Dec., 1923 
'I'he Quet^nsland Naturalist. 
53 
hollandae) made its toilet on a bare l)ranch overhan^nng: 
the water — my tirst aequaintanee with that bird. It was 
kind enono-h to remain in view for half an hour. 
Koel and pallid cuckoos were calling all day long, 
their insistent call grew very wearisome. Mangrove bit- 
terns (Buborides stagnatilis) ticAv across the narrow river, 
while black-throated grebes and snake birds dived as our 
boat drew near. Idttle craiks were dodging in and out 
among the mangrove bushes and roots. 
A great many honey-eaters (fascjated) chattered on 
.a little island at the junction of the Albert and Logan 
rivers; they did not seem to be in any number in the 
ui>]ier reaches. Scarlet and white-(*hinned honey-eaters 
probed the blossoming mangroves; the Avhite-cheeked 
honey-eater, so plentiful aiul noisy on Stratlbroke Islaiuk 
was not to be seen on the Alliert. Starlings were as far 
U]) as Yatala bridge — T did not see them beyond that. 
Pipits Avere noticed on the flat grass land in the lower 
reaches, and the sacred and red-backed kingfishers Avere 
there, only one of the latter to be seen, though it (evi- 
dently nested there, for it tieAV into a hole in the bank. 
Reed Avarblers and mangrove canaries (G. cantator) 
were very jilentifnl all the Avay along. They have \'cry 
melodious songs; one neAmr tires of hearing them. Rufons 
whistlers and harmonious thrushes were singing to their 
nesting mates^ — -plenty of nests wore \dsible. Pied cater- 
pillar eaters and bee eaters were seen ; further up Avliite- 
shouldered caterpillar eaters nested in the tall gum tiau'S. 
At llopedale (our destination) we found a great number 
of birds nesting in the home paddock— friar birds, little 
Icathcrheads (P. sordidus). jacky Avinter, Alacleay king- 
hsher, restless and leaden tiyeatcher. blue-faced honey- 
eater, mickles, black-throated butcher birds, kookaburras, 
sacred kingfishers. All the lu'stiug birds kept a Avary eye 
on the Ivookaburra and sacred lungfisher. They Avere not 
alloAvi'd to [lay any friemlly visits. 1 did not see the 
butcher bird ixung Avarned oft. In the lagoon by the 
iiouso, whit(MU‘(*ked aiul Avhite-frouted luu’ous disi>ort ed 
with black and Avhite ibis — The sacred ibis seldom go there. 
A Aveck lat(‘r the lagoon Avas dry and the birds (loAvn, 
though 1113’' hostess told me the three birds were sure to be 
back at tlie first rains. The}^ Avere prett^^ Avell domiciled 
there. 
