140 White, North Australian Birds. [isim"" 



spring, Myzomela obscura and M. erythrocephala. After lunch went 

 across the river opposite camp to where a pair of Eulabeornis was 

 calhng nearly every day. After hunting for a couple of hours found 

 a freshly-built nest on a fallen mangrove. Mosquitoes and sand-flies 

 terrible. 



1/12/15. — Proceeded down river beyond where I went yesterday. 

 Searched through the mangroves. Nest of E. castaneiventer at last 

 found, containing three eggs ; left it to see if more would be laid. 

 PoecUodryas pulverulentus were about and watched. Left the man- 

 groves for a small sandstone range near. A pair of Pitta iris and a 

 pair of Pseudogerygone were noted, also Lalage leucomelcena, Edoliisoma 

 tenuirostre, and Collyriocichla woodwardi. Returned to river. A 

 Butorides stagnatilis flushed from its nest 4 feet above the water in 

 dead mangroves ; it contained two eggs. Found beginnings of another 

 Rail's nest at the base of a mangrove on a mound of earth. Back to 

 camp at sunset. 



2/1 2/1 5. — Uneventful day, save for mosquitoes. 



3/ 1 2/1 5. — Went up river and ashore searching for Eulabeornis. 

 Found a nest that had just been started, and observed some old nests. 

 Missed a Bronze-Cuckoo. Nothing else of note, except mosquitoes. 

 On return to camp shot a pair of Trichoglossus rubritorques. After 

 lunch I went up river through the forest. Found Rhipidura istira 

 just starting a nest 8 feet from the ground in a dead wattle. Very 

 few birds to be seen. 



4/1 2/1 5. — Nothing eventful to-day, which was oppressively hot. 



5/1 2/ 1 5 . — Uneventful . 



6/1 2/1 5. — Went down river to nest of Eulabeornis noted 1/12/15 ; 

 it contained four eggs. Took them and waited for the bird, which 

 returned in about half an hour, walked up the sloping root of the 

 mangrove, and hopped on to the nest. Crossed the river and 

 examined several other nesting-places of the Rails, including a nest, 

 apparently building, 3 feet above the ground on the butt of a fallen 

 mangrove. Tracks of the birds in mud could be seen leading to the 

 nest. Another nest, almost finished, was 10 feet from the ground on 

 a large horizontal limb of a mangrove. 



7/12/15. — Went over to the range. Visited 15 nesting-places 

 (previously noted) of the Sandstone Thrush ; no eggs in the four 

 fresh nests and no sign of building in the other places. In one place 

 three birds were trying to outsing one another — a great treat to hear 

 their music A pair of the strange Ptilotis was seen and watched 

 for some time ; no result. A pair of Falco melanogenys was seen. 

 Got back to camp just at dusk, and heavy thunder and much lightning 

 to the south occurred afterward. 



8/1 2/1 5. — Went through the forest south-easterly about 3 miles. 

 A Tree-creeper (C. melanura) flew into a hollow with something in its 

 bill. Climbed up, but could not see in ; will investigate again in a 

 few days. Returned to river and worked it down, calling at the 

 billabongs on the way. Procured Edoliisoma tenuirostre. Tracks of 

 natives seen in the mud along the edge of the mangroves ; they have 

 evidently been spying the camp. Returned to camp about 2 p.m. 

 Did not go out again. Mohr shot a pair of Tadorna rufttergum on a 

 salt-pan. Crop and stomach of both Ducks were full of beetles ; 

 bottled some. 



