^°';'y'j White, North Australian Birds. I35 



Neochmia phaeton, and Ceiitropiis phasianus. A Little Eagle was 

 seen overhead. 



3/11/15. — Went out east across the ridges for about 3 miles, 

 and back to camp along the foot of the ridges. Birds identified : — 

 Myzomela erythrocephala, Lalage tricolor, and Ptilotis unicolor ; and 

 in the afternoon, Syncecus cervinus. 



4/11/15. — Went up river to the billabongs. A score of Tadorna 

 riifitergiim were seen. After lunch visited the spring. Saw a 

 White Goshawk ; spent about two hours trying to get it, without 

 success. Saw Megalurus galactotes and Melithreptus albigularis. 

 Strix heard calling after dark. 



5/1 1/15. — Went up the river in the dinghy ; visited the two old nests 

 of Ardea surnatrana, as I thought these birds might have started to 

 build. The nest of Cvacticus quoyi noted 17/ 10/ 15 appeared to 

 be deserted. Worked round through the mangroves in several places, 

 but did not find any nests. Of two nests of P. magnirosiris noted 

 24/10/15, one was deserted, the other contained two eggs. A nest 

 noted 27/10/15 also contained two eggs. Shot a couple of Glottis 

 nebularius on the way back to camp. After lunch I went down to 

 the spring to see if I could see Astur novcB-hollandicB, but there was 

 no sign of the bird about. Worked round through the forest. Pro- 

 cured Coracina robust a, Halcyon sanctus, and Neochmia phaeton. 

 Rest of day uneventful. 



6/11/15 — Went down river a couple of miles. The nest of 

 Microeca flaviventris noted 21/10/15 contained one hard-set egg. 

 Landed on the left bank and went to small sandstone range. A 

 couple of Pitta iris was heard, a pair of Caprimulgus macrurus 

 flushed, and Collyriocichla woodwardi , Rhipidura isura, and Pachy- 

 cephala falcata seen. Shot a Ptistes coccineopterus in some paper-barks. 

 Got back to camp at 2.30 p.m, shoating a Curlew on the way which 

 had the claw of a small crab fastened on its bill. Excessively hot 

 to-day. Distant thunder and lightning after sunset. 



7/1 1 /i 5. — Went up river a couple of miles through the forest. 

 Found a nest of Rhipidura isitra, ready for eggs, 5 feet from ground 

 on dead twig of a Banksia. Dacelo cervina flushed from a hollow 

 15 feet from the ground in a eucalypt ; nest contained two eggs. 

 Felt unwell, so I returned to camp. Called at billabongs on the way ; 

 saw a flock of ten Whistling-Ducks. Shot a couple of Tadorna rufi- 

 tergum for the pot, and noted Entomyza albipennis, Merops ornatus, 

 Pachycephala falcata, and Malurus cnientatus. 



8/11/15. — Feeling too unwell to go far afield, went to spring at 

 foot of ridge about 7.30 a.m. to see what birds came to water. In 

 an hour and a half identified Geopelia humeralis, G. placida, Poephila 

 personata, P. gouldice, Neochmia phaeton, Tropidorhynchus argenticeps, 

 Philemon sordidus, Entomyza albipennis, Stigmatops ocularis, 

 Glyciphila fasciata, Myzomela obscura, Melithreptus albigularis, and 

 Rhipidura tricolor. Five Lobivanellus miles were seen at an open 

 pool at the edge of the scrub. Went again to the springs about 

 2 p.m. Geophaps smithi was the only additional bird seen. Distant 

 thunderstorms to east, south, and west during the afternoon and 

 evening. 



9/1 1 /i 5. — Still unwell ; must have a touch of fever. Went to the 

 spring at foot of ridge for a couple of hours ; saw Myzomela pectoralis, 



