234 Broadbent, Birds of Caniwell and Herbert River. [^ 



Emu 

 t Dec. 



flies out into the open, and its call is like the rest of the Ninox — 

 " ]\Iopoke " repeated. 



.Egotheles nov^-hollandi^ (Owlet Nightjar). — August. Not 

 very common in the Cardwell district. They live in holes of trees 

 in the daytime, and if one knocks at the bottom of the tree with a 

 stick, should one live there he mil pop out his head and take a look 

 at the disturber of his sleep. Large " goannas " (lace lizards) must 

 kill a good many of these birds. I shot a " goanna " with one in its 

 mouth, just caught in a gum spout. 



PoDARGUs PHAL^NOiDES (Freckled Frogmouth). — Common at 

 Catdwell. 



PoDARGUS PAPUENSis (Plumed Frogmouth). — September, in the 

 mountains at the head of Gowrie Creek, sleeping in thick tree on open 

 grassy spur, 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. 



EuROSTOPUS ALBiGULARis (Whlte-throated Nightjar). — August. 

 This is a common bird in the Cardwell district. It camps on the bare 

 ground in the daytime, and at dusk flies over the open grass-flats, 

 catching moths. The edge of the scrub is its favourite hunting ground. 

 I have sometimes shot four or five specimens at dusk near Cardwell. 

 It is very Hawk-like in its flight. Common in the Cairns district, 

 along river flats and scrub pockets, in the rainy season. 



Caprimulgus macrurus (Large-tailed Nightjar). — August. Common 

 on the Herbert, edge of scrubs or in the scrub in a clear place, always 

 sleeping on the ground, sometimes two together. This bird has a 

 wide range north. 



Ch^tura caudacuta (Spipe- tailed Swift). — Herbert River, near 

 Mr. Craig's station in the hills. On warm days, just before rain, 

 these birds were here in hundreds, flying all round the house. January 

 I have seen them in hundreds flying along the Cardwell beach. 



Callocalia francica (Grey-rumped Swiftlet). — Common at Card- 

 well in August. When these birds are seen flying near the ground it 

 is a sure sign of approaching rainy weather. 



HiRUNDO NEoxENA. ^ — August, Cardwell. There were a few of 

 these birds flying about Cardwell this month, and sitting on the tele- 

 graph wires in the street. They have a pretty little song when 

 preening themselves. 



Petrochelidon nigricans (Tree-Martin). — August, Cardwell. A 

 few specimens of this bird were flying in the street in Cardwell this 

 month in company with H. neoxena. 



Merops ornatus. — igth August, Cardwell, in little flocks. These 

 birds do not breed about Cardwell. A few breed on the Herbert 

 River, about Craig's, but not many. In October I have seen them 

 flying over Cardwell in thousands for days, going south. 



EuRYSTOMUs PACiFicus (Dollar-Bird.) — 9th August, single ones 

 seen. Scarce at this time of the year, but in September and October 

 plentiful on all the tea-tree flats behind Cardwell. 



Dacelo gigas (Brown Kingfisher). — 19th August, Cardwell. 

 Common. 



Dacelo leachi (Leach Kingfisher). — August. Cardwell is the true 

 habitat of this bird. Prefers the tea-tree swamps. 



Halcyon sanctus (Sacred Kingfisher). — August, about mouths of • 

 salt-water creeks, in the mangroves, Cardwell. 



