THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
note is a somewhat shrill piping call, that its stomach is tolerably muscular, 
and that it feeds upon insects, of various kinds.” 
From Melville Island Mr. J. P. Rogers wrote : “ Cooper’s Camp, Nov. 20, 
1911: This species is more numerous than Lalage tricolor on this island, and is 
a rather silent bird, its note being more like that of the Caterpillar-catcher 
( M . tenuirostris ) than that of the bird just named. Its favourite haunts are the 
dense growths along creeks, and in clumps of heavily foliaged trees and shrubs. 
In comparison to L. tricolor it is a skulker, moving quietly about amongst the 
branches, and appears to be a confirmed fruit eater ; the stomachs as a rule 
contain little else than the smaller native fruits. Dec. 13, 1911 : North side of 
island. Sparingly distributed here. Cooper’s Camp, Feb. 4, 1912 : Not numerous 
now, birds seen occasionally, sometimes in open forest country.” 
Barnard states that at Cape York it is “ fairly plentiful in forest country 
and on the edges of scrubs. Found breeding in the forest.” 
This was confirmed by Macgillivray : “ Fairly numerous all the year round 
at Cape York, in the scrub, open forest, and mangroves. One nest was found, 
early in February, built on the topmost branch of a mangrove at fifty feet from 
the ground. The nest is a very small structure, hardly more than sufficing to 
hold the single egg.” 
McLennan’s notes, as recorded byH. L. White, read: “ Glyde River 11 / 9/15 : 
Bird seen. Liverpool River 21/9/15 : A couple noted. King River : Occasion- 
ally seen about scrub. Stomach, small fruit.” 
From North Queensland Campbell and Barnard wrote : “ Pied Caterpillar- 
eaters were frequently observed silently moving about the scrubs. There is no 
appreciable difference between a specimen procured and specimens from New 
South Wales, which locality is not mentioned by Mathews for this species.” 
Campbell later wrote : “ Specimen from Torres Straits Islands is similar 
to mainland birds, especially those from North West (same wing, 98 mm.) but 
fighter underneath, particularly the tail-coverts, which are not so rufous as seen 
in some Richmond River and Cairns specimens. Numerous and breeding.” 
In 1912 I recognised three subspecies as follows : 
Lalage leucomela leucomela (Vigors and Horsfield). 
Queensland. 
Lalage leucomela yorhi Mathews. 
North Queensland. 
Differing in its smaller size : wing 98 ; wing of leucomela 105 mm. 
Lalage leucomela gouldi Mathews. 
Northern Territory : North-west Australia. 
Differing in the barring on the under-surface, paler under tail-coverts, and 
smaller size. Av. wing 98 mm. ; typical av. wing 105 mm. 
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