Vol. VIII. 



1909 



1 Jackson, /w the Barron River Valley, N.Q. 275 



December. The pair of birds belonging to this latter nest had 

 been watched for a few hours nearly every day since the 29th 

 November. 



Tooth-bills now all very silent, and more especially those 

 which possess nests. To-day I photographed the nests and 

 eggs of the Tooth-bill, also one of the young birds sitting in its 

 frail cradle, developing my negatives on the floor of the tent 

 at night after all damper-cooking, &c., was finished and the 

 camp-fires extinguished. The developed plates I stand on a 

 ready-made rack — stones — in literally the "running water" of 

 the Barron. In 30 minuces I reckon they are thoroughly 

 washed. I always use photographic tabloids. 



This morning (iith December) I was awakened very early 

 again by the notes of a Tooth-bill which has lately been in the 

 habit of roosting in a small tree leaning over our tent. It 

 belongs to one of our most recently located pairs of birds, and 

 the nest we hope to find shortly. " Willie-willies " are numerous, 

 and if one strikes our tent — then it is a case with us. To-day 

 we found a well-hidden nest of the Victoria Rifle-Bird in a 

 thicket of leafy vines on a tree not 20 paces from the head of 

 my bunk. The eggs — a pair — were slightly incubated ; they are 

 really most handsome specimens. ( Vide illustration.) The 

 nest was lined with the needles or leaves from the river oaks 

 {Casuarina) which grew about the camp, and was placed 27 

 feet from the ground. It was secured, with much difficulty, by 

 rigging a long, heavy pole, supported by three strong vine guys. 

 The eggs measure — {ci) 1.3 1 x 0.93 inches; {b) 1.29 x 0.93 

 inches. The local blacks know this bird as " Eur-a-lum," and 

 when the dusky climber saw the two eggs in the nest he cried 

 out — " Ma whord, pretty pfeller heg sit down." We often he^rd 

 these Rifle-Birds about the camp, but, as our whole time and 

 attention were concentrated on the exasperating Tooth-bills, we 

 had overlooked the Rifle-Birds before. It is most interesting to 

 note that the pair of eggs which we took of the Large-billed 

 Robin on the 9th December was from a nest situated only 6 

 feet from the Rifle-Bird's nest discovered to-day. After 

 developing and washing more negatives, it was i o'clock in the 

 morning before we retired to rest. 



1 2th December. — The Flycatchers and other birds have 

 become very tame, and now venture right into our tent, picking 

 up crumbs on the ground while we dine, even approaching near 

 our feet. 



If you are watching a Tooth-bill in the scrub, and it sees you, 

 it immediately stretches out its neck and takes a side glance at 

 you, then in a moment it is off" out of sight in the scrub. When 

 flying they usually make a swooping and heavy-flapping sound. 

 In hopping about on the ground and in trees they are experts. 

 I have observed one commence from the ground, then alight 



