102 White, Norlh Australian Birds-. [,5U,"jan. 



procure any Black Butcher-Birds or Chestnut Rails. Saw the former 

 birds building in the fork of a mangrove, 20 feet from the ground ; 

 nest about half built. Spent much time after the Rails, but could 

 not catch even sight of them, although at times they were only a few 

 feet away. They usually frequent the densest part of the mangroves, 

 along the small channels. Another pair of Butcher-Birds was noted. 

 A nest of Pseudogerygone magnirostris , containing two eggs, was 

 found, a couple of feet above the water in a mangrove. The tide was 

 rising, and, as the mangroves were flooded, I returned ; reached camp 

 about 2 p.m. Went in quest of Rufous Owls again ; two birds were 

 seen. After stalking them for about two hours brought one down. 

 They are very wary birds, and fly off at the slightest sound or 

 movement. Got back to camp and made skin of the bird before dark. 

 Heavy thunder and lightning away to the southward again. Heard a 

 Strix call about 10 p.m., and went out after it, without success. 



18/10/15. — Went out east by south from camp for about 4 miles, 

 then around to the south and west, striking the river about ^^ miles 

 above camp. Very little bird-life seen. Nest of Pomaiorhinus 

 rubeculus , 8 feet from the ground, in a wattle, was examined ; it 

 contained three small young. Shot a pair of Myzantha flavigula and 

 a Poephila acuticanda. A Tree-creeper (C. melanura) was found 

 building in a hollow 20 feet from the ground in a eucalypt. Falcon 

 (F. lunulatus) was seen attacking a Whistling-Eagle, stooping at it 

 repeatedly and uttering its sharp, querulous call, but never actually 

 striking the big bird. A Jabiru and Spoonbill were the only water- 

 birds seen at the billabongs. Procured a specimen of Eniomyza albi- 

 pennis. Got back to camp about 2.30 p.m. My legs were very bad 

 — -all out in a burning rash, and puffed up. After I had skinned the 

 birds I went down to the mangroves to see if I could get the other 

 Owl ; no sign of it. I must have strained my left ankle to-day : it 

 was very painful when I turned in. 



19/10/15. — Started up the river. My ankle is very stiff and 

 painful, but it may improve with walking. A number of migratory 

 birds seen about the salt-pans which have been filled by the big tides. 

 Glottis nebularius, Totanus stagnatilis, Mesoscolopax minutus, Hetero- 

 pygia acuminata, Pisobia ruficollis, Mgialitis melanops, Lobivanellus 

 miles, A ntigone australasiana, Nettion gibberifrons , and Dendrocygna eytoni 

 noted. My foot had not improved, so I shot a few birds and 

 returned to camp On the way saw pair of Eurystomus pacificiis and 

 the Rufous Owls. 



20/10/15. — My ankle too painful for walking, so I took to the 

 river in the dinghy to examine the nests previously noted building. 

 Some were deserted, others contained eggs. Pseudogerygone magni- 

 rostris was flushed from a nest containing three eggs. Halcyon 

 sordidus were heard calling. A fine pair of Ardea sumatrana pre- 

 ceded the dinghy all the way up the river." On return noted Alcyone 

 pulchra and Numenius variegatus. Eulabeornis castaneiventer was 

 heard calling in several places. Got back to camp about 3 p.m. 

 Sent New up the river. Cacomanlis flabelliformis and a Chalcococcyx 

 heard calling in the mangroves near camp. 



21/10/15. — Went down river in dinghy for about 5 miles. Ex- 

 amined several small creeks and channels. A pair of Micrcera 

 flaviveniris found building in fork of dead mangrove, about 5 feet 

 above the water. A number of ^gialitis ruficapilla and O. geoffroyi 



