small sandstone range at the 

 edge of the mangroves. There was a little scrub around the base of 

 the bluffs and in the ravines, but very dry. Pitta iris was secured. 

 Pachycephala simplex and P. falcata were the only other birds seen in 

 the scrub. UroaiHus audax seen circling on high. Got round the base 

 of the bluffs ; still no sign of any fresh water. Returned to boat, 

 reaching there a little before dark. Mosquitoes and sand-fiies were 

 very troublesome. 



30/9/15. — ^New and I went up the other branch of the river in the 

 dinghy. About 2 miles from the boat there was a break in the man- 

 groves on the right bank. The river got very narrow in the next 

 couple of miles, and the mangroves overhung and interlaced across 

 the channels ; had to cut our way through in several places. Reached 

 the end of the mangroves. The channel was very shallow and full of 

 snags ; it was not safe to go further. Went ashore on the right bank ; 

 a small billabong surrounded by paper-barks and pandani was located 

 about 400 yards from the river. Birds were fairl}^ plentiful in the 

 trees surrounding the water, but nothing fresh was seen. In a break 

 in the mangroves traces of an old camp (buffalo-shooters') were noticed. 

 A track runs down the river about 500 yards to a thick patch of 

 paper-barks and other trees, palms, pandani, and ferns, where is a 

 fine spring of good water. A low hematite ridge comes in close to the 

 river at this spot ; returned along the foot of it. Several more fine 

 springs were met with. The country is heavily timbered — messmate, 

 blood- wood, paper-barks, and numerous other trees — and bird-life 

 plentiful. It should be a good place to form a camp. Returned to 

 the boat. Butorides stagnatilis was the only fresh bird seen. Had 

 some lunch, then proceeded north-west from the boat to the end of 

 the sandstone ranges. Climbed the highest bluff for view of the 

 country. It is similar to country across the river. Hunted round 

 amongst the bluffs and ravines for a couple of hours A few Artamus 

 minor and a couple of Bower-Birds (nuchalis) were all that were 

 noticed. Returned to the boat at sunset. Mohr tried for water 

 close to our anchorage ; he sank four holes, from 6 to 10 feet in depth, 

 without success. Decided to shift up the river to the old buffalo- 

 shooters' camp. 



