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Show 1877.] NORTH-EASTERN QUEENSLAND. 349 and the mouths of the rivers, swamps, and lagoons, and even at a considerable distance inland. They nest in trees overhanging the rivers or waterholes, making a rough nest of water-weeds and debris: lay 2 to 3 eggs. I met with both species in a small lagoon some twenty miles inland in the Herbert-river district in March 1874. A large white-breasted species was seen on several occasions in Rockingham Bay; but none were shot, and I was too far off to identify the bird ; but it was probably P. varius. 276. PLOTUS NOVA-HOLLANDIA. Plotus novee-hollandice, Gould, Handbk. B. Austr. ii. p. 496. This is a widely distributed species, found on all the rivers as far north as Cape York. I have also met with it at a great distance inland. That its range extends to New Guinea is proved by the fact that the Museum has lately received a specimen from the " Laloki river," near Port Moresby, about fifteen miles from the settlement. There are some slight differences in the style of coloration of the New-Guinea specimen, but scarcely sufficient for the foundation of a new species. 277. PHAETON PHCENICURUS. Phaeton phcenicurus, Gould, Handbk. B. Austr. ii. p. 501. Seen occasionally off Hinchinbrook Island. 278. SULA AUSTRALIS. Sula australis, Gould, Handbk. B. Austr. ii. p. 504. Rather plentiful in the Bay off Cardwell. 279. SULA FIBER. Sula fiber, Gould, Handbk. B. Austr. ii, p. 507. Occasionally seen in the bay, but more plentiful off a small reef to the south-east of Hinchinbrook Island, and near the mouth of the Herbert river. 280. PODICEPS, sp. inc. This I take to be P. gularis. Only met with on one occasion, in a chain of lagoons near the Herbert river. APPENDIX. Shortly after my return from Queensland, Mr. Sub-Inspector Armit, who had taken great interest in my pursuits, forwarded me a small collection of birds from the neighbourhood of Georgetown, and also some very interesting notes on the avifauna of that district. From this collection I can add the following species which I had not observed myself: - H A L C Y O N PYRRHOPYGIA, Gould, Handbk. B. Austr. i. p. 130, |