260 
BARNARD, Birds of Coomooboolaroo 
r The Emu 
L April 
Owlet Nightjar ( Aegotheles cristcita). — These are occasionally 
flushed from hollow stumps when one is riding along, and appear to 
remain about the same in numbers. 
Dollar-bird ( Eurystomus orientalis) . — Was very much more plen¬ 
tiful years ago than it is now. At one time they were to be noticed 
all along the creeks and swamps, and several of them were to be seen 
every year along the homestead lagoon nesting in the gum trees. Now 
they are only occasionally seen or heard, away from the homestead. 
What has caused the decrease ? Has the continual heavy stocking of 
the country interfered with the breeding of cicadas, one of the prin¬ 
cipal foods of the Dollar-bird ? Certainly the cicadas are not nearly 
so much in evidence as formerly, either by the number of cast skins on 
the trees, etc., or by the noise they make in the trees. 
Azure Kingfisher (Alcyone azurea) , — Before the creek banks be¬ 
came denuded of vegetation and the smaller water holes tramped out, 
these beautiful little streaks of colour were sometimes to be seen dart¬ 
ing along between the banks from one hole to another, but none have 
been seen in this locality for many years past. 
Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo gig as ) . — These were greatly re¬ 
duced in numbers by the drought of 1902, but appear now to have 
quite got back to their former numbers. Towards the end of the 
drought it was not uncommon to see several dead Jackasses under a 
tree where they had fallen from the night’s roost. 
Blue-winged Kookaburra ( Dacelo leachi) . — A common bird. 
Forest Kingfisher (Halcyon rnucleayi). — A common summer 
migrant. 
Red-backed Kingfisher (Halcyon pyrrhopygius) . — Usually quite a 
} are bird, but in some seasons becomes common, nesting in holes in the 
banks of the creeks. 
Sacred Kingfisher (Halcyon sanctus) . — A common resident species, 
not migrating. 
Bee-eater \M crops ornatus) . — Appears about September, and nest¬ 
ing is in full swing in October. While these birds appear to become 
moie plentiful, cr at least more in evidence, about that time there are 
always a tew to be seen throughout the winter months. 1 remember 
o\ m ntty years ago, when we were living near Rockhampton, my 
atner came in for his gun one day in a state of great excitement, sav¬ 
ing that he had just seen a bird that was all the colours of the rain- 
o\\ ^mce time this species has always been known to our 
family as the “Rainbow-bird.”* 
White-throated Nightjar (Eurostopodus mystacalis) . — This ap¬ 
pears to be the common Nightjar of the district, and its eggs have 
been found. 
Spotted Nightjar (Eurostopodus guttatus). — Eggs of this species 
have been found, but I think it must be very rare. I can only ascribe 
one note to the two species, and I think this is the note of the former. 
I he Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) found further 
north has quite a distinct note. 
Spine-tailed Swift (Hirundapus caiulacutus) .—Generally appears 
about October, and is seen occasionally during the summer. 
White-rumped Swift (Micropus pacificns) .—Small flocks are seen 
occasionally during the summer. 
Pallid Cuckoo (Cuculus pallidus) .—Appears about September and 
is common m forest country. Its eggs have been found in nests of the 
Leathernead and the buscous Honey-eater. 
bant ail Cuckoo (Cacomantis flahedlifornns) . — Appears in spring 
and is confined to brushy and scrub country. 
Square-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis pyrrhophanus) . — Seen occasion¬ 
ally in brush country. 
*The name Rainbow-bird has been adopted as the most 
nacular by the Check-list Committee.—Editor 
suitable ver 
