1^2 White, North Australian Birds. [ t'h")'^!! 



dinghy, which was left about 20 feet inside the mangroves. Were 

 watched by crocodiles. Shot one in the head, and it " turned turtle " 

 and sank. 



11/3/16. — Visited the rookery directly after breakfast. The carcass 

 of the crocodile was floating in the exact spot where 1 shot it yester- 

 day ; secured it to a mangrove tree. Mohr and New went up the 

 river in cutter for water, and they did not return till 10 p.m. Put 

 in the afternoon blowing and packing eggs. 



1 2/3/16. — Finished off work on hand, and examined the Heronries 

 while dodging crocodiles. 



1 3/3/ 1 6. — -In the afternoon more bird-cwm-crocodile observations. 

 Got back to camp at sunset. Mosquitoes exceedingly bad. 



1 4/3/ 1 6. — Visited the rookery after lunch. Took eggs of Phala- 

 crocorax melanoleucus and P. sulcirostris. Saw a boat coming up 

 from the mouth of the river when we were leaving the rookery ; it 

 proved to be the mission station launch. Mr. Warren, who was in 

 charge, came across and gave us a tow to the camp. He had come 

 down to see if he could get any salt in the salt-pans. Mosquitoes 

 not so bad. 



1 5/3/16. — Mr. Warren, of the Mission Station, spent the day at 

 camp. He wished to visit the rookery to secure some photographs. 

 It was a very poor day for photography, but Mr. Warren took half 

 a dozen snapshots. Hope they will be successful. 



16/3/16. — Mr. Warren left this morning for a small river about 

 4 miles north of the Roper. Visited the rookery after lunch. 

 Secured sets of each of the four fine Egrets, and took the Pseudo- 

 gerygone's nest noted 10/3/16 ; it contained two eggs and one of a 

 Bronze-Cuckoo. Waited till the bird returned. I think it was 

 undoubtedly IcBvigaster. Another nest of a similar bird was found, 

 which contained two eggs. Mosquitoes bad again, interfering with 

 work. 



17/3/16. — Spent the day in camp. Mohr and New had to go up 

 the river in the cutter for water. Mr. Warren came up the river 

 about 5 p.m. He had been up the coast and explored three small 

 rivers. Natives fairly numerous there. In one camp they had 

 dozens of Egrets' eggs that the natives had got on an island in the 

 river. 



1 8/3/ 1 6. — Did not feel well to-day. Mohr shot an 8-foot crocodile 

 at the landing. After lunch, went down and across the river in the 

 dinghy, up a big creek for about 3 miles. Very few mangroves along 

 the creek, mostly open salt-pans. Bird-life scarce. Zosterops lutea, 

 Pcecilodryas pulverulentus, and Piezorhynchus nitidits only were noted. 

 Alcyone pulchra was flushed from burrow in a steep bank ; the nest 

 contained six eggs. Sand-flies are taking the place of mosquitoes. 



19/3/16. — Finished off blowing and packing all the eggs on hand. 

 When out heard a Thickhead close by. On imitating the call, a bird 

 appeared that was new to me. It is probably Pachycephala fretorum, 

 or perhaps P. lanioides. 



20/3/16. — Unwel], so spent the day in camp. 



21/3/16. — General exploration. Shot two crocodiles. Nothing else 

 of note seen. Four natives came to camp from the mouth of river 



