164 I-E SouEF, North Queensland Birds. \i^"T 



I left Townsville the same day in the Lass 0' Gowrie, arriving" at 

 Lucinda Point at 4.30 a.m., but we found another small steamer 

 there, and, as there was only room for one vessel to discharge at 

 a time, we had to wait before we could commence. During the 

 day I walked a long way along the beach, and noticed that the 

 crabs that burrow there frequently fill up the entrance to the 

 burrow from below with sand. They are exceedingly quick in 

 their movements, and run sideways very rapidly. In time of 

 danger they need speed, as, unfortunately for themselves, they 

 form the favourite article of diet of the White-headed Sea-Eagle. 

 These birds sit quietly on some adjacent mangrove-tree, and when 

 they see a crab wander some distance from its burrow they sail 

 down to the hole from which the crab emerged to keep it from 

 escaping down it. After dodging about for a time in its efforts 

 to escape, the crab, with outstretched claws, starts running in 

 circles, and is soon caught by the bird, which has been just above, 

 ready to drop on its prey. 



After leaving Lucinda Point we did not go through the beautiful 

 Hinchinbrook Channel, but outside the island, and arrived off 

 Dunk Island at 1.30 a.m. Fortunately it was moonlight, and 

 the steamer rounded into the splendidly sheltered Brambo Bay. 

 The whistle was blown, and a lantern hght was presently seen 

 on the beach. Ere long Mr. E. J. Banfield was alongside in his 

 dingey, and I was soon in it with luggage, mails, &c., and we 

 rowed to the shore, landing on a sandy beach by the boat-shed. 



Adequately to describe Dunk Island is difficult : its beauties 

 must be seen to be appreciated. Nutmeg-Pigeons {Myristicivora 

 spilorrhoa) were beginning to arrive in their thousands, as well 

 as Bee-eaters {Merops ornatus) and other migratory birds, but 

 I was rather too early for them. Scrub-Fowls {Megapodins 

 tmnulns) were very plentiful, and their nesting-mounds were 

 frequently seen in the scrubs. Often the birds uttered their call 

 during the night from the tops of some trees in which they were 

 roosting. What I took to be the male bird uttered a harsh, 

 guttural crow, followed by the running note of the female (?). 

 Several Bee-eaters had found a swarm of European bees that was 

 hanging on to a branch of a shrub, and were daily lessening their 

 number. Mr. Banfield used to keep many hives of bees, but 

 it eventuaUy came to giving up the bees or shooting the Bee-eaters 

 that attacked them. He decided on the former alternative, as he 

 did not hke destroying these beautiful birds. I also noticed 

 Drongo Shrikes {Chibia hracteata), Dusky Honey-eaters {Myzomela 

 obscura), and Fasciated Honey-eaters {Ptilotis fasciogiilaris), Sun- 

 Birds {Cinnyris frenata), and Wood-Swallows [Artamus leuco- 

 gaster). Sulphur-crested Cockatoos [Cacatiia galerita) were 

 plentiful, and nesting. The Shining Starlings {Calornis metallica) 

 were also arriving in numerous companies from New Guinea, and 

 were building their dome-shaped nests in clusters on a tall 

 eucalyptus tree not far from the house. Large-tailed Nightjars 

 {Capnmulgus macriims) were always heard as soon as the shades 



