94 



MIGRATION OF BIRDS AT THE CAPE YORK PENINSULA. 



HlRUDINID^. 



There are no swallows here during the early months of the 

 year, and only a single species of " Martin " of the colonists, 

 namely : * Hydrochelidon nigricans, Less. 



Meropid^. 



*Merops ornatus, Lath., the Australian bee- eater, arrived here 

 from the south first on the 14th of February (Mr. Gould in his 

 " Handbook of the Birds of Australia," vol. I, p. 117, mentions 

 that this bird does not leave New South Wales, and places 

 having the same latitude, until March). Captain F. Dyer 

 informs me that he has met with Merops at sea, between Mul- 

 grave Island and the coast of New Guinea, in such numbers, as 

 to cover the yards and deck of his ship. 



CORACIDiE. 



Eitrystomus pacijiciis, Lath,, the dollar bird, arrived here 

 from the south in March, and a few remained in the district 

 throughout the winter months. 



Alcedinid^. 



Dacelo gigantea, Gld., the laughing-jackass, I observed 

 thirty miles inland from here in April. 



Syma fiavirostris, Gld., the yellow-billed king-fisher, leaves 

 here in the middle of April, or at least the greater part of them 

 do. 



Tanysiptera sylvia, Gld., the white-tailed king-fi.sher, have 

 all left here by the end of March. Mr. F. L. Jardine informs 

 me that in the month of October during the early morning he 

 has met with them here in hundreds, so tired and enfeebled, 

 apparently by their migration, as to refuse to fly out of harm's 

 way, and that on the day previous to this visitation they were 

 nowhere to be seen. 



Campephegin^. 



Graucalus Swainsonii, Gld. I observed here during the latter 

 part of March, but they all left in the succeeding month. 



DlCRURIDiE. 



Ghihia hracteata, Gld., the Drongo shrike, leaves here about 

 the middle of April for the south. 



* Manucodia Gouldi, G. R. Gray. This bird is most plentiful 

 here during January and February, in March it becomes scarce, 

 and in April it is not to be met with here at all. 



