Birds of Melville Island. 95 



of a Paper-bark tree, growing in the great swamp, w^as placed 

 about twelve feet from the water; it was very frail, and the 

 egg could be seen through the nest. The portion of the nest 

 that could be so called, measured six inches by six^ but the 

 ends of the twigs projected out beyond this. 



Eggs. The clutch consists of one white e^^ measuring 

 41 mm. by 34. 



On the 2nd of October these birds were seen and heard 

 in the mangroves. They came to some trees near Apsley 

 Straits every day to feed, both in the morning and^ again, 

 about four o'clock in the afternoon. They Avere never iu 

 flocks or vei'y plentiful. On the 1st of December a nest was 

 found in a tree in t!ie open forest, the bird was only dis- 

 lodged after several sticks were thrown at her; after she 

 had left the nest a small young one was found, on which 

 she had been sitting. This nest was about thirty feet from 

 the ground. 



On the 15th of December a flock of five was seen; this was 

 the greatest niimber noticed together. On the north side of 

 the Island they were numerous, and two more nests were 

 found, both in very tall trees and placed about sixty feet 

 from the ground. 



On the 14tli of January, 1912, several small flocks were 

 seen, all flying high, and in the sixteen days ending on the 

 3rd of February only one bird was noticed. After the 18th 

 of March they had all disappeared. 



7. Chrysaxichcena humeralis apsleyi. ''Northern Barred- 

 shouldered Dove. 



Geopelia humeralis apsleyi Mathews, Austral Av. Eec. 

 vol. i. 1912, p. 27 : Melville Island. 



Very numerous, found feeding in companies of up to 30 

 birds. When flushed, these flocks split up into threes and 

 fours. It may be that the small flocks come together on 

 extra good feeding-grounds, until one large flock of 30 

 or so get together. They were plentiful toAvards the end of 

 October, but decreased in number by the middle of December, 

 and were again numerous on the 13th of January, 1912, on 



