Vol *i 92 X e! V '] WOLSTENHOLME, Birds of Camp-Out 231 
The birds themselves are not easily seen. Some members heard 
a little of their cackling- early one morning at Polka Creek, but Mr. 
Chaffer was the only one to see any birds. Spending a night on 
Mr. Mortensen’s banana plantation among the hills, he went out 
very early in the morning with the owner and his dogs. At the 
sight of the dogs the birds leave the ground for the low branches 
of trees, where, sitting quietly, they are easily observed. We were 
informed that they do much damage to the growing bananas by eat¬ 
ing a little bit of each banana at the base of the bunch. Some of 
the settlers were calling the birds “Mallee-fowl” or “Malay-fowl.” 
Alectura lathami. Brush Turkey.—Though considered plentiful at 
Byfield, this bird was seen once only—cornered by a wire fence. It 
had to take to flight when we came up close to it. Some nesting 
mounds were seen. They were smaller and less conical than the 
Scrub-Fowl’s mounds. The Turkeys were said to be more destruc¬ 
tive to the bananas than the Scrub-Fowls. Another bird was seen 
in the scrub at Olsen’s Caves, Rockhampton, where several old 
mounds of this species were also noted. 
Synoicus australis. Brown Quail.—These birds were reported at 
Byfield, and were fairly numerous in the long grass on North Keppel 
Island, where a deserted nest was found. 
Turnix varia. Painted Quail.—Heard by Mr. Chisholm and Dr. 
Chenery at different times near the camp at Byfield. 
Turnix velox. Little Quail.—Mr. H. G. Barnard and Dr. Chenery 
reported these birds at Byfield. 
Ptilonopus regina. Red-crowned (Swainson’s) Pigeon.—This 
Pigeon was, perhaps, the one most often seen and heard. They 
were numerous at Byfield, and also in the coastal scrub at Yeppoon. 
A nest, which consisted of a few sticks, through which the single 
egg could be easily seen, was found by Miss Geissmann not very 
high in a small tree on Byfield creek near the camp, and the plumage 
of the sitting bird was much admired. Another nest, elso contain¬ 
ing a single egg, was found a little further away. 
Ptilonopus superbus. Purple-crowned Pigeon.—Observed at By¬ 
field but much less frequently than Swainson’s Pigeon. 
Megaloprepia magnifica. Wompoo or King Pigeon.—These birds 
were in the big trees among the Byfield scrubs, but were very hard 
to see in the leafy tops of the trees. Occasionally only could a bird 
be seen well. 
Columba norfolciensis. White-headed Pigeon.—Some of the resi¬ 
dents were erroneously calling this bird the Torres Strait Pigeon; 
others knew it by the name of Cook Pigeon. It was numerous about 
Polka Creek, Byfield, where many were seen on an early morning 
excursion. 
Macropygia phasianella. Pheasant Pigeon (Brownie).—Numerous 
in the Byfield scrubs, where the double “coo,” sometimes followed by 
a succession of shortening “coos,” in cadence, became very familiar. 
Miss Geissmann was adept at imitating the notes, and a puzzled 
bird on Polka Creek was lured by her skill from the scrub into a 
tree in the banana plantation under which members of the party 
were standing. 
Geopelia humeralis. Bar-shouldered Dove.—Very plentiful in the 
scrub at Yeppoon, where its call, “Hop off, hep off/’ was continually 
heard. Mr. W. B. Barnard reported a nest. Another nest was seen 
on North Keppel Island, where the birds were common. 
Geopelia placida. Peaceful Dove.—Heard and seen in most places. 
A nest was in use in one of the street trees at Rockhampton. 
