April, 1922 
The Queensland Naturalist 
79 
naturalist, a fact deplored by the captain when at the 
D'Entrecasteaux , Islands. ‘‘A naturalist." he writes,* 
‘‘would have envied our position, surrounded as we were 
by strange trees and shrubs and beautiful birds, but which, 
unfortunately, we could give no name.” 
Another exploratory visitor to Cape York in the 
seventies was Dr. R. L. Jack. Becoming Government 
Geologist of Queensland in 1877, Jack did much valuable 
work, both geologically and geographically. Resourceful 
as he was, however, he had very little knowledge of birds, 
and the only references to our subject that I can find 
in his writings are an allusion to a “rough arcade” of a 
Bower-bird, and a note upon some tiny bird that caught 
his attention near the Coleman River, Cape York Penin- 
sula, in September of 1879. “Several miles from camp,” 
he says, “we passed some enormous and fantastic blocks of 
grey granite, and saw a flock of very little birds, with 
bodies apparently no larger than butterflies. I could not. 
however, shoot any. My impression is that no bird so 
small is known in Australia.” Bird-lovers may entertain 
themselves in conjecturing the identity of these birds. We 
have several species with claims to be considered the 
smallest Australian bird. 
There is no other exploratory expedition that calls for 
special notice, f though that of Ernest Favenc, organised 
by Oresley Lukin, of the Queenslander , is worthy of 
passing notice. That West Queensland expedition started 
from Blackall, then the furthermost west railway point, 
in 1878. The party’s interest in birds was so practical 
that the leader kept a record of the number they ate. In 
a short period these figures totalled 584, including 50 
parrots (Corellas and Galahs), 350 Ducks (five species), 
150 Pigeons (principally Flock), 11 Geese, 4 Turkeys, 8 
Spoon hills, 7 Water-Hens, 2 Shags, one Emu, and one 
Native Companion. To that menu was added later “such 
choice delicacies as Eaglehawks and frogs.” Crows and 
Hawks were “carefully reserved to the last, when all else 
should fail.” 
(To be continued.) 
*“ Discoveries and Surveys in New Guinea and the D'Entre- 
casteaux Islands; a Cruise in Polynesia, and Visits to the Pearl- 
shelling Stations in Torres Strait, of H.M.S. ‘ Basilisk,’ by Captain 
John Moresby, P.N. ; London, 1S76. ” 
fFor a concise survey of the history of Australia generally consult 
‘■A Short History of Australia,” by Ernest Scott; Melbourne, 1910. 
Professor Scott has frequently brought “ Forgotten Feathers” to the 
notice of ornithologists, 
