Vol. X. 

 1910 



] Macgillivray, Along the Great Barrier Reef. 217 



Black-faced and White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrikes {Graucaius melanops 

 and hypoleucus) and Orioles (Oriolns affinis and flavicinctus), 

 the Drongo, and the Kingfishers Halcyon sanctus and madeayi. 

 Along the banks of the Annan were a few Egrets {Herodias timori- 

 ensis). We followed up the southern bank for some miles, and 

 disturbed a Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprinmlgus macrufiis), besides 

 noting the Flycatchers Rhipidura dryas and Myiagra ruhecida and 

 some common forms. On the mangrove flats Curlews and 

 Whimbrels were feeding in numbers, whenever the tide was out, 

 in company with other Waders. In a patch of scrub near the 

 racecourse we came across a nest of the Plumed Frogmouth 

 {Podargus papuensis), with the bird sitting on it. The nest, of 

 small sticks and twigs, was compactly put together, and placed 

 in an upright fork of a pandanus tree at a height of about 15 feet. 

 It measured 4 inches in external depth, 7 inches in diameter across 

 the top : the egg cavity was 4 inches in diameter and i inch in 

 depth, and contained one fresh egg. The Leaden Flycatcher was 

 frequently noted in the more open scrubs. 



AMONG THE ISLANDS. 



We were pleased to embark on the lo-ton cutter Thistle, with 

 " Bob " M'Masters, the owner, in charge, and a crew of two — 

 George, an aged aboriginal from the Cairns district, who had spent 

 most of his life on the smaller coastal craft, and Billy, a young 

 black from near Cape Flattery, who had formerly been employed 

 as a diver for bkhe-de-mer. 



We had to beat out against a fairly rough sea after leaving the 

 mouth of the Endeavour River till we rounded Cape Bedford, 

 when we made good time with the prevailing south-east trade 

 wind, passing in succession several low woody islands, favoured 

 resorts of the Torres Strait or Nutmeg Pigeon (MyfisHcivora 

 spilotrhoa) for roosting and nesting purposes. This fine Pigeon 

 is as big as the largest of our domestic Pigeons, creamy-white 

 in colour, with slaty-black wing and tail feathers. It ranges right 

 down the coast of Queensland to the neighbourhood of the Mackay 

 district, being, however, more numerous in the northern parts. 

 They find in the scrubs on the mainland various edible fruits, 

 which grow there to profusion, and retire to the islands off the coast 

 to roost for the night, often flying 10 to 15 miles to do so. As one 

 passes up the coast they may frequently be seen, in small flocks of 

 from 5 to 20 or more, flying low over the sea to some island. Their 

 favourite roosting-place on these islands is amongst the man- 

 groves. The birds are good eating, and many are shot for the 

 table all along the coast, but with little appreciable effect on their 

 numbers, so it is said. On a low sandspit several Pelicans {Pele- 

 canus conspicillaius) were observed not long before we rounded 

 the bold, rocky headland of Cape Flattery to a safe ana sheltered 

 anchorage, where we decided to stay the night. A few Reef- 

 Herons {Demiegretta sacya) were searching the rocky shore for food, 

 and Curlews and Whimbrels the mud flats. 



