^"''ig^T^^J White, North Australian Birds. 1 39 



25/1 i/i 5. — Went to the northern end of the sandstone range ; passed 

 through about 3 miles of forest on the way. Little bird-life observed. 

 Nest of Artamus minor noticed in a hole of rock ; could not reach it. 

 Another nest of this bird seen on the face of a precipitous cliff ; it 

 contained young. The strange PHlotis was seen and watched for 

 some time. On imitating its call the bird became very excited, and 

 in a few minutes another bird appeared, presumably the female. 

 Both birds then flew off into a scrubby ravine. Followed them, but 

 could only locale the male ; it was then too late to search the ravine. 

 I must have strained my foot in the ranges, as I could hardly walk 

 when I reached camp at sunset. 



26/1 1/15. — Foot very stiff and painful this morning, so spent day 

 near camp, procuring some useful material and observing. Thunder- 

 storms to the south. 



27/11/15. — Went to the sandstone range where I was watching 

 the pair of Ptiloiis mentioned 25/1 1/15. On imitating their call, 

 one of the birds flew from the entrance of the ravine ; a little later 

 the other bird appeared. Watched them for about an hour. Searched 

 the ravine thoroughly, but could not find any nest. After lunch 

 worked another part of the range. Eight more nests of Collyriocichla 

 woodwardi were found ; two appeared to be fresh. All were in similar 

 positions to those previously noted. The bush was melodious with 

 the birds' varied and beautiful song. Two nests of Artamus minor 

 noted in inaccessible positions in cliffs. Two pairs of the Ptilotis 

 were watched for some time, without result. Saw parties of Malurus 

 dtilcis. A slight thunderstorm passed up the river about mid-day, 

 and another passed over the camp at night. 



28/1 1/15. — Went down the river for about a mile in the dinghy, 

 and up a small creek for i| miles. Nests of Pseudogerygone magni- 

 rostris, containing eggs, were taken. Nests of Piezorhynchiis niiidiis 

 and Cracticiis quoyi, containing young, were noted. Saw Poecilodryas 

 pulverulentus ; also a number of Edoliisoma tenuirosire were heard 

 calling in different places among mangroves. Went up the river a 

 short distance to where I had previously heard Halcyon sordidiis. 

 Mosquitoes very bad in the mangroves. In the afternoon two pairs 

 of Climacteris melanura were watched for an hour ; no result. 

 Cacomantis flabelliformis seen near camp. The nest of Rhipidnra 

 isura examined two days ago contained two eggs. 



29/1 1 /i 5. — Went up the river and examined three of the small 

 creeks. On the butt of a fallen mangrove, near the creek, I found 

 a nest in course of construction that perhaps belonged to the Chestnut 

 Rail ; at present it is a shapeless, flat-topped heap of dead twigs and 

 mangrove leaves. The birds were heard calling close by. A pair 

 of Pachycephala simplex was watched for some time. After lunch 

 worked the mangroves down the river for about i^ miles. A last 

 season's nest of the Rail was found on the butt of a fallen mangrove. 

 Mosquitoes and sand-flies made the mangroves unbearable. Spent 

 the rest of the afternoon working the forest. Pair of Rhipiditra 

 isura had started a nest in a small paper-bark at the landing. 



30/1 1/15. — Went down the river a couple of miles and into the 

 mangroves on the right bank after Eulaheornis, which were calling 

 in the vicinity. Pcecilodryas pulverulentus seen feeding a full-fledged 

 young. Several old nests of Bitterns and Doves noted. Saw, at the 



