Vol. X. 



] Hill, Field Notes on Birds of Kimberley, N.-W. Ausi. 277 



PlEZORHYNCHUS NlTlDUS (Shining Flycatcher).* 



These beautiful and extremely shy birds were seen on the coast from 

 Augustus Island (lat. 15' 35' S.) northwards, where they live entirely on 

 the mud or amongst the low branches and roots in the thickest belts of 

 mangrove. The warning-note of the male bird is three clear and distinct 

 whistles, which are answered by the female in a call that may be likened to 

 the creaking of a door. The nests are built from 4 to 6 feet above water 

 level, of rough pieces of bark, closely woven together and lined with fine 

 pieces of bark, twigs, and small dead leaves, or with rootlets. Eggs were 

 taken from 5/1/xo to 20/3/3. f I'om one nest I took a set of eggs on 

 18/2/10 of the usual type, and on 20/3/10 a second set of pure white eggs. 

 The irides of all male birds examined by me were umber and not red 

 (Hall, p. 19). Their food consists principally of minute shells, crabs, and 

 a small species of black ant. 



Dimensions of nests in inches : — (a) Outside — length 2.8, breadth 2.5, 

 depth 2.5 ; inside — length 2.2, breadth 2.1, depth 2.1. {d) Outside — length 

 3.5, breadth 3. 1, depth 2.4; inside — length 2.5, breadth 2.2, depth 1.6. (c) 

 Outside— length 2.8, breadth 2.5, depth 2.5 ; inside— length 2.6, breadth 2.2, 

 depth 1.6. 



Measurement of birds in mm. : — 



Total length. Wing. 



I mm. $ 



? 



■ ? 



? 



190 

 190 

 191 

 160 

 182 

 180 

 189 



85.5 



85 



85 



73-5 



80 



78 

 76 



Tarsus. 



20.5 



21.5 

 20.5 

 20 

 21 



19 

 21 



Bill. 

 15-5 



17-5 

 15-5 

 13 

 16.S 



15 

 15-5 



Tail. 

 79 



79 

 77 

 52 

 74 

 72 

 70 



CORACINA ROBUSTA (Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike). 



Fairly numerous on the mainland and islands 

 principally of large caterpillars and Mantidce. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



Their food consists 



Tail. 

 137 



CORACINA HVPOLEUCA (White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike). 

 The remarks on the previous species apply also to this. 

 Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



Edoliisoma tenuirostre (Jardine Caterpillar-eater).* 



The movements of a few pairs which arrived at Napier Broome Bay on 

 and after 4 12 09 were closely watched until the end of February, when the 

 last of them left the district. During these months the birds were generally 

 to be seen in the topmost branches of the largest trees. Their food appears 

 to consist entirely of large caterpillars— hence the very appropriate name 

 of Caterpillar-eater for the bird. 

 Dimensions ofbird in mm. : — 



Total length. Wing. Tarsus. Bill. Tail. 



$ ... 244 ... 122 ... 24 ... 19 ... 96 



