Birds of Melville Island. 119 



so plentiful as the allied subspecies found in Kimberley, 

 north-west Australia, 



111. Wilsonavis chloronotus apsleyi. Melville - Island 

 Green-backed li'ly -eater. 



Geryyone cliloronnta apsleyi Mathews^ Austral Av. Rec. 

 vol. i. 1912, p. 40: Melville Island. 



This species is rare on the Island. Usually a few are seen 

 in the small patches of jungle. On the 7th of January, 1912, 

 a pair was noticed building a nest in a ''^ cedar ^' tree, which 

 was growing on a ridge near the great swamp. The nest 

 was about 30 feet up. A week later the nest was half 

 finished and deserted. In size and shape it was very like 

 that of Ethelurnis magnirostris melvillensis . 



The song is not unlike the song of W. l(Evigaster from 

 Derby in north-west Australia, but is shriller and not so 

 musical. 



112. Ethelornis magnirostris melvillensis. Melville-Island 

 Large-billed Fly-eater. 



Gerygone magnirostris melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. 

 Rec. vol. i. 1912, p. 39 : Melville Island. 



These birds are found in the mangroves. Immature 

 examples of this species have no yellow on the under surface 

 like immature specimens of W. lavigaster. 



The nest is dome-shaped, suspended from a small twig of 

 a leafy tree. The opening is about halfway down. It is 

 constructed of dried grass, the outside with spiders' cocoons 

 more or less all over it. There is no lining. Length, outside 

 9 inches by 3 ; opening 1 inch across. 



Eggs. Clutch two ; white, with the larger end reddish bro\^ n 

 and spots of the same colour distributed over the rest of the 

 surface. Axis 16 mm., diameter 11. Breeding in November. 



113. Qnoyornis leucura greda. Melville-Island White- 

 tailed Shrike-Robin. 



Pachycephala leucura greda Mathews, Austral Av. Rec. 

 vol. i. 1912, p. 40 : Melville Island. 

 Not rare. 



