IaS White, North Australia u Birds. [^ 



Emu 

 5th Jan. 



Heronries of the Roper, perhaps I should allow Mr. M'Lennan to 

 give his own plain, unvarnished, but interesting account, as 

 continued in his diary. Moreover, reliable first-hand field-notes 

 are most valuable. 



On the Roper River. 



17/2/16. — It rained continuously through the night. There was 

 little wind. Tide running out very fast. Went across the river to 

 look at the Egret rookery. Could not get near the mangroves in 

 dinghy because of an intervening mud-bank about a quarter of a 

 mile wide. Waded to the mangroves, thigh-deep in mud. Only 

 had time to work the edge of the mangroves before the tide turned. 

 Nests of Garzetta nigripes and Herodias timoriensis were in great 

 profusion, but none of those examined contained full sets. Some 

 of the eggs had evidently been blown out by yesterday's wind- 

 squalls, as the mud underneath was covered with eggs. A number 

 of Notophoyx flavirostris could be seen flying to the mangroves 

 farther in, but could not see their nests. An occasional Mesophoyx 

 pliimifera could also be seen. Returned to the boat and made a 

 start up the river. Light head wind ; progress slow. Anchored 

 at sunset when the tide turned. Egrets could be seen for miles 

 along the river, flying to and from the rookeries. Other birds noted 

 were Numenius cyanopus, N. variegatus, Platalea regia, Ibis molucca, 

 and Anas superciliosa, all on the wing, and mostly flying down river. 

 Lohivanellus miles occasionally seen in the open spaces in man- 

 groves, while on shore were heard Ardea sumatrana, Dupetor gouldi, 

 Eulabeornis castaneiventer, Pachycephala melanura, Piezorhynchus 

 nitidus, Poecilodryas pulverulentus, Geopelia placida and G. humer- 

 alis, Pseudogerygone, Chalcococcyx, Cacomantis flabelliformis, and 

 Myzomela erythrocephala. No sign of the rain clearing off. Debris of 

 recent flood could be seen in the mangroves on the banks 8 feet above 

 high- water mark. 



1 8/2/16. — Made an early start, and held on till nearly noon. 

 Numbers of Night-Herons were flushed from the mangroves on the 

 left bank ; probably breeding, but could not see any nests from the 

 boat. A number of Ibis molucca and Platalea regia, a few Corvus 

 coronoides, Haliastur sphenurus, and H. girrenera were seen. Made 

 fair progress, and anchored at dark. The following birds were again 

 noted on the way : — Notophoyx flavirostris , Herodias timoriensis, 

 Garzetta nigripes, Butorides stagnatilis, Ardea sumatrana, Antigone 

 australasiana, Numenius cyanopus and N . variegatus, Dupetor gouldi, 

 Dendrocygna eytoni, Calyptorhynchus macrorhynchus , Pachycephala 

 melanura, Pcecilodryas pulverulentus, Piezorhynchus nitidus. Zoster ops 

 lutea, Myzomela erythrocephala, Pseudogerygone, Geopelia placida 

 and G. humeralis, and Centropus phasianus. Anseranas semipalmata 

 were heard passing up the river after dark. Finished the last of 

 provisions ; only a little tea and sugar remain. 



1 9/2/ 1 6. — Went ashore for two hours; no game of any kind 

 observed. Conopophila albogularis, Merops ornatus, Eurystomus 

 pacificus, Coracina robusta, Cuculus optatus (saturafus), Herodias 

 timoriensis, Nycticorax caledonicus, Pandion leucocephalus, Haliastur 

 sphenurus. and Astur approximans noted. Returned to boat and 

 rowed up river to a small rocky islet in mid-stream. Fished, but 

 only caught two 3-feet sharks. With strong south-east breeze made 



