212 



Mellor, Birds of the Blackalls. [isf Dec. 



Megaloprepia magnifica (Purple-breasted Fruit-Pigeon, " Whampoo "). 



Lopholcemus antarcticus (Topknot-Pigeon). 



Chalcophaps chrysochlova (Little Green-Pigeon). 



Geopelia tranquilla (Ground-Dove) 



Macropygia phasianella (Pheasant-tailed Pigeon). 



Catheiimis lathami (Brush-Turkey). 



Syncecus australis (Swamp-Quail). 



Dromcsus novce-hollandicB (Emu). 



Trip to Tambourine Mountain. 



By Capt. S. a. White, R.A.O.U., Adelaide. 



No one interested in natural history who visits Queensland should 

 leave that State without exploring one of the sub- tropical scrubs. 

 I fear that within a few years there will not be many scrubs 

 left near Brisbane, for the land which supports such luxuriant 

 vegetation is now being cleared for cultivation purposes. Axe 

 and lire are rapidly destroying the primeval forests. It behoves the 

 Government to set aside large areas of scrub country as reserves. 

 No better scrub could be selected for this purpose than the Tam- 

 bourine. It is within easy distance of Brisbane, and a fine health 

 resort. I made inquiries in Brisbane re the Tambourine Mountain, 

 and some people told me that they believea it to be a pretty place, 

 but had never been there. I called at the Tourists' Bureau, but 

 could gather little information. 



I wrote three days in advance to the keeper of the boarding- 

 house at the mount, stating that my wife and I were coming. On 

 the appointed morning we caught the early Beaudesert train from 

 South Brisbane, which must be one of the slowest trains in Queens- 

 land, for it took one hour and a half to cover the first 17 miles. 

 In due course we reached the little Logan village, to find that the 

 letter I had written three days previously had been carried out in a 

 private mail- bag by a horseman early that morning, and would 

 not be read till it reached the top of the mountain. There seemed 

 little chance of a conveyance being sent for us that day. Had 

 we known the state of the roads, and the terrific climb up Tam- 

 bourine Mountain, we should not have expected it. As luck would 

 have it, a resident of the mountain came in to the railway with 

 a load of oranges about 3 p.m., and, after a little explanation, I 

 arranged with this mountaineer to convey us in his German 

 waggon at least part of the distance. So ofi we jolted at a fair 

 pace. As we journeyed I saw the Blue-faced Honey-eater, Leather- 

 head (Friar-Bird), Pheasant Coucal, Temporal Pomatorhinus, 

 Pale-headed Parrakeet, Pennant Parrakeet, Red-rumped Parra- 

 keet (very plentiful), Miner, and Pencilled Honey-eater. Just at 

 sundown we reached the Tambourine Hotel, which is some distance 

 from the foot of the mountain. Here we decided to stay the 

 night. At dusk great flocks of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets came to 

 roost in some gums a short distance from the hotel, and we stood 



