^°''i9^^7^N WnnE, North Australian Birds. 20y 



*Phaps chalcoptera. Bionzc-wingcd Pigeon. 



Pliaps chalcoptera chalcoptera. 



Macarthur Ri\-er, 7/8/15. — Couple of l)irds iUislied from liank of 

 river as we were passing in boat J 3/8/15, a bird shot from tlic boat. 

 Maria Island, 19/8/15 — A few birds seen near some bushes on beach ; 

 they were very wary. 20/8/15. — Occasionally seen amongst the 

 timber. Cape Barrow, 25/8/15. — Bird flushed in forest. King River 

 11/10/15. — Couple of birds seen at spring near camp. Bird seen 

 on three occasions in forest country during stay. 



Crop contained seeds, and gizzard seeds and small pebbles. 



*tGeophaps smithi. Naked-eyed Partridge-Pigeon. 

 Terraphaps smithi smithi. 



King River. — Fairly plentiful in forest country. Met in small 

 flocks up to a dozen birds. When flushed they fly into nearest tree, 

 perch a few seconds, and then dash out of sight. 



Crop, seeds and beetles ; gizzard, seeds and sand. 



*tEulabeornis castaneiventris. Chcstnut-bellicd Rail. 

 Eiilabeornis castaneiventris castaneiventris. 



Cadell Strait, 6/9/15. — Heard calling in the mangroxes. Goyder 

 River, 6/9/15, and Glyde River, 10/9/15. — lieard calling in the man- 

 groves. Two birds seen at water's edge at low tide. Liverpool 

 River, 19/9/15. — Heard in mangroves. King River. — Numerous in 

 mangroves all along river. Always heard calling, but rarely seen. 

 The call is a harsh screech, preceded by a short grunting note, rapidly 

 repeated about twelve times. When disturbed they utter the 

 grunting note at intervals, and occasionally a bird would utter a single 

 screech, preceded by the short grunt. Adepts at keepmg out of sight ; 

 I often heard them within 10 feet of me, but could not see them. 

 They appear to be very local in their habits, and would always 

 remain within a radius of 150 yards of where they were first heard 

 calling. (Refer notes 26/9/15, 14 and 29/10/15, 29 and 30/11/15, 

 I, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, II, 13, 15, 17, 19, 25, 27, 28, and 30/12/15, 5, 13, 

 16, 18, and 24/1/16 ; see narrative.) Howard Island Channel, 30 

 and 31/1/16, and Roper River. 17, 27, and 29/2/16. — Heard calling 

 in mangroves. 



Stomach contained small crabs. 



Amaurornis ruflcrissa. Rufous-tailed Rails 



Amaiirornis moluccanus ruftcrissus. , 



King River. — These birds were first heard calling 9/1 2/1 5. They 

 frequented long grass round springs and billabongs. Although I did 

 not see these birds, I am quite certain of their identity ; the call 

 cannot be mistaken for that of any other bird. G. M. Mathews 

 questions their occurrence in the Northern Territory. 



*Podicipes gularis. Black-throated Grebe. 

 Tachvbaptus ruficollis novcehollandice. 



King River, 3/1/16 — A few birds seen on small water-hole about 

 6 miles from camp. Set of four eggs was taken, a nest containing 

 one egg noted, and two lots of birds found building. 7/1/16, sent 

 the natives out to get nest noted with one egg (4/1/16) ; it contained 

 four eggs. They went further afield, and found another nest con- 

 taining five eggs. 



Stomach contained pebbles, charcoal, small beetles, and other 

 insects. 



