196 stray Feathers. [.sf'ja,,. 



nest on the low-lying coral islands off the coast. They fly 

 across to the mainland early in the morning, to feed on the 

 wild figs, nutmegs, and other berries, and return, in small flocks, 

 about sundown. In these short journeys they usually fly higher 

 than when migrating. Comparatively few birds nest on the 

 mainland, and the nests are generally situated high above 

 the ground. It is a somewhat bulky structure of twigs, occasionally 

 lined with leaves. One egg forms the clutch. 



Another bird which migrates at the same time as these Pigeons 

 is the Bee-eater [Merops ornatus) ; but their manner of flight is 

 different. They travel above the water at a height of from 50 

 to 100 feet, and fly with a wavy motion, similar to the Cuckoo, 

 Graucal'us, &c., frequently uttering their single note. They fly 

 in flocks, and Cape York seems to be the landing-place of the 

 majority. A lesser number land on the northern coast as far 

 as North- Western Australia. The Bee-eater comes far south, 

 reaching the northern districts of Victoria. It will be found 

 nesting from that portion of the Australian mainland up to 

 Northern Australia — evidence that an enormous number of birds 

 migrate. The Nutmeg-Pigeon and the Bee-eater are the 

 two purely southern birds which are usually seen on their 

 migration. The White-tailed Kingfisher {T any sifter a sylvia) and 

 other species have, as far as I know, not been observed ; possibly 

 they travel at a greater altitude, or journey at night. Approxi- 

 mately, it is only 80 miles across Torres Strait ; but, although the 

 distance is short, the work of flying against the continuous and 

 sometimes strong south-east trade wind must be considerable. 



A few birds alighted on the steamer at different times, having 

 evidently become detached from their company ; they remained 

 for some hours, occasionally continuing their southerly flight the 

 same day, but usually staying till night fell. They had always 

 disappeared the following morning. Several Sharp-tailed Stints 

 {Heteropygia acuminata) also rested on the vessel, and ran about 

 on the canvas awning or deck-houses looking for food. They 

 generally kept about the vessel for the same length of time as the 

 Bee-eaters. On several occasions I saw flying past the steamer 

 small flocks of Curlews [Numenius cyanopus) at a height of about 

 50 feet or more above the water. These birds did not appear to 

 be more numerous at any one point than another. Evidently 

 the Curlews arrive along the whole of the north coast, but 

 probably are more plentiful at the eastern and western corners. 

 Judging from the number of birds which go down the coast, I 

 should say that the greater number of the migratory waders make 

 the north-west corner of Australia their landfall. I was sur- 

 prised to see several Long-billed Stone Plovers (Orthorhamphiis 

 magnirostris) flying southwards ; they frequently flew singly, but 

 occasionally in pairs, at a height of about 20 feet above the 

 water. We were generally out of sight of land when the different 

 species of birds were seen, but the number was very small, as it 

 was late in the season, and the majority had already passed south. 



