2-14 Broadbent, Birds of Cavdwell and Hevhevt River. [ist^Dec. 



NoTOPHOYX NOViE-HOLLANDi.^; (White-fronted Heron). — August, 

 Cardwell. This is a very common bird here at all times, inhabiting 

 the swamps. 



Herodias timoriensis (White Egret). — August, Cardwell. In 

 June and July, at the mouth of the Norman, I have seen hundreds 

 of these birds sitting in the mangroves, in company with the White 

 Ibis and Black-billed Spoonbill. 



Mesophoyx plumifera (Plumed Egret). — August, on the beach at 

 Cardwell. 



Demiegretta sacra (Reef-Heron). — Brook Island reefs. 



Nycticorax caledonicus (Night-Heron). — August, Cardwell. 



Dupetor gouldi (Yellow-necked Mangrove-Bittern). — In the man- 

 groves at Cardwell. 



PoRPHYRio MELANONOTUs (Bald-Coot). — Herbert River, sitting on 

 the bushes on the bank of the river, in September. 



Gallinula tenebrosa (Black Moor-Hen). — September, Herbert 

 River. 



HvDRALECTOR GALLiNACEUS (Conib-crested Jacana). — Murray River 

 swamps, Bellenden Plains. 



Hypot^nidia philippinensis (Pectoral Rail). — August, Herbert 

 River. 



Rallina TRICOLOR (Rcd-nccked Rail). — September, Cowrie's Creek. 

 Eggs of this bird were found in the scrubs on the Murray- River in 

 January, and are in the Queensland Museum.* 



Anser.'vnas semipalmata (Pied Goose). — Cardwell. Common at 

 the mouths of the Tully and Murray Rivers, sitting on the mangroves, 

 Christmas time. 



* These eggs were inspected by the visiting oologists during the recent Brisbane 

 session of the R.A.O. U. The specimens may be described as oval in form ; colour 

 white, with the slightest perceptive tone ; surface glossy, and texture somewhat fine ; 

 <limensions, about i^ x lyL inches. Typical Rails' eggs are usually elliptical in 

 shape, spotted with reddish and purplish iDrown on a warmish-white ground. Have 

 the eggs of the Red-necked to be re-described, or do the white eggs belong to another 

 bird? Cockerell, the collector who first obtained this Rail, in the neighbourhood of 

 Somerset, Cape York, stated that he found the eggs, which were white. While 

 engaged on my work, " Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds," Mr. Harry Barnard 

 kindly sent me a white egg, collected in North Queensland, marked " Scrub-Rail." 

 Mr. D. Le Souef had a set of three similar eggs in his collection. 



Regarding the particular Rail's white eggs in the Brisbane Museum, Mr. 

 Broadbent some time ago kindly furnished me with these additional and interesting 

 field notes (vide " Nests and Eggs," p. 744) : — " My tent was near the river scrub 

 (30 miles from Cardwell), about 200 yards away, in the grass. But close to my tent, 

 about 50 yards distant, was a little creek with scrub very thick with a great quantity 

 of ferns and undergrowth. At night I often heard the call of the Scrub-Rail, and 

 sometimes on very dark nights they would come round the tent, but too dark to shoot. 

 In the morning I frequently heard them in the scrub calling to each other, when I 

 endeavoured to get them. Several mornings I got up at dawn, and crawled into the 

 scrub amongst the ferns, but, unfortunately, I could not see the birds— too dense and 

 dark. However, one morning, when crawling as usual in the ferns, I nearly broke 

 two beautiful white eggs, laid on the ground amongst the ferns in a little circular 

 basin lined with a few bits of leaves and small pieces of dead sticks, just scrub 

 rubbish. The eggs were quite warm. I shot the female just as she was beginning to 

 sit, judging by her breast feathers. Afterwards I shot the male about the middle of 

 January. I hunted these scrubs for six weeks afterwards, and could attribute the eggs 

 to no other bird." — A. J. C. 



