1875. | BIRDS FROM QUEENSLAND. 593 
about equal in length, middle toe about one third longer ; hind toe 
shortest and broadest at base; claws of all weak, curved, and com- 
pressed laterally. The plumage resembles that of the Catbird 
Ailuredus, being loose and comparatively long. 
113. Mimera AFFINIS. 
114. Mimeta viripis. 
115. MimEeTA FLAVOCINCTA. 
The first of these species is the most common ; the two others I 
did not find to be plentiful. 
116. SPHECOTHERES MAXILLARIS. 
Plentiful everywhere on the margins of the scrubs. 
117. SPHECOTHERES FLAVIVENTRIS. 
I noticed several in a collection of birds made in the district, but 
did not perceive any specimens myself at Cardwell. 
118. CorcoRAX MELANORHAMPHUS. 
Met with once or twice inland in open forest country. 
119. Corvus AUSTRALIS. 
Common about the slaughtering-yards throughout the district. 
120. CALORNIS METALLICA. 
One of the most common birds in the scrubs of the Herbert 
river. They breed in companies, seemingly all through the year, 
making large bulky nests of grass and fine twigs with a side opening, 
which hang from the ends of the leafy boughs in clusters or singly; 
at times the branches break off with the weight of the nests and 
their contents. On the Herbert I noticed they gave preference to 
a small-leaved species of fig resembling Ficus syringifolia; and 
before a colony began to build, the twigs on many of the branches 
were broken and began to wither, and, hanging down, at a distance 
resembled in colour the brown nests of this species. I noticed this 
on two occasions, and remarked to Inspector Johnstone that the 
birds were building near his camp. However, when examining the 
tree through our field-glasses, we found nothing but bunches of dry 
leaves swinging about with the wind. A few days afterwards we 
noticed a neighbouring fig-tree in a similar condition ; and as both 
trees were resorted to by these birds, I was under the impression 
that it was caused by the ravages of some insect which the birds 
came to feed on; however, about a month afterwards, Mr. Johnstone 
informed me that these trees had been taken possession of by 
colonies of Weaverbirds (or “ Starlings,’ as they are called in 
those parts); and this bulk of brown nests was forming quite a new 
feature in the landscape. 
The surface of the ground under a tree which has been colonized 
for some time is perfectly green with thousands of seedling plants, 
38* 
