| OCR Text |
Show 1875.] BIRDS FROM QUEENSLAND. 583 43. CYANALCYON MACLEAYI. I seldom found this species on the river-banks. Inland it is plentiful, being the most common species. They excavate a hole in a nest of the White Ant (Termes), and, enlarging it into a chamber near the end, lay 4 or 5 round glossy white eggs, slightly smaller than those of Halcyon sanctus. 44. ALCYONE PULCHRA. This appears to me to be only a northern variety oi Alcyone azurea. It is common on all the creeks and rivers. 45. ALCYONE PUSILLA. By no means rare, but seldom found away from the creeks in the very densest parts of the scrubs ; it is always difficult to procure. Its note is a shrill, weak, piping cry, emitted chiefly while on the wing. Several specimens obtained. There is no difference in the plumage of the sexes. 46. TANYSIPTERA SYLVIA. This lovely bird, I noticed, inhabited the most dense parts of the scrubs ; I never saw the birds in any of the open parts ; except diving across from one side of a gully to the other, they always keep to the low Palms and are more frequently heard than seen; their note is a shrill cricket-like chirrup. 47. GYMNORHINA TIBICEN. By no means common; I regret I did not shoot some specimens ; they appeared much smaller than our New-South-Wales birds, although their flute-like note is identical. Met with in the open forest-country. 48. CRACTICUS NIGROGULARIS. 49. CRACTICUS TORQUATUS. I did not observe any difference in these and individuals of the same species from New South Wales. 50. CRACTICUS QUOYII. This handsome species differs in its habits from all the other members of the genus. It frequents the mangrove-swamps and dense bushes about the rivers, where its presence is every now and then betrayed by its loud ringing note, emitted chiefly when on the move. For the most part it resorts to the tops of the trees, and feeds on various insects of several families. 51. GRAUCALUS MELANOPS. Common, frequenting the open country. 52. GRAUCALUS MENTALIS. Usually seen in pairs or small troops of 4 or 5 in number, frequently on margins of scrubs &c. or in the open forest-country. |
