242 Broadbent, Birds of Cardwell and Herbert River. [,sf Dec. 



August. Oil the Bellenden-Ker expedition numbers of these birds 

 were eaten in camp. 



Chalcophaps chrysochlora (Little Green-Pigeon). — September, 

 Cardwell. Common in all the scrubs on the east coast of Australia. 

 Shot one specimen at Healesville, 40 miles from jMelbourne, on the 

 Wood's Point road, Gippsland, Victoria. Common at Port Moresby, 

 New Guinea. 



Geopelia humeralis (Barred-shouldered Dove). — Cardwell. 

 Common. This bird has also a wide range — Chinchilla, out west from 

 -Brisbane, Cardwell, Cairns, and at Cape York. Numerous on the 

 beach near the old settlement in January. 



Geopelia tranouilla (Ground-Dove). — Common, Cardwell, all 

 times. 



Macropygia phasianella (Pheasant-tailed Pigeon). — August, 

 Cardwell. 



Catheturus lathami (Brush-Turkey).— Common in hill scrubs, 

 Gowrie's Creek. 



Megapodius duperreyi (Scrub-Fowl). — From south of the Herbert, 

 Seaview Range, to Cape York. Common at Cairns, Herberton scrubs. 

 Called by the settlers Scrub-Fowl or Scrub-Hen. At Cape Yoi-k 

 these birds make very large mounds for breeding purposes. About 

 Cardwell and the Cairns district the mounds are smaller — about the 

 size of the mound of T. lathami. The eggs are deep down in the 

 centre of the mound. I have seen eight taken from one mound. 

 September and October are the best months in the Cardwell scrubs 

 for the eggs of this bird. When " mingan " hunting at Craig's, Herbert 

 Gorge, with the blacks, we used to have some nights 30 or 40 

 of the eggs for supper. The birds have a curious habit of crowing 

 in the scrubs late at night and early in the morning (about 3 o'clock}. 

 They are shy, but easy to shoot. When walking about in the scrubs 

 they nearly always fly into the first tree and look at the intruder. 

 They are also very inquisitive. Frequently, when sitting in the scrub 

 waiting for something to turn up, one of these birds would come along, 

 scratching up leaves as he came, and, on seeing me, would turn and 

 run a few yards, then come up quite close and have a good look at 

 the stranger. 



Syncecus australis (Brown Quail). — November. Common on 

 Herbert River. 



Casuarius australis (Cassowary).. — Common in Herbert scrubs. 



EupoDOTis australis (Wild Turkey, Bustard). — August, Herbert 

 River. This is a rare bird here. Shot one on the grassy flats on the 

 Herbert in August. 



BuRHiNUS GRALLARius (Stone-Plover). — Common near the sea- 

 beach at Cardwell in August. 



Orthorhamphus (Esacus) magnirostris (Long-billed Stone-Plover). 

 — Shot one of these birds in February at Gould Island. Have seen 

 them at the mouth of Maunga Creek, Cardwell (single ones) ; rather 

 scarce. Shot this bird at Bountiful Island, in Gulf of Carpentaria. 

 I never saw more than one at a time, and always walking on the mud 

 or sandy shores on the islands. 



LoBiVANELLUS LOBATUs (Spur- winged Plover).— September, Her- 

 bert River. 



